View source for Paparoa National Park

{{Short description|National park in New Zealand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox protected area
 | name              = Paparoa National Park
 | iucn_category     = II
 | photo             = File:2019-01-10 105850 Pancake Rocks anagoria.jpg
 | photo_caption     = Pancake Rocks
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 8
| mapframe-point = none
| mapframe-wikidata = yes
<!-- | map               = New Zealand | relief            = 1-->
 | map_caption       = Interactive map of Paparoa National Park
 | location          = [[West Coast, New Zealand]]
 | nearest_city      = 
 | coordinates       = {{coord|42|5|S|171|30|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
 | area_km2          = 429.7
 | established       = 1 January 1987
 | visitation_num    = 
 | visitation_year   = 
 | governing_body    = [[New Zealand Department of Conservation|Department of Conservation]]
}}
[[File:Paparoa VC 27.jpg|thumb|Paparoa National Park Visitor Centre (2021)]]

'''Paparoa National Park''' is on the west coast of the [[South Island]] of [[New Zealand]].
The park was established in 1987 and encompasses {{convert|430|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.linz.govt.nz/layer/53564-protected-areas/data/|title=Data Table – Protected Areas – LINZ Data Service|publisher=[[Land Information New Zealand]]|accessdate=18 October 2017|archive-date=18 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018072034/https://data.linz.govt.nz/layer/53564-protected-areas/data/|url-status=live}}</ref>  The park ranges from or near the coastline to the peaks of the [[Paparoa Range]]. A separate section of the park lies to the north and is centred at Ananui Creek. The park protects a [[limestone]] [[karst]] area. The park contains several [[cave]]s, of which [[Metro Cave / Te Ananui Cave]] is a commercial [[tourist]] attraction. The majority of the park is forested with a wide variety of vegetation. The park was the site of the 1995 [[Cave Creek disaster]], where fourteen people died as a result of the collapse of a scenic viewing platform.

The [[Paparoa Track]], one of [[New Zealand Great Walks|New Zealand's Great Walks]], runs through the park.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/things-to-do/walking-and-tramping/great-walks/|title=Great Walks|publisher=Department of Conservation|accessdate=28 March 2020|archive-date=1 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401224822/https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/things-to-do/walking-and-tramping/great-walks/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The small settlement of [[Punakaiki]], adjacent to the [[Pancake Rocks and Blowholes]] tourist attraction, lies on the edge of the park. The park is also located near the towns of [[Westport, New Zealand|Westport]], [[Greymouth]], and [[Barrytown]].

==History==
===Park establishment===
In 1976, the [[Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand|Federated Mountain Clubs]] had identified the northern part of the Paparoa Ranges as a potential wilderness area. In 1979, the [[Native Forest Action Council]] proposed a 130,000-hectare national park encompassing the northern Paparoa Ranges and surrounding land to the north and east. This eventually led the National Parks and Reserves Authority to identify the western Paparoa Range as a prospective national park. Meanwhile, a joint proposal by the [[Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (New Zealand)|Department of Scientific and Industrial Research]] and the National Museum succeeded in having a core area of great ecological significance –  the forests of the lowland karst [[syncline]] – gazetted as the Pororari Ecological Area in 1979.

The initial proposal for a large park incorporating the wilderness area was rejected, but after seven rounds of submissions and help from other environmental groups, including the [[Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand|Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society]], an area of 30,327 hectares was gazetted as Paparoa National Park on 23 November 1987.<ref name=resource>{{cite book |url= http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/about-doc/role/policies-and-plans/paparoa-national-park-management-plan/paparoa-resource-summary.pdf |title= Paparoa National Park Resource Summary |publisher= [[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] |year= 1990 |isbn= 0-478-01193-8 |accessdate= 8 January 2012 |archive-date= 22 March 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220322191547/https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/about-doc/role/policies-and-plans/paparoa-national-park-management-plan/paparoa-resource-summary.pdf |url-status= live }}</ref>

===Expansion===
Following the liquidation of [[Pike River Coal]], [[Solid Energy]] acquired its assets.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/6550471/Pike-River-mine-sold-to-Solid-Energy |title= Pike River mine sold to Solid Energy |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date= 3 December 2015 |access-date= 5 December 2015 |archive-date= 4 March 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304130728/http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/6550471/Pike-River-mine-sold-to-Solid-Energy |url-status= live }}</ref> The government then purchased the {{convert|3580|ha|acre}} of land around the Pike River Mine. The environment minister, [[Nick Smith (New Zealand politician)|Nick Smith]], announced on 15 November 2015 that 3,580 ha of land would be added to the Park.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/74042825/pike-river-walkway-confirmed-for-west-coast |title= Pike River walkway confirmed for West Coast |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date= 15 November 2015 |access-date= 9 July 2022 |archive-date= 11 September 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170911034801/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/74042825/pike-river-walkway-confirmed-for-west-coast |url-status= live }}</ref>

