Tongariro Journal 2018 by Project Tongariro

journal #25

tongariro September 2019 The journal for Tongariro National Park is produced by Project Tongariro with assistance from the Department of Conservation

300,000 28,501 volunteer hours worked in the park and area during the year

years ago the NZ Scouts Association kicked off Conservation Week and it’s still going strong!

native plants have been planted within the Taupō area since 2013 thanks to the community and sponsors, Greening Taupō and Kids Greening Taupō

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TeWiki Tiaki AoTūroa

NATURE NEEDS US CONSERVATION WEEK 14-22SEP Events and activities across Aotearoa conservationweek.org.nz

conservation community volunteers volcanoes planting restoration bikes kiwi whio recreation angling science

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President’s corner Nicola Etheridge President Project Tongariro

It is amazing to see the range of stories recorded in our Tongariro Journal. In particular I am very impressed to read the experiences of our two young summer interns and learn just what the opportunity to have this work experience has meant to them. And how quickly they have come to love both our place and our mahi. As an organisation we continue to focus on our partnership potential. It is evident in all our work.The potential with Ngāti Rongomai at Waiotaka is a model of how I would like to see us develop. Much of our organisations direction is developing a range of partnerships and securing reliable funding to make us sustainable. Without this sustainability it is not possible to achieve our goals. Our Board has focused on reviewing its policies. This is not ‘exciting’ work but essential for us to meet our good governance requirements. It has been pleasing to see the effort made by Board members to revitalise our field trips and

show their passion and love of interesting places inside and outside our area. At an organisational level Project Tongariro and its ‘brand’ Greening Taupō have gone from strength to strength. It is great to see how local communities are committing to restoration at Taupō and at important site in southern Taupō like the Tongariro River, Tauranga Taupō River, Waiotaka and Lake Taupō. These sites all demonstrate how the community values our work. We are dependent on the dedication of our Board, staff, members, supporters, funders and volunteers. We are truly blessed in that department. I thank them all for their commitment to their community and its environment. Of particular note this year was the recognition of Shirley Potter who reached the finals of the Waikato Volunteer Awards. Shirley was also a star on TVONE’s Sunday Programme, emphasising the contribution of volunteers to protection of our wildlife. So for me, another year goes by and we’re still going strong, thanks to the collective efforts of older and newer members, supporters and volunteers. It all adds value and contributes those outcomes we want to see in our special part of the world.

tongariro the journal PUBLISHER Project Tongariro in cooperation with Department of Conservation EDITOR Dave Wakelin CONTRIBUTORS Helen Boston Theo Chapman Thea DePetris Robyn Ellis Candace Graham Paul Green Gary Harwood Harry Keys Margi Keys Roel Michels Lesley Mochan Sarah O’Sullivan Robyn Orchard Jess Peart Renee Potae Shirley Potter Jed Prickett Lou Sanson Serena Taylor Kiri Te Wano Jane Williams DESIGN Tark Communications Ltd Phone: 021848355 Email: dave@tark.co.nz COVER PHOTO Ruapehu in the Spring Photo: Photographer unknown PRINT COPY Quality Print, Taupō PHOTOGRAPHY Photos are credited to the photographer where the photographer or source is known. GENERAL ENQUIRIES Project Tongariro (Tongariro Natural History Society Inc.) P.O. Box 238 Tūrangi Ph: +64 7 386 6499 Fax: +64 7 386 6491 Email: email@tongariro.org.nz Website: www.tongariro.org.nz ENVIRONMENTAL In the interest of forest conservation, we support paperless electronic publishing. COPYRIGHT © Copyright [August 2019], Project Tongariro ISSN 1172 1081 All material appearing in tongariro is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material. tongariro takes all care to ensure information is correct at time of printing, but the publishers (Project Tongariro and DOC) accept no responsibility or liability for the accuracy of any information contained in the text. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or editor.

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Jim Maniapoto 1942 - 2019 Robyn Orchard Team Lead Communications DOC A mighty totora has fallen with the passing of Hupa ‘Jim’ Maniapoto, 77, of Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Te Rangi-ita, Ngāti Pikiao and Tūhourangi on Saturday surrounded by his wife Anne and the wider whānau. Uncle Jim as he was known to DOC staff was Pou Kura Taiao mo Te Papa Atawhai o Tongariro me Taupō for nearly ten years based in Tūrangi. This role, the predecessor to the current Pou Tairangahau role was developed by Jim’s late brother Huri and Hemi Kingi.

Above: Unveiling the carvings at Taupō DOC office carved by a group of regional rangitahi. Photo: DOC

The role was to develop a positive working relationship between iwi, hapū, whānau and DOC. His role was also involving DOC in things happening on the marae be it a tangihanga, hui a iwi, hapū or whānau.

He was very committed to World Heritage in the Pacific and helped host two Pacific World Heritage workshops at Waitetoko marae. In 1987 when Tongariro National Park celebrated its centenary Ngāti Tūwharetoa requested Jim and his late brother Huri, to be joint MC’s at a cultural entertainment afternoon at Waihi Marae Prior to his appointment with DOC Jim worked for the Hilary Commission in Wellington. Jim also supported World Heritage conferences in Tongariro and Christchurch when Ta Tumu Te Heuheu was chair of the World Heritage committee.

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Jim’s connection to the Department lives on with his granddaughter Candace Graham , a Community Ranger in Taupō, and his nephew Te Rangi Maniapoto the current Pou Tairangahau for CNI. A former Taupō District Councilor Jim was also a Māori All Black. He is well known for his prowess on the rugby field. He was a Māori All Black from 1964 – 1972. He played with players like Wilson Whineray, Waka Nathan and Pat Walsh. Such was his passion and commitment to Māori rugby, the whānau have dressed their legendary koroua in his 1960's Māori Rugby blazer. DOC staff will remember Jim for the thing that set him apart from others. It was his desire to share his much loved marae and culture with staff, visitors and the community. Jim’s favourite quote taken from his staff spotlight in August 2010 -

‘Kia tika te hoe o te waka kei pariparia e te taika monenehu te kura’. Let us paddle the canoe in unison lest we are swamped by the waves! In the spotlight Jim said his favourite part of public conservation land was Ngā Kahui Maunga - Kahui Mountains as they represent the past, present and future – culturally.

‘Ka noho pōhara mātou te papa atawhai i tō wehenga Hupa (Jim). No reira haere atu rā.’

