These saw pits at Ratapihipihi Scenic Reserve are reminders of an industry that employed many of Taranaki's early settlers. The saw pits are rectangular holes in the ground where large logs were sawn into smaller pieces. These pits date from the mid-late Nineteenth Century - prior to the area becoming one of New Zealand's earliest scenic reserves in 1906. They are primarily located on higher ground where valuable timber trees such as Rimu and Northern Rata grew - both these trees are now rare in the reserve.
Many of the Ratapihipihi saw pits are located close to the track, and an interpretative panel is also provided - researched by Sorrel Hoskin, following a bequest from the children of Willem and Jeanne van Gorkom.
Saw pits generally only survive under areas of intact native bush on relatively flat ground, and are now uncommon in the New Plymouth area as most of the original bush cover has now been cleared and converted to either farms or housing.
Other surviving saw pits survive at Huatoki/Tupari Reserve.
Websites
Word on the Street, Ratapihipihi Rd, Puke Ariki website
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