Te Onetapu (), commonly known as the Rangipo Desert (), is a barren desert-like environment located in New Zealand, located in the Ruapehu District on the North Island Volcanic Plateau; to the east of the three active peaks of Mount Tongariro, Mount Ngauruhoe, and Mount Ruapehu, and to the west of the Kaimanawa Range.

Etymology

Two main names have been given to the desert, both of which are derived from te reo Māori and describe the area's history. The first of these, Te Onetapu, is derived from the words - beach or sand, and - sacred. This name refers to the death of Taiteariki, an ancestor of the Ngāti Rangi iwi who was killed at a location in the desert in early Māori history after conflict arose between him and two children of Houmea, Tura and Rotuia.

Following Pākehā settlement and expansion into the region, the desert became known as Rangipo, from the Māori words , meaning sky, and , meaning night or darkness. This name references the story of Ngātoro-i-rangi, a and ancestor of Ngāti Tūwharetoa who explored the region in search of land for his people. According to legend, Ngātoro-i-rangi saw explorers from the Tākitimu while camping on Mount Tongariro, and pleaded to Ruaumoko for help defending the area from the encroachment. Ruaumoko responded by causing Mount Ngauruhoe to erupt, darkening the sky and enveloping the new party in smoke and ash.

thumb|left|Typical Rangipo scenery, looking west from the Desert Road

Geography and climate

The Rangipo Desert receives of rainfall per year, but resembles a desert because of its location on the volcanic plateau adjacent to and east of Ruapehu, poor soil quality and drying winds, The town of Waiouru, with its army camp, lies to the south and much of the southern part of the desert is used for training purposes. To the north of the desert lies the Rangipo prison farm.

The desert is bisected by only one sealed road, a section of State Highway 1 known as the Desert Road. The road is closed with barrier arms for short periods most winters, due to severe snow storms and icy road conditions. Turangi emergency services monitor the northern part of the Desert Road, and the NZDF Military Police at Waiouru are responsible for the southern end. The boundary between the Waikato and Manawatū-Whanganui regions intersects the Desert Road at its summit, which at above sea level is the highest pass on the New Zealand State Highway network.

The Lord of the Rings films were shot in New Zealand, and the Black Gate of Mordor scenes were shot in the Rangipo Desert in 2000.

References

  • Deserts and Sand Dunes of New Zealand
  • The Round the Mountain Track, Tongariro National Park
  • New Zealand Small Town travel guide - Waiouru