The Golden Arches

No not Macca’s, but give it twenty years and there may be one gracing Oparara with its presence. The incredible karst landscape is currently being groomed into the new sparkling beauty of New Zealand tourism. A $5.7 million growth fund is proposed to bring large numbers of visitors to a fragile environment that hosts a range of endangered flora and fauna. A private-public project that would have the Department of Conservation deal with the repercussions of maintaining this ecosystem under increased pressures. As well as providing valuable habitat for living species, it is also a paleozoology haven for extinct species. Such finds include the most complete bones of the Haast's eagle, Lyall's wren, New Zealand owlet-nightjar, Adzebill, nine species of moa, amphibians, lizards and the remains of forty species of snails. This wealth of material is owing to tomo (limestone sinkholes) that lead to the demise of many animals and the preserving properties of limestone rich water.

Botanically the area is characterised by lush temperate forest and large limestone boulders reflected in the dark tannin waters. At the side of the river which carves through Oparara arch, a handsome specimen of Carpodetus serratus (Putaputaweta) stands silhouetted at the base. Orange lichen covering its trunk and pendulous branches. Anaphalioides trinervis scrambles over mossy rocks as an attractive groundcover beside a profusion of ferns, backgrounded by the empty darkness of the natural tunnel behind. The most striking cluster of plants is a cascade of Metrosideros colensoi, showing a change of hue across individuals on the arch mouth. On the walk to the Moria arch a particularly nice pairing of Carpodetus serratus and Rubus cissoides (Tataramoa) harmonise in a serrate symphony. Another complimentary duo in the understory are Nertera depressa and Coprosma foetidissima both fruiting with dark red berries in autumn. Such a unique place, deserves conservation at the forefront, not economic gain.