KEY POINTS:
Part of New Zealand gold mining history will be uncovered in Southland tomorrow, with the opening of the latest section of a nationwide walking track.
The new section is a loop track starting at the foot of the Longwood Range, about 12km west of Riverton.
It will also serve as the entrance to a harder Te Araroa (The Long Pathway) route, running along an old water race on the side of the Longwood Range.
Kevin Hawkes of the Te Araroa Southland Trust told NZPA the track highlighted the gold mining history of the area .
"From the stone walling, to the channels and pits in the ground there is evidence of the Chinese and European gold mining activities in the area," he said.
Parts of gold mining production also appeared on the track, including a 63cm wide water pipe used in mining for the gold .
Mr Hawkes said there was signposting at the start of the track where visitors could read about the gold mining activities in the area.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) has opened 60km of the Te Araroa track within the last six weeks, as it pushes to have a track extend the length of the country.
The last section opened was a 29km stretch on March 13, when international singer Shania Twain joined Prime Minister Helen Clark to open the track that runs across the Canadian singer's pastoral leases in Otago.
Last month a 15km section of track in Horowhenua was opened.
In last year's budget, the Government committed $3.8 million to the Te Araroa walkway which, when completed, will run from Cape Reinga to Bluff.
- NZPA