Above: Jim at work in the Turangi Office. Photo: Herwi Scheltus Left: Jim at one of the many DOC events he attended as DOC’s kaumatua and spoke on our behalf. Photo: DOC

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Motutaiko Island Candace Graham Community Ranger Kaitiaki, Ao Hāpori Taupo Office Mai Maketū ki Tongariro Te Mātāpuna ki te Hikuwai o Taupō Moana Ko Tongariro te Maunga Ko Taupō te Moana Ko Te Heuheu te Tangata Tihei mauri ora

The History Nicknamed the ‘plug’ of Lake Taupō, Motutaiko is an inland island of volcanic origin formed around 6000 years ago. I have heard stories that its silhouette also depicts the shape of the guardian spirit ‘Honu,’ who comes from Hawaiki (the place of Māori origin) in the form of a sea turtle. Below: A photo of Motutaiko from Motutere, which resembles the shape of ‘Honu’. Photo: Candace Graham

Motutaiko is a very sacred and spiritual place to the local hapū of Ngāti Te

Rangi-Ita and Iwi Ngāti Tūwharetoa. Its name is translated as; Motu - Island, and Tāiko - Black Petrel/Mutton Bird. Until around the 1940’s, Motutaiko was the last rest stop for the tāiko before its final stint from the sea to breed on Mt Tongariro. Today the tāiko is considered nationally-vulnerable due to introduced predators and habitat loss, and only breed on Aotea (Great Barrier Island) and Te Hauturu-o-Toi (Little Barrier Island). You can still see tāiko burrows on Motutaiko’s western cliff faces, and there are hopes that they will return to the island again one day soon. Motutaiko encapsulates the historical connections that the local hapū of Ngāti Te Rangi-Ita, have with its surrounding area. My first lessons on these stories began as a young girl on my koro (grandfather), Jim Maniapoto’s fishing boat. As he tells it, Koro Jim was the only one in the family who would journey past the island to fish the Horomatangi Reef. It was for this reason that Koro’s father, Hema Maniapoto gave him the title of “Kaitiaki (guardian) of Motutaiko”, and the responsibility of watching over the island. I remember visiting Motutaiko with Koro Jim for the first time. Its presence was unnerving to me initially, being deceivingly larger up close than it looked from the shore. As we edged closer to the island, Koro Jim cut the engine, and all I could hear were the waves echoing against the island’s rocky shore. Koro Jim then said a karakia (prayer) to the island and reminded me of its positive wairua (spirit/energy) that surrounded us, and at that moment two flittering fantails appeared near an opening of its stone walls. Koro Jim reassured me that the fantails were a sign of our tūpuna (ancestors) who had come to greet us. Koro Jim described the island to me as once being a place of refuge for those

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settled at Motutere, and if ever a war party came near, the island was the perfect fortress. Elongated stone walls still stand along several terraces where mainly women and children would have retreated to in times of danger. The island later became the final resting place of the rangatira (those of special rank) who embodied the ancient customs and lineage of the ancestors of Ngāti Te Rangi-Ita. Some kōiwi (bones) were also moved from the mainland and interred into caves on the island, when State Highway 1 was instated

across their urupā (burial grounds). For these reasons, the people of Ngāti Te Rangi-Ita have always considered the Island to be a wāhi tapu (sacred place), always to be respected and never ventured onto. Despite this however, numerous burial sites were being tampered with and there was a growing concern of more disturbances over time. It was then decided by the Ngāti Tūwharetoa ariki (paramount chief) Sir Tumu Te Heuheu, that the burial caves be closed in 2006 so that our tūpuna would be allowed to rest.

The Conservation Story In 2002, a comprehensive survey of plant and animal species was conducted on Motutaiko. Around its belt, pohutukawa forest was found with kawakawa understories, and on the south-eastern sides and higher in elevation, tall kānuka forest occurs with māhoe being the dominant tree beneath. The island was identified as the only mammalian pest-free

Above: The late Jim Maniapoto, kaitiaki of Motutaiko, speaking about the migration of the tāiko. In his left hand, you will see the representation of a tāiko’s beak carved into the top of his tokotoko (walking stick). Photo: Candace Graham Below left: The Pīwaiwaka or Fantail whom I consider ‘tohu,’ or ‘spiritual guides’ whilst on the Island, make themselves present during my time on Motutaiko. Photo: Dave Wakelin

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Top: The pōhutukawa in bloom on Motutaiko. Middle: Evidence of Smallscaled Skink tracks found on Motutaiko in May 2019. Bottom: A Wainuia clarki shell found on Motutaiko. No live snails were found in 2018. Right: From top to bottom; Rebecca O’Sullivan, Karen Ardin, Jo Mendonca, Shirley Potter and Candace Graham working tirelessly on hands and knees searching survey plots for evidence of the Wainuia clarki. Photos: Candace Graham

The Motutaiko Island Trust alongside Ngā Whenua Rāhui and the Department of Conservation have since put protocols in place to monitor the Wainuia clarki, and in 2009, 3 snails/100m2 were found from 6 plots. More recently in 2018, these working groups returned to the area and sadly no live snails were found. Instead, several Norway rats were seen frolicking at rangers’ feet! It is likely that the rats made their way onto Motutaiko via undue human landings by boat.

environment in the North Island at that time, and with the additional discovery of the nationally-threatened Wainuia Clarki (carnivorous snail), Small-scaled Skink and White Mistletoe it meant that the Island was of incalculable conservation value.

A rat eradication programme has since been underway with Jane Williams, Senior Ranger Biodiversity for the Department of Conservation leading the Motutaiko Island Work Group. A24 traps, DOC200 traps and cameras were installed, and in May 2019 tracking tunnels that were left for one month showed 0% density of rats. It seemed our trapping efforts were successful until the footage from one of the cameras showed one cunningly bait-shy rat still present.

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Having come so close to eliminating rats from the Island, a decision was then made to defer the use of Brodificoum and attempt to trap the last rat by varied means. An example of one successful rat eradication programme was carried out on Native Island with A24 traps over 13 months, and as the Motutaiko programme is only at nine months so far there are still hopes that the last rat will be hungry enough over winter to be lured to its death.

The Future of Motutaiko Standing with such prominence on Lake Taupō, Motutaiko is full of the mystery that appeals to the explorer in all of us. And yet, it must be made known that the history of the people of Ngāti Te Rangiita and Ngāti Tūwharetoa, can only be celebrated, respected, and preserved for its future generations by being left undisturbed. In addition, its unique ecological values mean it is important for this message to be made now more than ever, given the unwarranted boat landings in recent years that have led to the introduction of the predatory Norway rat. Ngāti Te Rangi-ita and Ngāti Tūwharetoa watch over Motutaiko but, as a collective, the efforts of all will ensure that our taonga (treasures) here are not lost. I am very privileged to be able to share my accounts of Motutaiko thus far to educate our wider communities so that they too understand why it needs protecting. It gives me great joy to think that one day my son will see Motutaiko as a sanctuary and the welcome return of the tāiko. I would especially like to thank the Motutaiko Island Trust, Ngāti Te Rangiita and Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngā Whenua Rāhui, Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board, Taupō Fishery Team, Project Tongariro, Coast Guard Tūrangi, Check Clean Dry NZ, and the Department of Conservation for continuing this journey with us. Thanks also to local harbour master, Heath Cairns for the support

and transportation and amazing contribution to the project.

