An isolated dune forest of great historical, cultural, and spiritual importance Rangitāne o Manawatū. The emerging kahikatea bush, north of the Manawatū River estuary, was traditionally used for gathering food and marine resources. Once a vital navigational aid for early European it remains the largest dune forest remnant on the lower North Island's west coast, valued for research and traditional harvesting despite past logging and current sambar deer impacts.