A Jewel in the Crown
As we hit the Expressway outside of Huntly and travel passed Ohinewai, a shift occurs, subtle to begin with but just enough to cue me into small changes that are taking place. Approaching Rangiriri it would be easy to just keep travelling at pace and remain oblivious to the surrounds but I know there’s a National Wetlands Centre at Rangiriri, on the shores of Lake Kopuera.
“A wetland is any area where water occurs at or near the ground surface for all or part of the year, and has plants and animals adapted to living in the permanently or seasonally wet conditions. Freshwater wetlands may be classified as swamps, fens or bogs, according to water supply and nutrient content. Swamps are fed by rainwater, surface water run-off and groundwater and are consequently relatively fertile, whereas at the other extreme bogs derive their nutrients and water solely from rainfall.
The Centre is the starting-off place for an approximately 50km trail (the full loop takes approx. 1hr to complete) where you can learn more about wetlands and see examples of a wide range of wetland types. The second stop is at Lake Waikare, followed by the Swan Rd Drainage Scheme, then Whangamarino Wetland Overlook, Whangamarino River, Island Block Road Overlook and finally the Whangamarino Weir.
Not more than a stones throw away (as the crow flies) is the small country town of Te Kauwhata. It has a population of 1100 give or take a few. The Rangiriri Hotel now stands on the old battle site of Rangiriri pa where in 1863 General Cameron led British forces in an attack on the pa. The remains of a British redoubt named after Te Wheoro who held it on behalf of the British in 1868-1869 can also be seen nearby in Talbot St.
But Te Kauwhata’s jewel in the crown must surely be the Rongopai Historical Winery. The building on this site was first constructed by the New Zealand Government in 1902 as New Zealand’s first viticultural research station. Italian Romeo Bragato came to Te Kauwhata in 1895 at the invitation of the New Zealand government, to head the Viticultural Research Station.
Many of Romeo’s findings paved the way for the New Zealand wine industry; the results of his work still resonate and influence the way we grow wine today. His aim was to understand the New Zealand’s soil and to implement a programme to establish varieties that would thrive in the diverse climatic conditions. This same site where Romeo’s groundbreaking work took place was used as Rongopai’s winery from 1932 to 2007.
In 2007, Babich Wines took over the Rongopai Wines brand, moving the winemaking to the Babich Henderson site in West Auckland. Rongopai holds the unique position of being one of the oldest wine brands in New Zealand.” The horses under the bonnet are straining at the bit again, they’re flying to an Auckland City finish line but there’ll be more than an eyelash in it this time. With yesterdays Melbourne Cup also in the rear vision mirror there’s new prizes on the horizon. Next stop Auckland.