In Loving Memory of Jim Maniapoto 21 December 1942 – 15 June 2019

Above: Jane Williams (left) and Mike Pitiroi of Ngāti Te Rangi-Ita (right), talking through the basics of how to set a DOC200 trap. Below: Candace Graham on Motutaiko in 2018 Photos: Candace Graham

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A Tale of Two Structures Theo Chapman Senior Ranger – Public Safety Department of Conservation Tongariro

Introduction After becoming redundant structures in 2012 through very different circumstances, Dome Equipment Shed and Ketetahi Hut were finally removed from Tongariro National Park in the summer of 2019. Both structure removals were made possible by the operational support of the New Zealand Army Engineers.

Dome Equipment Shed Dome Equipment Shed (completed in 1985) served as a unique housing for volcanic monitoring systems on Mt Ruapehu from its construction until 2012. Over the years it was pummelled by eruptions in 1995-96 and 2007 – providing valuable eruption data and insight into Ruapehu’s rumblings. In 2012, the ‘Matarangi’ volcanic monitoring facility at Glacier Knob was completed and went live. This meant

Right: The roof comes off the Dome Equipment Shed. Photo: Theo Chapman

Dome Equipment Shed (the Dome) was no longer required. The Tongariro National Park Management Plan’s policies for redundant structures and the Dome’s location in Special Zone 9, Pristine Zone/Nga Wāhi Taketake on the summit plateau of Mt Ruapehu created the imperative to remove it. After an overlap period of several years to enable data from Matarangi and Dome to be compared, GNS Science were satisfied that Matarangi would be at least as effective as Dome for volcano monitoring. The Dome was the last man-made structure in the Pristine Zone. Its removal has restored the zone closer to its original state, consistent with the reverence and respect held for the area by tangata whenua and many NZ recreational visitors. This will help prevent further impact on the summit plateau through overuse, exploitation, toileting and inappropriate waste disposal. It reduces the perception of the site as a destination and eliminates the temptation for visitors to sleep in it. This lessens the risk of reoccurrence of events such as the 1990 NZ Army training tragedy and the September 2007 unheralded eruption that almost

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claimed the lives of two climbers who were overnighting in the Dome. The Dome removal effort was broken into three phases over the 2018 and 2019 summers. Phase one and two – the removal of the building’s roof, walls, floor and subfloor was conducted by the NZ Army Engineers and NZ Army Movement Operations team in February/March 2018. Phase three – the removal of the basement and subsurface structures was conducted by TPP contracting in March 2019. The building in its entirety, including all subsurface structures has been removed from Tongariro National Park. Some items of interest from the building have been retained at DOC’s Ohakune yard for potential future interpretive use – the building was not in a re-erectable condition and will not be rebuilt.

Ketetahi Hut Around midnight on 6 August 2012, Ketetahi Hut was pummelled by rocks from an eruption of the Upper Te Maari vent. The flying rocks (ballistics) smashed through the roof, bunks and floor. Fortunately, the eruption occurred on a cold winter’s night and no one was staying in the hut. Had the eruption occurred during the summer Great Walk season, it could have resulted in multiple fatalities.

Left top: Roof framing comes down. Left top second: Roof frame on the ground. Left top third: The basement exposed.. Left top fourth: Cutting up the basement. Left Bottom: Removal of the Dome Equipment Shed. complete. Above: Subsurface structures awaiting transport from Whakapapa base area. Photos: Theo Chapman

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After the eruption, the Tongariro Northern Circuit was re-routed, and the hut became a day shelter for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. The events of 6 August 2012 forced the Department to rethink its plan to replace Ketetahi hut (at a site closer to the Upper Te Maari vent) and conclude that the area was not suitable for any facilities that may encourage overnighting. In March 2019 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; seven years later, a removal effort led by DOC with support from a team of Army Engineers was initiated. Over a period of seven days the team dismantled the building and flew it out in pieces underslung with a civilian helicopter. All that remains at the former hut site are the highly frequented Ketetahi toilets and the hutâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gas shed which is now used to store toilet cleaning supplies. These assets will be reviewed and either replaced with new toilets with built-in storage or removed and not replaced. There is currently no plan to construct a new shelter at the site. Given the risk of future eruptions and the temptation for visitors to overnight in day shelters, it is very unlikely that DOC will consider erecting another building on, or near the site.

Conclusion The removal of the Dome Equipment Shed and Ketetahi Hut addresses the most simple but fundamental of volcanic risk mitigations â&#x20AC;&#x201C; exposure. The longer visitors spend on the volcanoes, the greater the risk. With the two huts that were within striking distance of active volcanic vents removed, DOC can feel a little more comfortable about its volcanic risk management position in Tongariro National Park. Top: Ketetahi Hut removal team with old interpretation sign. Middle: Walls almost down. Bottom: Walls down, deck and floor remaining. Photos: Theo Chapman

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Top: The cleared hut site. Bottom: The Cleared Ketetahi Hut site seen from the air. Photos: Theo Chapman

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Batting for Conservation Jess Peart Project Tongariro Summer Intern Exams were just finishing up and I had started to wonder how I was going to spend the summer when I got sent an email about an internship with an organisation called Project Tongariro. With a years’ worth of biology study still buzzing through my mind, the idea of spending the university break working in nature immediately caught my attention. How could I pass up an opportunity to put all the knowledge I’d just been cramming into my brain to good use? While I could listen to conservation stories and look at pictures of our cute forest birds all day, I wasn’t sure whether heading towards a career in conservation was the right path for me. Biology is such a broad field, and although I had always been fascinated

Above: Marshalling at the Tussock Traverse, with Ngauruhoe peeking out in the back. Photo: Jess Peart

by the richness and complexity of ecology, I was also strongly drawn to the idea of working with microorganisms or plants in a laboratory-based field. It felt like the internship might offer some insight into where I should head, and after some coaxing from my dad, who was thrilled at the prospect of having the house to himself for three months, I sent in an application.

