Rapurapu Reserve

This reserve is 2.6207 hectares in size and is located on Rapurapu Road, which is approximately 15 kilometres southeast of Matamata. The reserve is bounded to the north, east and west by farmland and to the south by Rapurapu Road. The reserve consists of a large undulating grassed area and features a metal ring road, a block of public toilets, as well as picnic tables, a barbeque and camping areas.  Rapurapu Stream lies close to the western boundary and is ideal for swimming. There are several Populusyunnanensis sited on the reserve that provide shade. These remain following cyclone storm damage during 1997, which saw the removal of a number of trees. Local residents and visitors to the district use the reserve for camping purposes and a motor home park area. The operative District Plan does not identify the site separately as a Reserve. The planning zone is Kaitiaki (conservation), and the District Plan identifies that Rapurapu Reserve contains a group of significant poplar trees (register no. 111). In 1980 the reserve was vested in MACC as a recreation reserve, then in the same year it was classified. Unfortunately this reserve is continually subject to vandalism, despite many attempts by Council to repair or mitigate damage.  Damage has become so frequent that it is no longer feasible to provide suitable facilities for camping such as public toilets and barbeques.