Makuri Stream
Encyclopedia
The Makuri Stream is a tributary of the Patea River
, in the upper catchment among the eastern Taranaki hill country. The Makuri catchment falls entirely within the Stratford district
, and takes in the settlements of Huinga, Huiroa
and Kiore.
but is now reclaimed pasture. Rising on each side of the Makuri Stream are often precipitous sandstone
-greywacke
ridges which vary in height from approximately 300m altitude to the 365m and 366m peaks of the Mangaotuku and Tarerepo trigs (respectively).
is accessed via Toko
Road and the settlement of Huinga. State Highway 43
crosses the Makuri valley between the Douglas
and Strathmore Saddles, where Walter Road gives access to the Makuri valley to the north, and Mangaotuku Road
gives access to the south. The upper parts of the catchment are reached via Douglas
Road and the settlements of Huiroa
and Kiore.
, and is farmed predominantly as sheep
and beef
units.
Patea River
The Patea River is in Taranaki in the North Island of New Zealand. It runs for 105 kilometres from the eastern slopes of Mount Taranaki, passing east through Stratford before swinging south and reaching the South Taranaki Bight near the town of Patea....
, in the upper catchment among the eastern Taranaki hill country. The Makuri catchment falls entirely within the Stratford district
Stratford, New Zealand
Stratford is the only town in the central Taranaki district of Stratford District, New Zealand. It lies beneath the eastern slopes of Mount Taranaki/Egmont, approximately half-way between New Plymouth and Hawera, near the geographic centre of the Taranaki region. The town has a population of...
, and takes in the settlements of Huinga, Huiroa
Huiroa
Huiroa is a settlement in inland Taranaki, in the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located 20 kilometres east of Stratford and eight kilometres north of Douglas.-Schools: Category:Stratford District...
and Kiore.
Physical Geography
The valley floor lies between 150-200m above sea level, most of which was originally swamplandsSwamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
but is now reclaimed pasture. Rising on each side of the Makuri Stream are often precipitous sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
-greywacke
Greywacke
Greywacke or Graywacke is a variety of sandstone generally characterized by its hardness, dark color, and poorly sorted angular grains of quartz, feldspar, and small rock fragments or lithic fragments set in a compact, clay-fine matrix. It is a texturally immature sedimentary rock generally found...
ridges which vary in height from approximately 300m altitude to the 365m and 366m peaks of the Mangaotuku and Tarerepo trigs (respectively).
Access
The Makuri Valley has three different points of access from the populated west. The southern end of the valley where the stream meets the Patea RiverPatea River
The Patea River is in Taranaki in the North Island of New Zealand. It runs for 105 kilometres from the eastern slopes of Mount Taranaki, passing east through Stratford before swinging south and reaching the South Taranaki Bight near the town of Patea....
is accessed via Toko
Toko
Toko is a small rural settlement 10 kilometres east of Stratford, New Zealand, at the intersection of East Road and Toko Road. It is located on a railway, the Stratford - Okahukura Line, the western portion of which was operated as a branch line known as the Toko Branch prior to the line's...
Road and the settlement of Huinga. State Highway 43
New Zealand State Highway network
The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
crosses the Makuri valley between the Douglas
Douglas, Taranaki
Douglas is a lowly populated locality and a rural centre in east Taranaki, surrounded by dairy, sheep and beef pastoral farming. It is situated 18 km east of Stratford at the intersection of East Road, Ohura Road, Douglas Road South and Bredow Road. East Road and Ohura Road meet to form State...
and Strathmore Saddles, where Walter Road gives access to the Makuri valley to the north, and Mangaotuku Road
Tututawa
Tututawa is a locality and rural centre in east Taranaki, New Zealand, 26 km east of Stratford, with a population of approximately 40. The settlement is centred 5 km south of Ohura Road , at the intersection of Mangaotuku Road and Tututawa Road. Positioned approximately 150m above sea level,...
gives access to the south. The upper parts of the catchment are reached via Douglas
Douglas, Taranaki
Douglas is a lowly populated locality and a rural centre in east Taranaki, surrounded by dairy, sheep and beef pastoral farming. It is situated 18 km east of Stratford at the intersection of East Road, Ohura Road, Douglas Road South and Bredow Road. East Road and Ohura Road meet to form State...
Road and the settlements of Huiroa
Huiroa
Huiroa is a settlement in inland Taranaki, in the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located 20 kilometres east of Stratford and eight kilometres north of Douglas.-Schools: Category:Stratford District...
and Kiore.
Land Use
Nearly all of the catchment is cleared of bushShrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
, and is farmed predominantly as sheep
Sheep husbandry
Sheep husbandry is a subcategory of animal husbandry specifically dealing with the raising and breeding of domestic sheep. Sheep farming is primarily based on raising lambs for meat, or raising sheep for wool. Sheep may also be raised for milk or to sell to other farmers.-Shelter and...
and beef
Beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
units.