==Geography==
=== Location ===
Paparoa National Park is located in the northern [[West Coast Region|West Coast region]] of the South Island, between the [[Buller River]] (Kawatiri) and the [[Grey River (New Zealand)|Grey River]] (Māwheranui). It includes the western side of the [[Paparoa Range]] and some separate eastern sections along the [[Inangahua River]]. The park covers the catchment areas of the [[Punakaiki River|Punakaiki]], [[Pororari River|Pororari]] and [[Fox River (Buller)|Fox (Potikohua)]] rivers and [[Bullock Creek (New Zealand)|Bullock Creek (Punungairo)]], and also the [[Metro Cave / Te Ananui Cave|Metro / Te Ananui cave]] system and the southern side of the [[Four Mile River|Tiropahi River]] catchment.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017 |title=Paparoa National Park Management Plan |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/about-doc/role/policies-and-plans/national-park-management-plans/paparoa/paparoa-national-park-management-plan.pdf |access-date=3 July 2022 |website=Department of Conservation |page=22}}</ref>

==Geology==
===Landforms===
The park has unusually diverse geology with a wide variety of coastal, lowland, and mountain landforms. The major geological structures that form the park are the Barrytown [[syncline]], the Punakaiki [[anticline]], the Paparoa Tectonic Zone, the Cape Foulwind fault, and the Hawera fault.<ref name="resource" /> Most of the land area of the park is mountainous. The eastern side of the main range has deep [[Glaciated rock|glaciated]] valleys that run north and south, with towering bluffs and [[cirque]]s, hanging valleys, and [[truncated spur]]s. The western coastline is known for its spectacular, varied scenery and accessibility.<ref name="resource" />

=== Mountains ===
The Paparoa mountains were uplifted during the late [[Pliocene]] or early [[Quaternary]] periods. Mt Lodge, the highest mountain in the park at {{convert|1447|m}}, has rocks that are the oldest in New Zealand.<ref name="resource" /> Over the last 10 million years, the movement of the [[Alpine Fault]] has separated the predominantly [[granite]] and [[gneiss]] rocks of the Paparoas from their original neighbours, so that they now more closely resemble the rocks in [[Fiordland]], far to the southwest, than to the relatively nearby main range of the [[Southern Alps (New Zealand)|Southern Alps]].<ref name="management2">{{cite book |url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/about-doc/role/policies-and-plans/paparoa-national-park-management-plan/paparoa-npmp.pdf |title=Paparoa National Park Management Plan |publisher=Department of Conservation |year=1992 |isbn=0-478-01468-6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322191544/https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/about-doc/role/policies-and-plans/paparoa-national-park-management-plan/paparoa-npmp.pdf |archive-date=22 March 2022 |url-status=live |accessdate=8 January 2012}}</ref>

===Karst===
[[File:Cave Creek resurgence.jpg|thumb|Cave Creek resurgence]]
[[File:Paparoa 28.jpg|thumb|Pororari River Track]]
Rivers flowing from the Paparoa Ranges pass through the limestone syncline, creating subterranean waterways and extensive cave systems, which are among the park's features.<ref name=resource />  The main rivers are the [[Fox River (Buller)|Fox]], [[Pororari River|Pororari]] and [[Punakaiki River|Punakaiki]]. Another of the rivers is Cave Creek, site of the 1995 [[Cave Creek disaster]]. A complex cave system feeds Cave Creek.

