Rangiwai Lodge 29 Rangiwai Road, Titirangi, Auckland, New Zealand Phone/Fax: 64 9 817 8990 Email: rangiwai@ihug.co.nz

HISTORY AND CULTURE The Waitakere Ranges is an area embracing some of New Zealand's finest landscapes covering an ancient formerly volcanic land. Containing native forests, spectacular waterfalls, vast iron sand beaches, towering and protected coastals wetlands it has also been the site of Maori habitation from ancient times as the ancestral homeland of the Te Kawerau a Maki tribe. The tradition of this tribal group lives on in the magnificent carvings of the new Arataki Centre. Centuries of occupation of the fertile Karekare Beach Valley is evident in bush walks through the area. Following early European settlement of the Auckland isthmus large tracts of land in the Waitakere Ranges were purchased and the abundance of the towering giant of the forest – the native Kauri tree led to the early pioneering settlement of the area and the exploitation of this valuable resource. Kauri timber was logged and shipped from the ports of the Manukau Harbour to far and wide.   In the 1890's the rolling low lands of West Auckland were settled by Dalmation migrants who originally worked in the Far North digging for Kauri gum (a highly valuable product used for furniture polish). After settling in the Waitakere District they then turned their hands to planting vines and so began the New Zealand wine industry. Vineyards of the area still bearing the names of some of NZ's finest winemakers like Brajkovich, Selak and Babich are testimony to the contribution these early Dalmations settlers made to our flourishing wine industry of today. By the 1930's the growing City of Auckland looked to the Waitakere Ranges to provide a further resource – water. Dams were contructed in this vital water catchment area of the City. It is the service line to this dam which provides the popular Water Care Train ride. In 1940 the Ranges became a a Regional Park by Act of Parliament to secure the protection of this scenic wonderland for the enjoyment of future generations. At the same time the potential for tourism to the area was recognized and the Titirangi Hotel was opened. Now housing an Art Gallery, Theatre offices and a cafe this landmark of Titirangi Village is run as an Arts Centre. Bed and breakfast Auckland