I hadn’t realised just how excited I was until I got the call from Project Tongariro supervisor/superwoman, Kiri Te Wano, offering me the position. Just a few days after exams finished, I was heading down to Tūrangi, a little town I’d only ever driven through and never expected to become a second home. It was here I was introduced to bird nerd and fellow intern, Jed Prickett. His project was focused around the distribution of the Australasian bittern, a wetland bird that can blend almost perfectly with the reeds around it. The search for these elusive birds involved many kayaking trips, boat rides and hours of squelching through wetlands, placing recorders to pick up on their distinctive ‘booming’ calls. The mosquito bites and wet gumboots were all worth it for when we spotted a bittern doing its defensive position for the first time, the stripes on its neck exposed as it pointed its beak skyward; its camouflage perfect, except for the fact it was standing good metre away from any reeds. My project was focused on understanding the distribution of shorttailed bats in the Kaimanawa Forest Park. Short-tailed bats are one of only two extant bat species in Aotearoa and our only native land mammals. Even among bats they are special, as they spend abnormally long times foraging for insects and nectar on the ground. However, just like our native birds, they too are being heavily preyed upon by introduced pests and struggling as more and more of their forest habitat is destroyed. The numbers of this incredible species are declining, and without our help, they will likely become just another name on the list of species that we’ve lost. In order to increase conservation knowledge, my work focused on surveying the distribution of a littleknown population of short-tailed bats near Mangatoatoa Stream. We used automatic bat monitors scattered through the bush to pick up their echolocation calls while the bats were

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flying at night. These are tubular recorders that we attached to trees above ravines, streams or other areas that bats might use as a flyway. Although I was quietly convinced I would never be able to find the recorders again, through the handy teachings of DOC staff Jess S, Jo and Jane I managed to pick up a host of navigation skills as well as very quickly learning to avoid the unforgiving thorns of bush lawyer at all costs. Soon disappearing into the bush deploying recorders became a weekly excursion and I developed a strong connection with the forest. Looking up into the lush beech canopy, surrounded by trees older than anyone Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d ever met, I could not help but feel in awe of this incredible ecosystem. Watching rivers meander through valleys bearded with ferns, there were times where I felt envious of the bats that would be dancing above the water as dusk arrived. Every night I would lie in bed and think about the small creatures weaving through the clutter of the canopy, wondering whether they were darting past my recorders at that very second. This turned out to be more than just a beautiful dream; all but four of the 40 recorders picked up short-tailed bat activity. While we originally thought their roosting cluster was based around Mangatoatoa Stream, a recorder placed near Oamaru Hut picked up the highest frequency of bat passes, with many occurring soon after dusk, indicating that a roost was nearby. This means the bats have a wider range than we originally anticipated, so more work will need to be done in order to find the true extent of their population. The recorders also found plenty of the nationally critical long-tailed bats in the area, making it an even more significant spot to protect. These results, although exciting, were also tinged with sadness. The number of bats picked up on the recorders was lower than weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d expect for a large population, meaning that their numbers, like many other populations, are likely to be decreasing. All is not lost however, as

with pest control and monitoring bat populations have been found to recover and thrive. As such a unique part our forestsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fauna, it was an absolute honor be able to contribute to the knowledge base surrounding these special animals. When not delving deep into a wetland or bush, Jed and I were lucky enough to

Above: One of the bat monitoring sites in the Kaimanawas, with an automatic bat monitor attached to a tree overlooking a shallow ravine. Photo: Jess Peart

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down the road and see an endangered species, and such a testament to the hard work of DOC and other conservation groups in the area.

Above: Kayaking up the Tongariro River on a bittern mission, taken seconds before almost dropping my phone into the water. Photo: Jess Peart

work on multiple projects with both PT volunteers and DOC. These ranged from maintaining trap lines in some of the most stunning forests I’ve ever seen and helicopter rides to pull wilding pines, to being part of a legendary production line chopping 30kg of onions for the Tussock Traverse. Each day presented new challenges and new things learn, and each day I became more at one with conservation. One of the opportunities we were offered was working with the whio, a native duck species. These beautiful and undeniably adorable birds are sent to the Tongariro Trout Centre, where they learn how to swim, feed and socialise in the whio hardening facility before getting released. After helping with health checks, microchipping and releasing these precious birds it was clear to see what a positive impact this program is having on whio recovery. One evening, my conversation with a fly fisherman was interrupted by the rush of wings and a distinctive whistle; three whio had just landed gracefully into the Tongariro river in time for the evening rise. It was remarkable to be able to walk

On one our trips out with DOC, we were taken on a hunt for scarlet mistletoe; a native parasitic plant that grows on some of our native trees, mostly silver beech. Even having never seen it before, the dense red blossoms peeking out from below the canopy were unmistakable. As we pushed further into the forest, both the canopy and forest floor were rife with scarlet flowers; a sight now foreign to most forests because of possums targeting this species. Tui and bellbirds could be seen flitting between plants, their songs resonating down through the trees as they carefully popped open the petals to reach nectar reserved inside. From one low hanging mistletoe we even saw kaka making the most of this summertime treat; just a snapshot of what our forests once were, but more importantly, what they could be once again. Every expectation I had coming into this internship was blown out of the water. We’ve met so many inspiring people doing incredible things for the environment and been given a chance to make a difference ourselves. I’ve always been fascinated by ecology, but this internship and the people I’ve met have made me certain that this is what I want to dedicate my career to. Not only has it been both mentally and physically rewarding, the work has given me a huge sense of direction as I can finally see a way in which I, just a girl from South Auckland, can contribute something meaningful to this country I love. Thank you, Project Tongariro, for giving me the best summer of my life and making me fall in love with ecology in an entirely new way.

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NATURE NEEDS US CONSERVATION WEEK 14-22SEP Events and activities across Aotearoa conservationweek.org.nz

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Passion for Conservation Lou Sanson Director General Conservation

Tongariro Natural History Society, now known as Project Tongariro, is one of those parties.

Once again, it gives me great pleasure to be asked to contribute a few thoughts to the annual Tongariro Journal.

The diversity of projects you have taken on and foster; Greening Taupō, Kids Greening Taupō, Predator Free Taupō and restoration of places such as Lake Rotopounamu and Waiotaka wetlands is simply breath-taking.

In this 50th year of Conservation Week, many of us have taken time to reflect on where we have come from and where we are going in our attempts to arrest the serious biodiversity decline which confronts us.

Below: Funding from the International Tourist Levy will assist Tongariro National Park with research to understand the status of risk and management activities so our operations staff can make faster and better decisions that will ultimately enhance the safety of visitors. Photo: photographer unknown

The NZ Biodiversity Strategy conversation is being led by the Department of Conservation but needs all of New Zealand to engage in it. It needs to hear the voices of youth, voices of iwi and just as importantly the voices of experience. In a few instances, there are parties who will come to table with a blend of those voices.

It is also so very enriching and empowering, bringing youth, iwi and wise old heads to the table with a shared passion and enthusiasm for the future. This is the wealth you bring to Conservation with a big C, and to your support of the Department in its stewardship of public conservation land. I very much look forward to your input to the development of the next iteration of the Biodiversity Strategy.

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Even in 1984 when TNHS was formed, DOC didn’t exist. The NZ Scouts Association kicked off Conservation Week and TNHS was formed by a group of motivated citizens.

Left: The 1974 Conservation Week poster by celebrated Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928-2000) Below: the 2019 Conservation Week flyer.

Both have become national institutional landmarks to whom we all owe a great debt. Please plan to continue for many years ahead. Ngā mihinui

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I also continue to enjoy your contribution to providing better visitor experiences in Tongariro National Park through improved facilities, information and hazard management.