Upstream of the Xanadu and Taurus Major [[sinkholes]], on [[Bullock Creek (Buller District)|Bullock Creek]] (the most northerly on the west coast,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bullock Creek, West Coast|url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz34916/Bullock-Creek/|access-date=24 November 2021|website=NZ Topo Map|language=en|archive-date=24 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124205907/https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz34916/Bullock-Creek/|url-status=live}}</ref> others being near [[Ross, New Zealand|Ross]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bullock Creek, West Coast|url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz30823/Bullock-Creek/|access-date=24 November 2021|website=NZ Topo Map|language=en|archive-date=24 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124205907/https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz30823/Bullock-Creek/|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Fox Glacier (town)|Fox Glacier]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bullock Creek, West Coast|url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz26402/Bullock-Creek/|access-date=24 November 2021|website=NZ Topo Map|language=en|archive-date=24 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124205908/https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz26402/Bullock-Creek/|url-status=live}}</ref>), a [[polje]] of up to about {{convert|1|km|abbr=on}}<ref>{{Cite web|last=Paul W Williams|date=2005|title=Karst Evolution on the West Coast|url=http://www.ackma.org/journal/57/Karst%20Evolution%20On%20The%20West%20Coast%20Of%20South%20Island%20New%20Zealand%20Paul%20Williams.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=24 November 2021|archive-date=24 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124205908/http://www.ackma.org/journal/57/Karst%20Evolution%20On%20The%20West%20Coast%20Of%20South%20Island%20New%20Zealand%20Paul%20Williams.pdf}}</ref> square and {{convert|1|m|abbr=on}} deep can form after heavy rain. Bush felling and drainage took place in the polje from the 1870s, but the wetland ecology has been undergoing restoration since 1986.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sorrell|first=Brian|date=28 February 2007|title=Freshwater feature: the Bullock Creek polje|url=https://niwa.co.nz/freshwater-and-estuaries/freshwater-and-estuaries-update/no03-2003/freshwater-feature-the-bullock-creek-polje|access-date=24 November 2021|website=NIWA|language=en|archive-date=24 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124205920/https://niwa.co.nz/freshwater-and-estuaries/freshwater-and-estuaries-update/no03-2003/freshwater-feature-the-bullock-creek-polje|url-status=live}}</ref> The other large polje in this country is at [[Lake Disappear]] in Waikato.

The river gorges, confined by high, forest-crowned limestone cliffs, provide access to the park's [[karst]] interior. However, in many tributaries, the gorges are narrow and steep, with waterfalls. Dry, mossy streambeds, karren,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.showcaves.com/english/explain/Karst/Karren.html |title=Karst Geology: Karren |publisher=www.showcaves.com |year=2011 |accessdate=10 January 2012 |archive-date=15 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111215131157/http://www.showcaves.com/english/explain/Karst/Karren.html |url-status=live }}</ref> sinkholes (or dolines),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.showcaves.com/english/explain/Karst/Doline.html |title=Karst Geology: Doline or sink hole |publisher=www.showcaves.com |year=2011 |accessdate=10 January 2012 |archive-date=7 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607074040/https://www.showcaves.com/english/explain/Karst/Doline.html |url-status=live }}</ref> blind valleys and basins where water emerges from caves or vanishes into sinks are all indicators of the complex subterranean system beneath. Intricate systems of shafts, passages, and caverns have been slowly formed by the continual effects of water through the soluble limestone. The forest ensures this process continues by supplying decaying vegetation that adds to the acidity of the flowing water. The largest single feature in the karst region is the Barrytown syncline. Limestone is exposed on both flanks of the syncline, with more recent gravels and mudstones occupying the low-lying area in between. These more easily erodible rocks overlie interstratal karst. The majority of known cave systems are on the western side of the limestone syncline, where underground drainage patterns are concentrated along horizontal lines of weakness in the [[Bed (geology)|bedding planes]].<ref name="management">{{cite book |url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/about-doc/role/policies-and-plans/paparoa-national-park-management-plan/paparoa-npmp.pdf |title=Paparoa National Park Management Plan |publisher=Department of Conservation |year=1992 |isbn=0-478-01468-6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322191544/https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/about-doc/role/policies-and-plans/paparoa-national-park-management-plan/paparoa-npmp.pdf |archive-date=22 March 2022 |url-status=live |accessdate=8 January 2012}}</ref>

===Coastal region===
[[Image:Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki.jpg|thumb|right|The "Pancake Rocks" at Paparoa National Park]]
[[File:Fox River- Paparoa National Park, New Zealand.jpg|thumb|Fox River- Paparoa National Park]]
The Paparoa coastline is characterised by high cliffs cut away by waves from the [[Tasman Sea]], with indented coves and sandy beaches. There are small islands offshore and rock pillars. These terraces were once islands, which became part of the mainland when New Zealand was uplifted quite recently in its geological history. The most well-known feature of the coastal region is the [[Pancake Rocks and Blowholes]] at Dolomite Point, near Punakaiki, where evenly layered stacks of platey limestone have been eroded in places to form surge pools and [[Blowhole (geology)|blowholes]].<ref name=management />

==Ecology==
===Fauna===
Bird habitats within the park range from the coastline to the peak of the Paparoa Ranges. Several species, such as [[tūī]], bellbirds, [[kākā]], [[kererū]] (New Zealand pigeon), and parakeets, migrate from winter habitat in the lower forests to summer habitat in the upland forests.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nzbirds.com/birding/paparoa.html|title=Birding sites – Paparoa National Park|publisher=New Zealand Birds Limited|accessdate=28 March 2020|archive-date=28 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328013148/https://www.nzbirds.com/birding/paparoa.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

