Purau is a place of historical, spiritual, and cultural significance for Maori. It is also the site of the first European farm in Canterbury.
With its steep bluffs and gullies, and remnants of native bush, the Western face of Mt Evans is recognised as an outstanding nautral landscape under the Banks Peninsula District Plan.
It is also of ecological importance as a refuge to rare and endangered plants, and other wildlife.
The Hidden Valley Conservation Trust has now established a covenant over the Reserve with the QE2 National Trust. However, much work remains to be done to enhance and protect the native flora and fauna.
Physical Geography
The Reserve consists of 72ha ranging in altitude from 100m to 600m.
- Geology
- Hydrology
- Climate
Flora and Fauna
A unique ecosystem
Renowned botanist and local conservationist, Hugh Wilson, identified the gullies below Mt Evans as being of particular ecological importance in his 1992 survey of Banks Peninsula.
We are currently undertaking a survey of flora and fauna and have identified over 100 plants and fungi so far.