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In the coming year we will be investing money from the International Visitor Levy in a pilot project to integrate the various data streams which contribute to visitor risk and hazard assessments. This will happen at Tongariro and will attempt to provide an at-a-glance understanding of the status of risk and management activities so our Operations staff can make faster and better decisions that will ultimately enhance the safety of our guests. Numerous other pieces of work are also planned in the landscape you love and we look forward to your inputs to those as they progress. As I started out saying, the 50th year of Conservation Week has given us cause to reflect and I will close with another reflection on that. Fifty years ago the Department of Conservation didn’t exist.

NATURE NEEDS US CONSERVATION WEEK 14-22SEP Events and activities across Aotearoa conservationweek.org.nz

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To hear a bittern boom Accounts from a summer biodiversity intern Jed Prickett Project Tongariro Summer Intern

Above: Bittern emerges from reeds. Photo: Donald Snook

Right: Jess and I in the wetland. Photo: Jed Prickett

During the late October exam season of 2018, an opportunity to intern for project Tongariro was presented to me by a lecturer of mine; a last-minute call for keen university students to produce research reports focused on the bittern and short tailed bat. As a ‘Go get ‘em’ 21year-old passionate about the natural world, I dove on the opportunity. I was yet to realise my luck as the usual producer of student interns had forgotten to put forward two names that summer. Two weeks later, the day after my final genetics’ exam, I was on a bus headed to Tūrangi, a town I had driven through many times, never known, but would come to love. Met outside the Volcanic activity centre by the mother-of-all intern supervisors, Kiri Te Wano, the first tour of Tūrangi was a delight. In our new home; the cosy anglers get away, I met Jess Peart the other intern and fungi field guide prodigy, with whom I would share blood, sweat and tears with over three following months. In a flurry of names, I met the people of DOC and Project Tongariro, a diverse group of

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conservationists who would prove to be a wealth of inspiration. Amongst them we met our project supervisors, Jo, Jess and Jane, who introduced our research questions: ‘Monitor the distribution of the Australasian bittern and of the Short-tailed bat’. While Jess and I would conduct the field work together, each would lead only one of the questions. With a love for birds, I was more than happy to lead the search for bittern. The Australasian bittern/matuku is a rare native heron and wetland specialist. The matuku is notoriously difficult to study as despite their large size, they are seldom seen by people. Paired with cryptic plumage, when threatened the matuku will freeze with its beak held high in a pose that mimics the surrounding flora. The bird is however, often heard. To attract mates and define territories, males emit a deep, booming call which can be heard over a kilometre away. While male calls have been recorded near year-round, peak booming rates occur amid the breading season from September throughout November the ‘booming season’. To incubate eggs and raise their young in the wetland, matuku construct semi floating nesting platforms able to cope with the natural fluctuation in water level. A steady diet of vertebrates and invertebrates is required to sustain the large size of the matuku, so they require a productive ecosystem able to produce enough prey to feed them. Thus, matuku are bio-indicators for good ecosystem health: their presence indicates a healthy wetland. To be so adapted to wetland allows success but leaves no room for flexibility if that habitat is lost. Since European settlement in New Zealand, over 90% of wetland has been drained to satisfy human land use, leaving few fragmented wetlands which continue to degrade. In New Zealand, historic decline of the matuku population has likely mirrored their loss of habitat. This was recorded in New South Wales of Australia where the Australasian bittern population declined

by more than 90% following vast modification of wetland in the Murray Darling Basin. Upon identifying the threat of matuku’s extinction, it has recently been classified as nationally critical; the most serious conservation status. While historic and ongoing habitat destruction has posed the greatest threat, matuku are also vulnerable to predation by introduced mammals, extreme fluctuation in water levels, disturbance and starvation. To safeguard the matuku, we first require an understanding of their distribution. Current and potential breeding and feeding sites need to be identified so local management can be implemented which limit the threats matuku face. Armed with two boxes full of audio recorders, the methods for my report were simple: to set recorders throughout the various wetlands of south Taupō to record the males booming call. If a call was recorded, presence of bittern was indicated at that site; if not recorded, it indicated absence. My plan on computer was optimistically easy: a blanket of recorders covering every inch of south Taupō’s wetland. Translated to the field however, I was quick to realise why people are dead set on draining this inhuman domain. Sunk to the knee in sludge, thighs shred by blades of grass and moving at a metre a minute, the next three months would prove how poorly adapted to wetland our bodies are. Praises be to our adaptable brain. Despite my temporal strife with the wetland, working within this unique habitat brought utter joy, for it hosts a spectacular diversity of life. In the sanctity that is Waimarino wetland, we heard our first bittern, four deep booms from the maze of foliage. To hear that our work would not be in vain was an epic feeling that would last beyond the 150th call I heard. By way of foot, kayak or the generous boat ride, we managed to squeeze 25 successful recordings across five wetlands. Each required two trips: one to set and one to retrieve the recorders, with a weather dependant

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Below: Jess in the thick of it, about to lose a gumboot. Photo: Jed Prickett

two week recording period between. By the end of our field work, I found myself with a mind boggling more than 1200 hours of raw audio recordings. I had thought the field work would be the major hurdle in producing the report boy was I wrong. Of the endless recordings, I boiled them down to a tangible 36 hours of prime audio. To analyse these recordings, specialised software was used to create spectrograms of the audio: a visualization of sound. At a very low frequency, the matuku produces a distinctive signature, making the sift

through dozens of simultaneous bird songs a lot easier, so long as trucks, geese and cows aren’t masking the call. To say the least, I became very familiar with Taupō wetland’s dawn chorus and of the matuku’s call. Of the five sites we monitored, matuku booming was recorded at Waimarino wetland and the Tongariro river delta. Waimarino wetland was a special site unlike the others we visited. Here since 2008, alongside mammal pest control, DOC and Project Tongariro have been drilling and poisoning the grey willow that chokes native wetland. While neighbouring wetlands host not much more than a sea of willow, at Waimarino native flora flourishes atop old willow bones. Unsurprisingly, here we witnessed almost all our bittern sightings and recorded more calls than at any other site. The strong matuku population at Waimarino presented an opportunity for long term monitoring. By recording periodically from November through February I hoped to record the reported decline in call rate as the booming season came to an end. It was this long-term monitoring that taught me you can’t run a research project without something going wrong. In late November, Waimarino was booming from every corner of the wetland; beyond this date, the bittern went silent and the booming season was over. Having arrived to Tūrangi in midNovember, I had a three-week window to hear matuku and of the eight recorders set in this time, bittern boomed at seven of them. Of the 18 recorders set in the following two months, not a single boom was recorded. I could not infer matuku were absent from these sites because the likelihood of hearing their call outside the booming season is slim. In fact, we saw a matuku at a site where none were recorded. While the first three weeks were a success, to have two months of work produce uninformative data was rather disappointing, but a lot can be learned from one’s mistakes and I learned an awful lot.