A significant feature of the coast is the colony of the rare seabird, the [[Westland petrel]] (tāiko), located on densely forested terraces just south of the Punakaiki River.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/about-doc/concessions-and-permits/conservation-revealed/westland-petrel-taiko-lowres.pdf|title= Westland petrel – tāiko|publisher= Department of Conservation|year= 2006|accessdate= 8 January 2012|url-status= dead|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100519055043/http://doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/about-doc/concessions-and-permits/conservation-revealed/westland-petrel-taiko-lowres.pdf|archivedate= 19 May 2010}}</ref>  The Westland petrel breeding site at Punakaiki has been identified as an [[Important Bird Area]] by [[BirdLife International]].<ref>BirdLife International. (2012). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Punakaiki. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070710124603/http://www.birdlife.org/ |date=10 July 2007 }} on 16 February 2012.</ref>

Large colonies of [[New Zealand fur seal]]s have been established in adjacent areas around [[Westport, New Zealand|Westport]], such as at [[Cape Foulwind]]. Rare [[southern elephant seal]]s and [[leopard seal]]s also visit.<ref>{{cite web| url-status = live| archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/O0v1kRRegos| archive-date = 5 December 2021| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0v1kRRegos| title = Leopard seal encounter New Zealand | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Hector's dolphin]]s (some of the highest population densities in the nation) and some other dolphins including [[killer whale]]s [[whale watching in New Zealand|can be observed close to shores]] as well.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.buller.co.nz/southisland-newzealand-community-assets/north-beach/ |title=North Beach, South Island, New Zealand, Buller, Westport |access-date=6 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411181223/http://buller.co.nz/southisland-newzealand-community-assets/north-beach/ |archive-date=11 April 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>http://www.epa.govt.nz/Publications/STOS_Ruru_2_and_Maui_Appendix_5_PART%20_C_Reduced.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001425/http://www.epa.govt.nz/Publications/STOS_Ruru_2_and_Maui_Appendix_5_PART%20_C_Reduced.pdf |date=4 March 2016 }}.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254288243 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515221829/http://www.researchgate.net/publication/254288243_Nearshore_distribution_and_abundance_of_dolphins_along_the_West_Coast_of_the_South_Island_New_Zealand |archive-date=15 May 2014 |title=Near-shore distribution and abundance of dolphins along the West Coast of the South Island, New Zealand – ResearchGate}}</ref> For whales, their number is still very small, but various species have been observed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.westmarine.org.nz/report5_4.aspx |title=West Coast Marine Protection Forum |accessdate=6 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219161401/http://www.westmarine.org.nz/report5_4.aspx |archivedate=19 December 2010 }}</ref>

==Conservation and human interaction==
===Protection from mining===
Although Paparoa National Park is protected from mining under Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act, there have been proposals to allow some mining within its borders. On 22 March 2010, [[Gerry Brownlee]] (Minister of Energy and Resources)  and [[Kate Wilkinson (politician)|Kate Wilkinson]] (Minister of Conservation) released a discussion paper including a proposal to remove 7,058 hectares of land from Schedule Four of the [[Crown Minerals Act 1991]], including the Inangahua sector of Paparoa National Park.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/time-discuss-maximising-our-mineral-potential |title=Time to discuss maximising our mineral potential |publisher=New Zealand Government |date=22 March 2010 |accessdate=11 January 2012 |archive-date=26 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226181705/http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/time-discuss-maximising-our-mineral-potential |url-status=live }}</ref> The area of the Inangahua sector included in this proposal was 3,315 hectares, or 8 per cent of the park.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/BROWNLEE_MaximisingOurMineralPotential.pdf | title = Maximising our Mineral Potential – Summary of Government proposals | publisher = New Zealand Government | date = 22 March 2010 | accessdate = 11 January 2012 | archive-date = 24 January 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150124120900/http://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/BROWNLEE_MaximisingOurMineralPotential.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref> The proposed change would remove the prohibition on mining for the area concerned. On 26 March 2010, a spokesman for Gerry Brownlee said that opencast mining in Paparoa National Park could not be ruled out.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/3509111/Opencast-mining-in-Paparoa-not-ruled-out|title= Open cast mining in Paparoa not ruled out|publisher=[[The Press]] |date= 26 March 2010|accessdate= 11 January 2012|archive-date= 29 March 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100329155851/http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/3509111/Opencast-mining-in-Paparoa-not-ruled-out|url-status= live}}</ref>

