Te Motupiko (Motupiko River)

An ancient trail follows the course of the Motupiko and Motueka Rivers from Mangatāwhai, or “The Place of Many Trails‟ (Tophouse, near the Nelson Lakes). This formed the main track linking Mohua (Golden Bay) and Te Tai-o-Aorere (Tasman Bay) with the Wairau and Kawatiri areas.

A series of Ngāti Apa pā, kāinga, mahinga kai (especially birding areas) and cultivations are associated with the Motupiko River.

Ngāti Apa valued Te Motupiko as an important mahinga kai. Its pure water was abundant in fish such as upokorokoro (grayling or native trout), as well as inanga, kōkopu and tuna (eels); and birds such as kererū and kōkō (tūī). Some of these are now virtually extinct as a result of the effects of settlement, river diversion and pollution.