The Tararua Range, often referred to as the Tararua Ranges or Tararua, is one of several mountain ranges in the North Island of New Zealand. The Tararua Range runs northeast–southwest for from near Palmerston North to the upper reaches of the Hutt Valley, where the northern tip of the Remutaka Range begins. It is separated in the north from the southern end of the Ruahine Range by the Manawatu Gorge. Most of the Range is wilderness, protected as the Tararua Forest Park. The highest peak in the Tararua Range is Pukeamoamo / Mitre (not to be confused with Mitre Peak) at . Other prominent peaks include Mount Bannister at and Mount Hector at , which is named after the scientist Sir James Hector. Its Māori name is Pukemoumou, or 'hill of desolation'. Geography The Tararua Range is divided into two distinct northern and southern regions. Each of these is dominated by a central mountain peak: Arete in the north and Hector in the south. A total of ten rivers rise on the mountain slopes, providing water for the surrounding rural and urban areas from Palmerston North to Wellington. A number of ranges radiate out from the mountains, the largest of which is the Main Range linking the twin clusters of northern and southern peaks. The summits of the ranges average between 1,300 and 1,500 metres in height. This consistency indicates that the region was once part of a level plain. About 10 million years ago parts of this relatively low-lying area were thrust up, creating a mountainous backbone for the southern part of the North Island. Subsequent erosion contributed to the present pattern of parallel ranges divided by deep river valleys. The ranges provide a back-drop for the Kapiti coastal plain. Mountain peaks The 15 peaks in the Tararua Range of 1,500m or higher are (from north to south): Logan 1,500m, Bannister 1,537m, South Bannister 1,513m, Arete 1,505m, Lancaster 1,504m, Brocket 1,538m, Pukeamoamo / Mitre 1,571m, Peggys Peak 1,545m, Girdlestone 1,546m, North King 1,535m, Middle King 1,521m, South King 1,531m, McGregor 1,540m, Angle Knob 1,510m, Mount Hector 1,529m. Other notable peaks in the range are Jumbo Peak (1405m) and Mount Holdsworth (1470m). Climate and vegetation The western slopes of the ranges are subject to prevailing moisture-carrying winds, channelled by Cook Strait to the south. These are the source of an annual rainfall of approximately 5,000 mm, resulting in the dominance