The pā sits on the middle of three ridgelines in the reserve, with the terraces located on the western ridgeline, which are accessible from the upper Hikanui Drive entrance. The pā contains archaeological features including a ditch and bank, terracing and pits.
Around the pā are large, ageing exotic trees, generally macrocarpa, gum and pine, which have been failing over recent years, opening the canopy and leaving the area vulnerable to wind.
As the site is protected under the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act, Hastings District Council engaged archaeological specialists to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle and its impact on the area.
The archaeological specialists recommended the removal of the remaining tree stand urgently, due to the ongoing risk to the remaining archaeology.
The report said, “The impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on the wider Tainui Reserve and Hikanui Pā specifically has been severe. Multiple trees have failed and fallen both from root ball failure and stem failure.
“Many more are now at risk of failure due to direct compromises from the weather or impact from neighbouring trees, or due to the ‘domino effect’ of being exposed to new wind forces.”
Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst explained the removal of these trees had been under consideration already as part of the draft Reserve Management Plan process for Tainui Reserve, but the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle left little option but to bring this work forward.
“Tainui Reserve is a very popular green space for our community, and the pā is a significant site for mana whenua,” Hazlehurst said.
Once the trees are removed, the council plans to plant indigenous species to ensure the area is better preserved for the future, in terms of its cultural values as well as climate change mitigation.
Hazlehurst said, “We will be talking to the community about the process and looking to enlist the assistance of our wonderful care groups, who have done such a great job in the past, to help with the revegetation and ongoing care and maintenance of this special place.”
HDC still needs to obtain archaeological authority from Heritage New Zealand for the felling and removal of the trees, which they would ideally like to start in optimal ground conditions this summer.
The work would be done with guidance from Archaeology Hawke’s Bay and geotechnical engineers and is expected to take up to eight weeks, weather permitting.
How the timber would be disposed of would be confirmed once contractors have been engaged, potentially export or firewood, with a rebate to HDC to help defray the cost.
