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.
Te Mata Park is part of the land associated with the ancestor Te Rehunga of Ngāti Ngarengare, a sub-tribe of Ngāti Kahungunu. The Park has a rich human history spanning several centuries. The upper parts of the Park in particular have a strong cultural importance to Māori. There is evidence of past settlement including pā sites and other earthworks. The Karaka groves in the upper Te Hau Valley area and Moa bones found on the slopes suggest intensive Māori settlement.
The Trust's purpose is to protect and maintain the open space values of the land; protect the native flora and fauna on the land; assist in protecting the landscape integrity of Te Mata Park; provide facilities and an environment for the recreational and cultural benefit of the public; utilise commercial assets of the park to provide an income to assist with maintenance.
