Maketu falls is accessible from Maketu Pa Cemetery Reserve. There’s a gravel parking area out the front. Entry to the established designated path is to your right under some trees. Goes up steeply then down steeply. Sturdy footwear recommended. Takes around 5 minutes to get to the falls.

The ARC brochure (2003) makes mention of information signs, but there no longer appears to be any signage nor any information panels there upon revisiting the area on 12th March 2023.

Do not remove or disturb any remains (They are an important record of the history of the area and are protected by law).

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Republished 26 March 2023 / Updated 29 June 2023: Removed reference of “stream bash” outside of the reserve in the crown hydro parcel due to an objection that was raised. Please see details further below.

I’ve been advised that the path beside the waterfall actually leads into an area deemed Sacred (Tapu). According to the last Email received from Zaelene Maxwell-Butler (who I understand is also a Cultural Liaison Advisor and Consultant acting for Ngai Tai ki Tamaki)…

“The entire area behind the falls, upstream, the vegetated areas in our view should be considered tapu (sacred)”

The header image in the ARC brochure includes a photo of children playing in the pools upstream of the falls which based on the above statement is now no longer deemed culturally acceptable to access.

Despite doing additional research (including through Heritage NZ), have not yet been able to discover anything more pertaining to this area as a member of the public.

I firmly maintain that without any sort of public advisory, I feel it is unreasonable for the general public to understand the path leading up from the waterfall enters an area that is considered tapu / sacred and I maintain my suggestion as advised to Zaelene in earlier Email communication that she instead contact the Council and Ngāti Tamaoho to express her concerns and see what could be done to advise and educate the visiting public on this.

Topomap…

It takes about 6 hours to complete the loop.

Most streams are bridged or board walked. There’s was one shallow stream at the northern area of the reservoir which will require wading (About shin deep). There maybe some muddy sections at the lower part of the track (around the same area), particularly after significant rainfall. See pictures from a past hike.

In terms of Bird Life, There has been sightings of Kōkako at the junction of Ernies Track and Mangatawhiri Ridge track.

Topo map Starting and ending where Upper Mangatawhiri Dam is (bottom of the map)…

Starting from the Te Henga Walkway Car park near the end of Bethells Road (Situated immediately to the right after driving across the Wati Stream bridge), follow the pathway all the way to Raetahinga Point past Jonkers road to Te Waharoa. We descended down a steep and unstable bank towards the inlet at Te Waharoa, returning back up the same bank and going back via Bethells beach back to the car at the start of the Te Henga Walkway.

Network of walking tracks behind Mangawhai Club and Mangawhai Lookout.

See associated Trail Notes at KAHA for this walk