Hawke's Bay – Te Mata Park Trust

Te Mata

The Sleeping Giant
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Kia ora e hoa

Welcome to Te Mata Park

Nau mai, haere mai – Welcome to one of the most loved and visited places in Te Matau-a-Māui (Hawke’s Bay); we invite you to experience all the beauty that our park has to offer. Admire the incredible 360° views of Hawke’s Bay and the Heretaunga Plains from the summit, walk through the majestic hundred-year-old giant redwoods, and discover the deep cultural relevance and compelling history of this special place.

Visit

Whāia te iti kahurangi ki te tūohu koe me he maunga teitei.

Seek the treasure you value most dearly; if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain.

UNSPOILED BEAUTY

Land worth protecting

2 million years ago, the sea floor tilted and shifted to create what is now the landform of Te Mata Peak. Centuries later, it was inhabited by Māori tribes, then claimed by European settlers, and eventually gifted to the community in 1927 by the Chambers family for all people to enjoy. As a community, we are called to protect our maunga (mountain), preserve its wild beauty, and ensure it is maintained as a sacred place for generations to come. For those interested in becoming kaitiaki (guardians) of Te Mata, there are many ways to engage with our current conservation projects.

Get Involved

LEGENDS & HISTORY

Discover the origins of The Giant

Te Mata is a tāonga tuku ihō (heavenly gift) etched from the earth by the gods and accorded many names such as Te Matā, Te Mata o Rongokako, Te Karanemanema o te Mata o Rongokako. There are many stories of Te Mata, with each of the different iwi telling their own story. As different hapū see Te Mata from different angles, they each have a different visual and historical perspective relating to the maunga. Each marae must tell their own story that best represents their people, and all stories are respected and acknowledged equally.

The Story of Te Mata

Photograph by Tim Whittaker

STAY INFORMED

Keep up to date with latest events

Keep abreast of what’s going on in and around the park on our news page and subscribe to our newsletter for more detailed park happenings. Don’t miss out!

Schools for Trees programme honoured with international award

June 3, 2026

Te Mata Park Trust has received international recognition after its Schools for Trees programme was named a winner in the inaugural Green Flag Award International "Best of the Best" awards.

Ian Davidson-Watts

Bat activity detected near Te Mata Park

June 3, 2026

The Echoes Around Te Mata project, run by The Bat Co. Lab in collaboration with Te Mata Park, Cape Sanctuary and Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay, closed at the end of April.

The Surveying Company

Spotlight on: ngahere restoration strategy and plans

June 3, 2026

With winter planting just around the corner, it’s a good time to take stock of what we have achieved in this space and to look ahead to plans for 2026 planting and beyond.

Te Mata Park

Security step-up: new CCTV cameras installed

June 3, 2026

Thanks to Bernard Chambers Charitable Trust, the generosity of a private donor, and Te Kaunihera ā-Rohe o Heretaunga - Hastings District Council (HDC), CCTV security cameras are now operational at the Main Gates entrance on Te Mata Peak Rd, helping improve safety at this key access point to the Park.

Te Mata Park

Collaborating to save a rare local treasure

June 2, 2026

Our Park Manager, Sarah Austin-Smith, recently welcomed a specialist research team to the Park to advance understanding of one of our most precious endemic species: Pimelea mimosa (also known as Pinātoro, or native daphne).

Te Mata Park

Thank you Pub Charity Ltd

May 18, 2026

A sincere thank you to Pub Charity Ltd for its generous grant of more than $7,000 towards the operational expenses of Te Mata Park.

Te Mata Park

Meet our new Trustee: Callum Ross

April 21, 2026

We are delighted to welcome recently elected Hastings District Councillor Callum Ross as the newest member of our Trust Board.

Tom Keefe

Te Mata Park 2026 Survey out now

March 3, 2026

The Te Mata Park 2026 Survey is now live, and we warmly invite you to have your say!

Sarah Austin-Smith

Summer Newsletter

February 27, 2026

Summer is a beautiful time of year in the Park, with long golden evenings, spectacular views, and the landscape alive with birdsong.

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A HELPING HAND

We thank our local councils for continued support

CONTRIBUTE TO THE FUTURE

Help us protect and expand Te Mata Park

You can also make a huge difference with a donation to Te Mata Park Trust. We have a number of different ways you can donate, from making a general donation to support operations, giving to our Ngā Tipuna Fund, funding trees, or making a bequest.

Ways to Donate

Haere mai | Welcome to Te Mata Park and its famous peak, one of the most loved and visited places in Hawke’s Bay.

Gifted in perpetuity to the community in 1927 and managed by a small group of volunteer trustees, with appreciated help from local councils and the community, the Park is a cultural, historical and recreational treasure.

Seven time winner of the prestigious international green space award.

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Ours Forever | Te Mata Tō Tatou Ake Tonu Atu