On 20 July 2010, in a joint statement by Brownlee and Wilkinson, the Government announced that it had received 37,552 submissions on its discussion paper, and that it had decided not to remove any land from Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act for further mineral exploration or extraction. Ms Wilkinson said the government had agreed to continue with its proposal to add 14 areas with a total of 12,400 hectares of land to Schedule 4, including 240 hectares of Paparoa National Park (the northwest addition).<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/no-land-be-removed-schedule-4|title= No land to be removed from Schedule 4|publisher= New Zealand Government|date= 20 July 2010|accessdate= 11 January 2012|archive-date= 26 February 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120226182342/http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/no-land-be-removed-schedule-4|url-status= live}}</ref>

===Activities===
The park is a popular location for tramping, walking, and viewing scenery and caves. The [[Truman Track]], located {{convert|3|km}} north of Punakaiki, provides access from {{NZlSH|6}} to a headland via a short walk through coastal forest of ferns, nīkau palms, podocarps and rātā, with flax nearer the coastline.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 2020 |title=Walks in the Punakaiki area |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/west-coast/punakaiki-walks.pdf |access-date=23 March 2022 |website=Department of Conservation}}</ref> The [[Paparoa Track]] is another popular route.

==== Paparoa Track and Pike29 Memorial Track ====
A {{cvt|55|km}} walkway, the [[Paparoa Track]] from [[Blackball, New Zealand|Blackball]] to [[Punakaiki]] and the ''Pike29 Memorial Track'' were constructed through the park as a memorial to the 29 miners lost in the 2010 [[Pike River Mine disaster]]. Most of the families of the victims approved,<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/65532941/Pike-River-tragedy-memorial-walking-track-wanted |title= Pike River tragedy memorial walking track wanted |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date= 29 January 2015 |access-date=9 July 2022 |archive-date= 2 February 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150202112037/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/65532941/Pike-River-tragedy-memorial-walking-track-wanted |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/74033985/tourist-track-an-insult-to-dead-pike-river-miners-says-widow |title= Tourist track an insult to dead Pike River miners says widow |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date= 15 November 2015 |access-date= 5 December 2015 |archive-date= 9 September 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170909055629/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/74033985/tourist-track-an-insult-to-dead-pike-river-miners-says-widow |url-status= live }}</ref> but there has been some criticism because [[Solid Energy]] decided in 2014 that it was too risky to re-enter the mine to recover any remains from the mine.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/62966511/solid-energy-wont-reenter-pike-river-mine |title= Solid-Energy wont reenter Pike River Mine |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date= 6 November 2014 |access-date= 5 December 2015 |archive-date= 13 November 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151113043410/http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/62966511/solid-energy-wont-reenter-pike-river-mine |url-status= live }}</ref>
[[File:Paparoa 27.jpg|thumb|Paparoa Track (Pororari river)]]
The formation of the Paparoa Track has been a catalyst for the emerging adventure sports community on the West Coast with events such as The Paparoa <ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.thepaparoa.co.nz| title= The Paparoa – New Zealand's Premium Mountain Race| accessdate= 28 March 2020| archive-date= 22 January 2019| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190122032311/http://thepaparoa.co.nz/| url-status= live}}</ref> which features trail running and mountain biking over the track. The event is based on the region's mining history and also celebrates the exceptional female adventure athletes it has produced, such as Casey Brown, Ruth Croft, and Emily Miazga.

==See also==
*[[National parks of New Zealand]]
*[[Forest parks of New Zealand]]
*[[Regional parks of New Zealand]]
*[[Protected areas of New Zealand]]
*[[Conservation in New Zealand]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Paparoa National Park}}
{{Wikivoyage|Punakaiki}}
* [https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/about-doc/role/policies-and-plans/national-park-management-plans/paparoa/map-1-paparoa-national-park-management-plan.pdf Paparoa National Park map]
*[http://tramper.co.nz/?29 Paparoa National Park Short Walks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020051257/http://tramper.co.nz/?29 |date=20 October 2014 }}
*[http://tramper.co.nz/?219 Inland Pack Track] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150124083807/http://www.tramper.co.nz/?219 |date=24 January 2015 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20180902051312/http://www.dontunderminenz.org/ March Against Mining in Paparoa National Park]

{{Paparoa National Park}}
{{National Parks of New Zealand}}
{{Buller District}}
{{Grey District}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Paparoa National Park| *]]
[[Category:National parks of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Buller District]]
[[Category:Grey District]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1987]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Protected areas of the West Coast Region]]