Kitekite Falls is a scenic 3-tiered waterfall near Auckland, New Zealand. The falls drop a total of. From the lookout on Kitekite track the falls appear even higher because there is white water running over rocks into a small pool from the upper swimming hole, then falling down into a large pool, then falling to a small pool before beginning an almost vertical descent in the final 3-tiers, making the total height closer to. They are located on the Glen Esk stream near Piha Beach.
Kitekite Falls walk
The walk reopened Boxing Day 2018 with more covered walkways to protect the kauri. It had been closed to the public due to kauri dieback and under rāhui from Te Kawerau ā Maki in conjunction with the Waitākere Ranges Local Board and Auckland Council. Te Kawerau ā Maki have released a clarification on the area covered by the Waitakere rāhui to make it clear to residents and visitors that it only covers the forest, but that within the forest all tracks are closed by the rāhui. From the carpark at the end of Glenesk Road, directions are clearly signposted. A well formed loop track, used by around 30,000 people a year, follows the Glen Esk Stream with minor undulations up to a lookout where you find a huge Macrocarpa bench seat to rest on and admire the view. The bench seat was made by offenders doing community work. The track then descends down wooden steps to the base of the falls. The track then crosses the stream next to the lower swimming hole and returns down the north side. However, instead of going down again, a walker can climb a reasonably steep track which begins about 100m from the base of the falls on the northern side of the stream. It takes about 15 minutes to get to the top of the falls. There is a good swimming hole at the top although the water is cool. From this high vantage point there are great views down the valley.
History
The area was milled for kauri from 1910-1921 until milling stopped. All the mature trees in the area were cut down. At the top of the falls, it is clear to see the notches in the rocks. This was the location of the Glen Esk dam. The first attempt to drive logs down the falls resulted in their destruction on the rocks below and the dam was thereafter only used to flush the logs waiting in the stream below down to the mill. The remains of the heavy beams used can still be found in the stream today although they tend to move from time to time. In 2007 a beam fell, broke and half of it wedged itself into rocks at the base of the three tiered falls.
It has taken many decades for the young kauri, known as 'rickers' to regenerate and finally, begin to emerge through the forest canopy again. Many sharp pointed, cone shaped, rickers can be seen from the Kitekite loop track near the falls. At about 100 years old, kauri begin to develop a spreading crown. It is now approaching 100 years since milling stopped. The crowns generally continue to expand for a further 500 years. The walk to the falls progresses through an impressive patch of nikau palms where the call of the Tui is frequently heard from above. Other native plants include silver tree ferns, puriri trees whose red berries attract kereru, and the rangioroa plant. The falls have been identified as a site of a rare moss Fissidens rigidulus var. pseudostrictus. New Zealand longfin eel, hide among the rocks around the base of the falls.
Place names
'Kitekite' is a misspelling of the original name which was Kitakita. According to a Maori/English dictionary the word 'Kitakita' is defined as be bright, tightly, fast, intensely. Pronunciation of Kitakita: The 'i' in Maori is pronounced similar to the 'ee' in sleep. 'Glen Esk' stream was named by Dr William Stockwell. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1876 and bought land above Kitekite Falls soon after his arrival. He named the area 'Glen Esk' because it reminded him of his homeland in Scotland. 'Glen', from Gaelic, an Indo-European language spoken in Scotland and Ireland means 'valley'. 'Esk' is of Celtic origin and means 'water'.
Canyoning
The falls are used for canyoning by an Auckland Regional Parks licensed operator. The issuing of the licence was a 'hot issue' at the 2002 AGM of the Piha Ratepayers and Residents Association where residents voiced concern over the environmental impact to the Kitekite Falls. However, ARC recreation coordinator Lee Whiley said there were no concerns. This recreational activity continues to this day under close monitoring by council. Climbing on the falls is strictly prohibited and can only be done with a permit or licensed guide. Restrictions are in place to protect the rare moss growing in the wet areas of the waterfall.
