|
The Onetangi Reserve is located within a valley that is bounded by the Waiheke
Rd Scotts Terrace, east of the village of Onetangi of Waiheke Island, New Zealand.
The 125-acre Onetangi Reserve lies at an approximate distance of 500m from the
northern shore -Onetangi Bay and 2.5km from the southern coastline- Awaawaroa
Bay of the Island of Waiheke. In fact a portion of Waiheke Island is covered by
the reserve, forming the largest region of intact forest on the northern sea coast
of the islet.The Onetangi Forest and Bird Reserve is named after the village of
Onetangi and previously when it did not become a reserve, was known as Eddie Brown's
Bush after a former owner of the land.
The Onetangi Reserve nurtures about eighteen types of vegetation and is altogether
described as a Taraire-Pohutukawa woods with rewarewa, kohekohe, tawa, puriri,
matai, kanuka ,kauri and pohutukawa-northern rata hybrid. The kauri occurs naturally
and Metrosideros excelsa x robusta is an impressive species of plant that can
be found here.This reserve has the highest number of indigenous trees especially
on the hilly spurs and slopes at the southern part.
The forest contains a wide array of plant species and includes uncommon species
of plants such as Coprosma grandifolia, hinau, mangeao, wharangi, gully tree-fern
Cyathea cunninghamii, katote C. smithii, kawaka, miro, maire Mida salicifolia,
white maire, black maire, narrow leaved maire, tarata, kohuhu, kaikomako, turepo
and etc are found locally.
The plant species- Kaikomako is very rare on this island.Near the edge there
is a small raupo wetland, near a stream in the Onetangi Reserve. The exclusive
specimen of pukatea plant grows near the wetland.Carex lessoniana grows in the
other tract of raupo wetland that lies away from the stream.The prickly mingimingi
Cyathodes juniperina, a rare species can also be found in the Reserve. The Onetangi
Reserve is a wild, wet, shadowy forest that awaits exploration.
|
