Te Urewera
Te Urewera | |
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![]() Lake Waikaremoana in Te Urewera | |
Coordinates: 38°27′S 177°03′E / 38.45°S 177.05°E | |
Location | Bay of Plenty Region, Hawke's Bay, Gisborne District |
Range | Ikawhenua Range, Huiarau Range |
Native name | Te Urewera |
Te Urewera is an area of mostly forested, sparsely populated rugged hill country in the North Island of New Zealand, located inland between the Bay of Plenty and Hawke Bay. Te Urewera is the rohe (historical home) of Tūhoe, a Māori iwi (tribe) known for its stance on Māori sovereignty.[1]
In 1954, a large area of Te Urewera was designated Te Urewera National Park by the New Zealand Government. In 2014 after a Waitangi Tribunal settlement with Tūhoe, the national park was disestablished and the former area was given environmental personhood. This area is now managed by Te Urewera Board, a body composed of both members who represent Tūhoe and the New Zealand Government.
Outside of the protected area, Te Urewera includes land administered as Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park, Onekawa Te Mawhai Regional Park, customary private land owned by Tūhoe, the settlements of Ruatoki North, Waimana, Tāneatua, and privately owned land.