News release
26 February 2007

Kaitoke walk explains top Te Marua water

How does the health of Kaitoke Regional Park’s forest have an impact on the quality of Wellington’s water supply? The Kaitoke Water Walk, part of Greater Wellington’s summer Regional Outdoors Programme, explains all this and more with a free guided tour of the park and a visit to the Te Marua Water Treatment Plant.

“The walk is a chance for people to find out what happens behind the scenes to supply the healthy, clean water that we all enjoy,” says Park Ranger Steve Edwards.

Steve will guide participants through the park’s stunning lowland podocarp forest, as the first part of the walk.

“I’ll be talking about how a healthy water supply depends on a healthy forest and that we are actually walking in a rainforest – with an annual rainfall that’s normally twice as high as Wellington city! I’ll also show participants the incredible variety of plants living in the forest.”

The forest walk is followed by a visit to the Kaitoke Weir and then a tour of the Te Marua Water Treatment Plant. Water from the plant received an A1 grading last year – the Ministry of Health’s highest level of endorsement for drinking water.

Greater Wellington water technicians will talk about the history of the plant and give a presentation on the network of pipelines and reservoirs that provide Wellington with top quality drinking water.

When: Saturday 3 March, 9am-12pm.

How to get there: Follow SH2 and turn off at Waterworks Road 12 km north of Upper Hutt. Drive past the campground and meet at the Pakuratahi Forks car park.

Bookings: Bookings essential (bookings[at]gw.govt.nz or 04 381 7735). Not suitable for children under seven.

What to bring: Picnic lunch.

ENDS

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