Waikato regional economic profile - Waikato Regional Council

The region is made up of distinct landforms generally found within four areas: theTaupō Volcanic Zone, Waikato Lowlands and Hauraki Plains, Western and Central HillCountry and the Eastern Ranges.The Taupō Volcanic Zone extends as far south as the top of Mount Ruapehu andincludes pumice lands and geothermal features. Land use in the area includes beef,cattle and sheep stock grazing, dairying, plantation and conservation forestry.The Waikato Lowlands and Hauraki Plains, in the central part of the region, includelarge areas of wetland, peat soils and the Hinuera Formation. Much of the lowlandsand Hauraki Plains have been drained for pastoral farming. Land in this area is typicallyused for urban and rural settlement, surrounded by farmed lowlands that supportdairying, horticulture and cropping. Significant areas of wetlands, for example, theWhangamarino Wetland and Kopouatai Peat Dome, still remain.The Western Hill Country extends along the length of the Waikato’s west coast. Itcontains an extensive cave and karst system which is valued for the recreational andtourism opportunities it provides. The internationally renowned Waitomo Caves lieswithin this system.Large tracts of indigenous forest south of Kāwhia are important for soil and waterconservation and stock grazing is the main land use in the Central Hill Country, alongwith areas of plantation and conservation forestry.The Eastern Ranges (Kaimai and Coromandel) are largely volcanic. The CoromandelPeninsula consists of thick volcanic rocks on top of a much older group of sedimentaryrocks – greywacke sandstone and argillite mudstone. Precious metals are found in theHauraki Epithermal Zone, considered to be the most highly prospective area ofprecious metal in New Zealand. The bush-clad ranges, coastline and estuaries supporta multitude of recreational and tourist activities. 318In the Waikato region, livestock and cropping farming, dairy cattle farming and forestryand logging are the main productive land uses. 319 Native forests and wetlands cover28 per cent of the region. 320 Figure 101 shows the main land uses.318Waikato Regional Council (2010, p. 16).319Market Economics Ltd (2006b, p. v).320Waikato Regional Council (2011f) Land use in the Waikato.Doc # 2069885 Page 91