Mount Rochfort Explained

Mount Rochfort
Elevation M:1040
Elevation Ref:https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap?v=2&ll=-41.782209,171.747766&z=15
Map:New Zealand
Label Position:left
Location:South Island, New Zealand
Coordinates Ref:https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz36146/Mount-Rochfort/
Region:West Coast
Topo Map:NZMS260 K29

Mount Rochfort is a mountain peak in elevation, located approximately 10 km east of Westport in the Buller District on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It rises above the south-west portion of the Denniston Plateau and overlooks the town of Westport and the plains of the Buller River.

Toponymy

Mount Rochfort was named after John Rochfort (1832–1893), who was a surveyor and engineer involved in mineral surveys in the Buller District.[1] Rochfort was the first pākehā to climb the peak and Julius von Haast named it.

Mount Rochfort Conservation Area

In 2018, the Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage and Minister of Energy Resources Megan Woods declined an application to mine near Te Kuha, in the Mount Rochfort Conservation Area. The announcement including a statement about the conservation values of the area:[2]

The Mount Rochfort Conservation Area is land classified in the stewardship category by the Department of Conservation.[3]

Mount Rochfort is one of two locations where the nationally critical moth Arctesthes avatar can be found.

Access

There is a 4WD access road from the Denniston Plateau to the summit of Mount Rochford, for servicing a transmission site on the peak.

There is a water supply reserve for the town of Westport on the slopes of Mount Rochfort.[4]

There is a lake to the north west called Lake Rochfort.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mt Rochfort – Buller District . 2022-06-24 . Nelson Trails . en-NZ.
  2. Web site: Government declines application to mine conservation land at Te Kuha . 2022-06-25 . The Beehive . en.
  3. News: 27 May 2022 . Forest & Bird Welcomes Critical Step Forward In New Zealand Conservation . Scoop . 24 June 2022.
  4. Web site: McMahon . Brendon . 9 May 2022 . Poutini Ngāi Tahu areas excluded from ‘outstanding natural areas’ . 24 June 2022 . Stuff . en.