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Beside our research, there was plenty to do. Jess and I were kept busy marshalling running events, tending to whio, controlling weeds, advocating conservation and much more. Beyond this work being a heap of fun, we were always learning, being taught invaluable skills by brilliant people, all while nurturing a growing passion for conservation. Prior to the internship, my idea of conservation had been born from my practices at university: analysing research paper after research paper to write of the theories of population ecology, the plight of mammal invasion and the prospects of genetic editing. While indeed fascinating, despite my studies, I was too often stumped by people’s question, “But why does conservation matter?” I would defend with facts and numbers but that never satisfied. In hindsight I was missing the purpose of conservation: what is being conserved. I learnt this in a particularly humbling moment of the summer whilst monitoring native mistletoe in the Kaimanawas. The scarlet mistletoe flowers in blooms of red that burst high in the canopy of mature beech forests: a rare site in New Zealand since the destruction of old growth and selective herbivory by possums. So to see dozens after dozens of the plant splashing the green canopy of the Kaimanawas was humbling in its own right. But perched amongst one of the mistletoe, we witnessed a lone Kaka, as rare as the plant it was feeding on. Browsing the sea of flowers, the kaka would sink its complimentary tongue to drink the nectar. The ripe flower pods of the scarlet mistletoe were sealed at first, but by the parrot’s dexterity each was uncapped and we watched the flower bloom like a wax flame. To catch a glimpse of Aotearoa’s past was an utter spectacle, the harmony of two unique species, on the verge of extinction. The pest control, poisons, trapping and monitoring: it all made sense. Much like the preservation of fine art, for people, conservation is a work of art.

Two months on from the internship, I’m back in Wellington to wrap up my biology degree, a task made much easier with sweet memories of the summer. Where life will lead me when I graduate, I’m not sure, but I do know there will be birds, there will be bush and I will be working to preserve it so others too can experience the beauty of Aotearoa’s natural world.

Above: One of five audio recorders set in Waimarino wetland. Photo: Jed Prickett

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Volcano Watch 2019

Harry Keys Former Science AdvisorVolcanology with Department of Conservation

Introduction All volcanoes at Tongariro are currently at low Volcanic Alert levels. So another year without eruptions in Tongariro National Park has given time for DOC’s new volcano staff Hollei Gabrielsen and Theo Chapman to concentrate on their “peacetime” tasks. The succession policy for DOC volcano staff has borne fully developed fruits!

Ruapehu The cooling and heating cycles at Te Wai ā-moe/Crater Lake have been subtly different from normal for up to 2 years now (or up to 17 years if one used a multiyear period for averaging). As reported in last year’s issue of Tongariro and in GeoNet Alert Bulletin RUA 2019/1, the lake has stayed warmer for longer than usual between cycles. From late August 2017 to 28 May the temperature stayed warmer than 30˚C for about 641 days. Such a sustained length of time with temperatures above 30˚C has not been experienced since early 1995-mid 2001 which was a consequence of high heat flow into the lake during the magmatic eruptive episode best known for the 1995-1996 eruptions (Figure 1). Before that was the generally warm length of time from late

1965 into 1982 which was a time with numerous eruptions. The first of these occurred in March through October 1966 (Scott 2013) with an event on 24 July witnessed by hundreds of skiers and other visitors (Otway et al 1995). Hazardous and poorly heralded eruptions on 22 June 1969 (Figure 2) and 24 April 1975 were the climaxes of this period which involved eruptions of fresh magma (e.g. 1968, 1969 and 1971). Most of the smaller peaks of warmth comprising the background in Figure 1 coincide with the well-known and normal lake heating cycles. The temperature variability obscures most trends and makes it difficult to assess whether peaks and troughs have other significance. Warm periods from October 2007 and 2013 are consistent with documented heating processes for example the vent opening during the unheralded September 2007 eruption and peaks in SO2 emissions. For the sake of comparisons with past behaviour we should exclude the major magmatic event that led to the 19951999 eruption episode. That time period is different from the present one. Temperatures reached 51.4˚C in January 1995 before any eruptions commenced. There were small eruptions in late June before the main events of SeptemberOctober 1995 which erupted juvenile volcanic material, confirming the role of new magma. Low frequency seismic activity was detected at times suggesting magma movement. Since

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Figure 1. Plot of periods in which Crater Lake temperatures are 30 ˚C or warmer with data points marking the start of these periods (see also Table 1 for the time periods shown). The 2000 days (5.5 years) from September 1995 to late April 2001 associated with the 1995-1999 eruption episode are clearly different from the rest of the record. In contrast the current period starting in September 2017 has so far had only one period (1.8 years) with temperatures mostly above 30˚C. This does not yet match the earlier 1965-1982 time period which was generally warm with temperatures mostly above 30˚C several times, one as long as 2.1 years. Data are sparse before 1964 but are sufficient to show temperatures were not elevated for significant periods between the 1945 eruption and sometime prior to 1950, and then up to late 1965.

July 2017 the maximum temperature reached (as of 18 July 19) was only 44˚C (and as normal some steam plumes were seen from the Lake at these temperatures). The highest temperature reached since 1999 was 46˚C in May 2016 and there have been no eruptions. On this basis we might conclude that the recent onset and style of increased heat flow has not have been experienced for about 40-50 years. This recent high heat flow has been associated with higher than normal emission of gas since at least November 2017. High gas emission in May 2016 was one reason, along with temperature and moderate levels of volcanic tremor, why the Volcanic Alert Level was raised to 2 for 2 months (GeoNet Volcanic Alert Bulletins RUA 2016/4 and 7). As is common during heating periods there have been a number of periods recently with increased tremor and some other seismicity (e.g. GeoNet Volcanic Alert Bulletins RUA 2016/1-6, 2017/1, 2018/1 & 3, 2019/1 & 2). There have been no

seismic indications of magma movement although it is often difficult to detect that at Ruapehu. While recent isotopic analysis of gas might suggest a new batch of magma has been intruded into a region at some depth this interpretation is tentative and there are other possible explanations. There may have been changes in the boundary zones around existing magma body(s) below Te Wai ā-moe/Crater Lake that have amplified fluid flow from that existing heat source(s) (Bruce Christenson GNS Science personal communication) or there may have been increased permeability of the vent system itself or increased heat convection by fluids in the vent. At Ruapehu in the current era seismic evidence of magma movement or changes in gas emission or composition cannot be guaranteed to provide useful precursors for a hazardous eruption. In the three months before the 22 June 1969 eruption no seismicity other than tremor was ascribed to Ruapehu and

