KEY POINTS:
The crunching of hundreds of boots on gravel trails will be music to the ears of retired Kaipara farmers Pierre and Jackie Chatelanat.
For them, the transformation of their sprawling harbourside estate into the newest Auckland regional park on April 5 is a dream come true.
The couple say they gave their 843ha Atiu Creek Farm to the Auckland Regional Council because they wanted to preserve and protect this unspoiled part of the Kaipara Harbour, near Wellsford.
At the time of the donation, in 2006, the farm was valued at more than $10 million and was protected by a Queen Elizabeth II National Trust open space covenant.
On the terrace of their home overlooking the park, softly spoken London-born Mr Chatelanat said he arrived in New Zealand in 1951 and was shown the property by Wright Stevenson, stock agents in Auckland.
"Coming from the city it was an appealing place when you look out here and there's a view and no traffic noise," he said.
"I purchased 10,000 acres [4046ha] of what was then the undeveloped area of ti-tree and gorse of the Seaview Estate from Mr and Mrs Mackie.
"About two years later I approached the Government, as a result of which I sold 8000 acres [3237ha] to them for Lands and Survey farm development, leaving me with this area, Atiu Creek. It was quite a challenge to create a place to live and work from scrub."
He employed a manager to look after the stock, bought a bulldozer and set about making tracks and clearing gorse and second-growth scrub for pasture. Useful timber was recovered for milling and fence battens.
"I had done basic work building cottages so staff were comfortable and got all they needed. The Perendale sheep breeding programme was competently managed by men who were brought up in farming, so I concentrated on tree planting."
He joined the Farm Forestry Association and, advised by local farmer Neil Barr, planted hundreds of eucalyptus and pines for shelter belts for stock, fetching them from a Waikato nursery in his 12-tonne truck.
"They were a lovely sight. People used to stop outside the front gate to look down the avenue of eucalyptus trees. But sadly they were attacked by insects and felled. Only a few survive."
However, the legacy of mass tree planting remains in the extensive areas of shelter and woodlots and regenerating native bush.
Angus Reesby, who managed the farm for nearly 19 years, said: "I always regarded Pierre as a conservationist who built to a high standard with permanent materials."
Mr Chatelanat's humanitarian streak pulled him away from the farm to work for United Nations agencies on the problems of refugees and starvation in many countries.
Overseas, he met and married Jackie, who worked for the Food and Agriculture Organisation in developing countries.
She recalled her first visit to Atiu Creek: "It was more like a park than a farm."
She is also proud that despite farming operations, a lot of the Maori history, pa sites, terraces and middens are preserved.
Her husband said he enjoyed living in "an enlightened country" where people of many nationalities have settled.
"We spent a great deal of time travelling overseas so we are grateful to be able to retire here."
ATIU CREEK FARM
* At Run Rd, Okahukura (Tapora) Peninsula, 20km west of Wellsford.
* Given to the ARC in 2006, when it was valued at more than $10 million.
* Opens next Saturday.
* Has expansive views over rolling hills to Kaipara Harbour.
* Has pa sites, bush, walking tracks, picnics, riding horses, mountain bikes.
