The 181,000ha reserve includes three main pounamu trails that were vital for Poutini Ngāi Tahu and incorporates much of the Hokitika backcountry.
Landmark decisions on stewardship land classifications were announced in December by Conservation Minister Tama Potaka.
In an update to the Westland District Council last week Department of Conservation Hokitika operations manager Tim Shaw said the stewardship land review had identified the Hokitika backcountry to be gazetted as historic reserve — Tarahanga e Toru.
‘‘We’re really excited about that and the potential that has to celebrate that area and tell those stories,’’ Mr Shaw said.
The historic trails through the reserve were used as trading routes for pounamu and kai, serving as lifelines for Poutini Ngai Tahu.
Iwi representative and Te Runanga o Makaawhio chairman Paul Madgwick said the creation of Tarahanga e Toru Historic Reserve was the ‘‘major gain’’ to come out of the stewardship land decisions for iwi.
‘‘And it kind of got overwhelmed by all the other announcements at the time. People don’t realise the extent if it,’’ he said.
The name Tarahanga e Toru means ‘‘three passes’’ — referring to the passes at the head of the Ahaura, Taramakau and Arahura Rivers, all significant trails to Poutini Ngai Tahu.
‘‘Tarahanga e Toru is all of that beautiful, captivating view of the mountains that Hokitika enjoys ... and that’s only part it it.
‘‘It’s everything that goes from the view we see out here, from the river right up to the Ahaura River in the Grey Valley.
‘‘People don’t understand that that’s the extent of it, so it’s a really significant gain.
‘‘It’s probably the biggest gain for iwi since the Ngai Tahu settlement; in fact it’s bigger than the gains we made in the Ngai Tahu settlement.’’
It remained Doc land but it was the management of it that iwi would have a big say in, he said.
‘‘So that’s what’s coming. That’s the next phase. The implementation.
‘‘There will be a whole management plan for how that allow for the activities and recreation that goes on ... in that whole area.
‘‘It’s a major piece of work.’’
Three other areas of immense cultural significance to Ngai Tahu will become historic reserves: Kotorepi, Kaiata and Kohuamaru at Okarito.
Certain areas that contain pounamu and links to historic pa sites will remain as stewardship land for further assessment.
The 2025 classifications for more than 80% or 640,000ha of stewardship land took over four years to clarify.
