Go to National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa
Volume 88, 1960-61
Previous Article | Table of Contents | Next Article
This text is also available in PDF
(6 MB) Opens in new window
– 560 –

The Environment in and Around Waitomo Cave

Waitomo Cave is a large limestone cave situated in the King Country. It is estimated that its formation began about a million years ago (J. H. Richards, 1958). It consists of four separate caverns, each with its own system of corridors. Some 12 metres below the main entrance is the river entrance, where the Waitomo Stream enters the cave.

The Grotto of Waitomo Cave can be conveniently divided into four separate areas: the Far Tunnel, the Grotto Proper, the Stalactite Area and the Tunnel (Text-fig. 1). Light from the exterior penetrates into the Grotto for about 21.7 metres along the Tunnel. On a sunny morning, the light intensity* along the west wall of the Tunnel ranges from 0.5 to 1 f.c.; along the east wall or on the stalactites of that side it varies from 1 to 1.5 f.c.; behind the stalactites it is 0.5 f.c.

In 1955, the mean temperature in Waitomo Cave was 60.2′ F. (15.6′ C.) for summer, 57.4′ F. (13.7′ C.) for winter and 57.1′ F. (13.7′ C.) for autumn and spring. As diurnal variation is almost absent, these results show that conditions are

[Footnote] * Light intensity was measured with a Weston Photometer.

– 561 –
Picture icon

Text-fig 1—Map of Lower Series of Corridors in Waitomo Cave

relatively stable throughout the year. The relative humidity ranges from 94% to 100%, but is usually 97% (Table 1)†.† (Richards, 1956).

Temperature and relative humidity readings were also taken in the bush and along the banks of the Waitomo Stream (Table II). These show that although the temperature fluctuated, the relative humidity was always fairly high During the long, hot summer of 1955, the banks often appeared arid, yet the relative humidity was always fairly high.

[The section below cannot be correctly rendered as it contains complex formatting. See the image of the page for a more accurate rendering.]

Table I. —Mean Temperature and Relative Humidity Recordings in Grotto, Waitomo Cave, During 1955.
Mid-day Midnight
Temperature°F. % Relative Humidity Temperature°F. % Relative Humidity
Wet Dry Wet Dry
Summer 60 60 100 59 60 97
Autumn and Spring 57 58 97 56 57 97
Winter 55 56 97 55 56 94

[Footnote] † Temperature and relative humidity were measured with an Assmann Psychrometer.

– 562 –

[The section below cannot be correctly rendered as it contains complex formatting. See the image of the page for a more accurate rendering.]

Table II. —Mean Temperature and Relative Humidity Recordings in the Bush at Waitomo Caves During 1955.
Banks Round Waitomo Cave. Banks Round Aranui and Ruakuri Cave.
Day Night Day
Temperature°F. %Relative Humidity Temperature°F. %Relative Humidity Temperature°F. %Relative Humidity
Wet Dry Dry Wet Wet Dry
Summer, 1955 64 70 74 61 64 82 63 68 75
Autumn and Spring, 1955 54 56 88 52 54 91 54 55 91
Winter, 1955 50 52 87 47 49 83 49 53 79
Previous Article | Table of Contents | Next Article