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Table 1. Subdivision of the record of Te Wai ā-moe /Crater Lake into time periods

low frequency earthquakes there were recorded only 25-28 minutes before the eruption (Ray Dibble in Healy et al 1978). In April 1975 low amplitude volcanoseismicity occurred only 9 minutes before the eruption (Nairn et al 1979). The 2007 eruption was preceded by minor volcano-tectonic earthquakes and tremor bursts which began only 10 minutes before the main eruption (Jolly et al 2010). Current seismic monitoring techniques, used since 2007, are not yet able to detect useable precursors (i.e. sufficient to provide warning of an impending eruption, if they exist) although they are improvements on those in operation in the time period 1965-1982. This typifies what can be termed the “unheralded dilemma” of Ruapehu. In 1965-1982 understanding and sampling of gas was in its infancy despite important pioneering work by Werner Giggenbach so that knowledge of gas emission from that time does not help us too much. Currently volcanic gas needs to be measured or sampled manually and is often prevented by poor weather, although GNS has prioritised gas observation. Gas presence/absence prior to the 2007

Measured maxima

eruption hints that more frequent gas measurement might help overcome the “unheralded dilemma”. Remote automatic gas analysis is sorely needed at Ruapehu and the technology continues to improve (Bruce Christenson GNS Science personal communication). Also, there may still be more information that can be gleaned from the 2006-2007 seismic dataset (Art Jolly GNS Science personal communication). Lake water temperature has ongoing utility as it is monitored remotely by GeoNet. Expanding on the first part of this article the temperature record can be divided, with some difficulty because of the temperature variability, into five time periods so far (Table 1). Records of seismicity, water chemistry and eruption frequency also help make these time periods distinctive although Time Periods 3 and 5 are very similar. Continuous temperatures from 15 April 2009 measured as part of GeoNet have made Time Period 5 much better represented than earlier time periods. When there are no indications of unrest or no data from seismic or gas monitoring water temperature may give clues about eruption probability.

Time Period

Years and eruption summary

Mean or “background” temperature

Measured minima

Temperature fluctuations

After 1945-late 1965. Few eruptions

poorly characterised but apparently temperature fluctuations were similar to the time periods before and after 1995-mid 2001

Late 1965-1982. Could be further subdivided at 1976 but no real value in doing that. Many eruptions

30˚C

49-60˚C

10-27˚C

Largest

1982-1994. Few eruptions

25˚C

40-47˚C

9-20˚C

Moderate

1995-mid 2001. Major magmatic eruption episode

Ca 50-60˚C

65-69˚C

31˚C

Relatively small

Mid 2001-present. Few eruptions

25˚C

42-46˚C

<12-20˚C

Similar to P3 but smaller

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An important statistical review by Strehlow et al (2017) of lake temperature and eruptions since 1945 confirmed that if the lake is significantly warmer or cooler than the “background” temperature, the probability for an impending eruption is increased, to at least twice the normal probability per month. In addition, they suggested that eruptions that eject material well outside the crater basin onto the summit plateau and outer flanks, with lahars possible in several catchments, are more likely when the lake is cooler than the “background”, although they questioned the significance of that suggestion due to few data points. Increased eruption probability at cooler temperatures is not always appreciated by locals, the wider public or the media. The eruptions in June 1969 and April 1975, as well as smaller events (still hazardous in the crater basin) in July 1966 and March 1978 all occurred when temperatures had cooled temporarily to or well below 30˚C during the warm 1965-1982 time period. Strehlow et al did not define what the “background” temperature was but during 1965-1982 it was 30˚C (Table 1), whereas it was around 25˚C in the time periods from 1982 to 1994 and 2002 to 2017. So those eruptions could be regarded as occurring from “colder lakes” in the context of that time. This interpretation would suggest that unheralded eruptions are more likely when temperatures are cooler than whatever the background temperature is at the time. It is premature to conclude we are entering a time period like 1965-1982 with sustained warmer temperatures. There are some significant differences between then and now. Temperatures before and after eruptions then peaked at 50-60˚C, generally much warmer than recently observed. Most minimum temperatures were also warmer than those pre-2017. The temperature cooled below 17˚C in July with some help from cold winter conditions. But if a warming background temperature is confirmed

Ballistic bomb craters there may be a case to raise DOC’s cool temperature threshold for when increased vigilance is justified for volcanic risk management. So, this period needs to be monitored carefully, and we are fortunate to have GeoNet and GNS Science to help do this. People on Whakapapa ski area, along with people and businesses in the surrounding communities, continue to depend on the backstop provided by the Eruption Detection System (EDS) operated by DOC with input from GNS Science and GeoNet. Direct financial contributions from the mountain communities and indirect contributions to the wider Volcanic Alarm Network by Transpower, the Army, GNS Science, Kiwirail, Genesis and Ruapehu District Council help keep EDS operational. Ruapehu Alpine Lifts are funding an extension of the EDS to the new gondola which has four towers in the path of lahars the size of the 1969 and 1975 events. Because of this they have been advised and have aimed for the towers to be built to withstand lahar impact. In the event of an EDS alarm, the plan is for the gondola to be sped up so that people in the cabins will have travelled past the lahar path before a potential lahar arrives. EDS and its

Figure 2. The area around Te Wai ā-moe/ Crater Lake the day after the 22 June 1969 eruption. Note ballistic bomb impact craters on Dome Ridge and behind on the right side of the photo. Lake water cascading down onto slopes on left foreground and background formed lahars that drained into Whakapapa and Whangaehu valleys. This was the first eruption to impact Whakapapa ski area with lahars flowing down Far West and the Gut-TurtleStaircase lahar paths (T Ulyatt, DSIR)

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Figure 3. Mangatetipua Stream flowing off the LHZ down to east at the start of work (Toby O’Hara on the job) on 2 May 18 to divert it back into its more normal path which took 3-person hours. Running away beyond Toby is the destroyed route of the second diversion of the TAC required in the 12 October 2012 to 27 January 2016 period (a redundant orange track marker is visible in the distance). Photo: Harry Keys

predecessor the Lahar Warning System operated during the 1995-1996 eruption episode and three other eruptions (1988, 2006, 2007) so is now well calibrated, so it is reasonable to be confident it will provide a warning when required.

GNS volcanologists to help manage perceived risk which may be different from actual risk. Others such as internet capacity to cope with increased demand may be less familiar.

