Manawatū Gorge

Like many important geographic features in New Zealand, the creation and exploration of Manawatū Gorge is an embedded part of traditional Māori history.

This comes from traditional Māori history, in which it is said that Haunui-a-nanaia uttered the phrase when he caught sight of the river in his search for his wife Wairaka.

[9] A single track rail connection on the northern side of the gorge was completed in 1891 and is now part of the Palmerston North–Gisborne Line.

Contractors were pulled out of clearing the slip in July 2017 due to ongoing geological movement in the hill, closing the road indefinitely.

[15] A further slip in July 2017 at the Ashhurst end of the Manawatu Gorge left an additional 10,000 cubic metres of rock on the road.

[16] Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency decided to close the Gorge route permanently.

[17][18][19] The chosen new route option, delayed from December 2017 and announced in March 2018, will be above the Gorge, but below the Saddle Road, and will bypass Ashurst.

Also along the track, in the midst of native bush, stands the 6 metres (20 ft) tall metal sculpture of Whatonga, one of three recognised Māori chiefs on board the Kurahaupo Waka, which journeyed across the ocean to New Zealand.

The artwork on the sculpture features hammerhead shark patterns and depicts elements of the story of Whatonga's sea voyage, as well as emblems of all of the Manawatu Gorge biodiversity project stakeholders.

Manawatu Gorge viewed from a lookout on the Manawatu Gorge Track
The sign says the road is closed to all, including pedestrians, under the Government Roading Powers Act 1989. The Manawatu Gorge Track goes under the bridge
Whatonga sculpture along Manawatu Gorge Track