DOC, Ruapehu District Council, the police, Kiwirail, Genesis, and GNS Science recently held an exercise to test response to activations of EDS and Whakapapa Village Lahar Alarm System in a large mainly unheralded eruption with emphasis on the Whakapapa side of the volcano. This was the largest multi-organisation response training exercise held since the 2005-2007 period leading up to the March 2007 lahar. RALs’ evacuation plans for Whakapapa and Tūroa worked well. The Whakapapa Holiday park, residents’ houses in Hepi Terrace and visitors in Whakapapa Village were also evacuated out of the lahar path that runs through the western part of the Village. The police physically checked the Tangiwai Memorial area and had time to evacuate it well before a lahar would have arrived showing that this important outcome measure is still being met. There were many learnings which will take time to accommodate in response plans etc. They include some which often arise during emergencies, such as interagency communications and relationships especially involvement of

Tongariro and Ngauruhoe remain quiet with the steam and gas plume from Te Maari continuing to get smaller on average. Remotely measured sulphur dioxide gas emission from Te Maari is consistently less than the 10 tonnes per day (the detection limit) although there are occasional peaks recorded above background for periods of minutes to hours (e.g. 17 June 2017, 22 June 2018), possibly due to wind conditions. It is likely that unrest will be detected by seismic and gas monitoring before new eruptions except from some small eruptions. So Red Crater and Ketetahi are probably the only areas that create significant risks to visitors in the current post 2012 Te Maari period. The Tongariro Eruption Detection System designed by GNS in 2013 aims at providing an internal early warning to DOC and GNS (i.e. not immediately to the public or concessionaires) of any eruption from the Tongariro-Ngauruhoe massif. But it only has the one 2012 eruption episode for calibration so cannot yet be relied on for warnings of all eruptions, especially small ones. Until that changes it is not easy to see how a reliable public-facing warning system can be designed.

Tongariro and Ngauruhoe

However, the experience of the 2012 Te Maari eruptions, GeoNet’s volcano monitoring capabilities, the electronic light signs (as used in 2013-2015 see Tongariro 2015), expert judgment, hazard assessment and operational advice will provide a good basis for the agile decision-making needed for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing (TAC) and Northern Circuit. Such a system running well with good communication and implementation by management and concessionaires could conceivably facilitate periodic opening and closing of the track during a major eruption episode like that of Ngauruhoe 1973-

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1977 (see last Tongariro Journal, pages 14-17), and as it did before the second Te Maari eruption in 2012. There could be many months when the track could be kept open between eruptions, as long as hazard assessments are fit-forpurpose and risk management is appropriate to that, rather than to a more conservative generalised level of risk management. But this legacy of the 2012 eruption will fade over time without “nurturing” and such agile management could become even more challenging in the modern risk-adverse environment. Another legacy of the 2012 Te Maari eruption remains active at the “Lahar Hazard Zone” (LHZ) near the Ketetahi end of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Ongoing floods and sedimentation have resulted in a dynamically changing Mangatetipua Stream through the LHZ. This has continued to effect the forest there, felling small trees, widening the dynamic zone and altering stream paths. Expensive rerouting of the track and repairs to the Ketetahi Road have been necessary. In addition, the carpark across the road, residents at Heretoa and the pine plantation to the northwest have all been impacted by changes in the flow path. Probably the Wharawharaiaia wetland which is fed by Mangatetipua Stream on the western edge of Rotoaira has not been able to perform its normal water purifying function. Since the article in the last Tongariro (#24) management has: 1. Rerouted the track and installed two more short boardwalks to avoid the new stream flow that had appeared low down on the track after the October 2012 secondary lahar; 2. Confirmed the sources of that stream flow as a series of major distributary flow points (Figure 3) out of the Lahar Hazard Zone; 3. Hand-built a dam (Figure 4), a stream training wall, moved small

boulders and built other smaller walls to block those distributary points and direct the stream back into its “normal” flow zone. This is the flow path that includes the wellknown waterfall and runs through the main culvert under SH46; 4. Removed small trees in two places where they ended up in the new stream as a result of the changing stream paths over the last six years, because they contributed to sedimentation there and potentially forced further distributary flow. Low rainfall in the 11-12 months after the works in 3 and 4 were completed were not sufficient to cause any further breakouts of the stream but were enough the cause some erosion (Figure 4) and rerouting within the original stream flow zone. In mid-June a series of minor freshes did lead to a “suboptimal” breakout within the normal flow zone. It was rapidly detected by DOC and manual work of only 1-person hour was sufficient, shortly afterwards, to return it into a more desired path. The TAC will likely continue to be affected during flood events that accompany 80 mm of rain measured by Genesis over two hours at Rotoaira and

Figure 4. The largest dam and training wall beyond it on 7 April 2019 showing the dam is still intact but suffering from some erosion despite a long period with generally low stream levels and infrequent rain freshes. Photo: Harry Keys

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Above: A major new set of interpretation panels is being developed for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Some of the panels will note that serious hazards can occur without warning. Photo: photographer unknown

or smaller amounts (40-50 mm?) at intervals of more than one or two per week. Monitoring after rainy periods, and ongoing management at least annually, will be required. There are options for larger works but some of them would raise philosophical concerns in the national park context and broader discussion would be necessary if they were to be considered. A major new set of interpretation panels is being developed for the TAC. Three themes run through the panels, volcanic, cultural and safety. It is great to see the volcanic content includes new findings from the new GNS Science geological map of TNP and NZ university students such as Annika Greve and Chris Conway (Victoria), Anya Moebis (Massey) and Stephanie Gates (Canterbury) and their supervisors. The volcanic story makes it clear there are volcanic risks to people near or on the TAC particularly at Red Crater and in the Lahar Hazard Zone. Some of the panels

note that serious hazards can occur without warning. The implicit inference is that peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safety cannot be guaranteed.

Acknowledgments Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to express my grateful thanks to colleagues and friends at DOC, GNS Science and Project Tongariro for farewells at the end of my DOC career in 2018. Art Jolly, Bruce Christenson and Nico Fournier shared their thoughts on the ongoing challenges posed by the enigmatic Ruapehu Volcano. The references to Healy, Otway and Scott can be obtained from a search at GNS Science http://shop.gns.cri.nz/publications/. Nairn et al 1979 (Phreatic eruptions of Ruapehu April 1975) and Strehlow et al 2017 (Phreatic eruptions at crater lakes: occurrence statistics and probabilistic hazard forecast) can be obtained by a simple internet search for them.

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The Central North Island Sika Foundation Whio Recovery Project Gary Harwood - Central North Island Sika Foundation Eastern Rep The Central North Island Sika Foundation is leading the Kaimanawa Whio Recovery Project. The Foundation, along with NZDA Taupō branch, meet with the Department of Conservation on a regular basis to discuss issues that are relevant to all parties involved, and supply volunteers to carry out work such as track clearing and replacing markers, hut maintenance, and cleaning up rubbish at popular camp sites in remote locations in the Kaimanawa Forest Park. At one of our regular meetings, which was held at DOC Taupō office on 20 June 2018, we raised the prospect of being involved in a predator control project in the Kaimanawa Forest Park. It was agreed to that a good project to start with would be predator control along the Kaipo and Oamaru Rivers, the two main tributaries at the source of the Mohaka River, as a way to protect the struggling Whio populations that are in this area.

Although the traps don’t need servicing for six months, our volunteers go into the area at regular intervals to check the counters and maintain the traps so we can determine how many predators are being killing, and to check on the Whio population. We organised two teams to go into the area on the 27 – 29 July 2018 to carry out a survey of the Kaipo River from the swing bridge to the Oamaru Hut and the Oamaru River from the Waitawhero Stream to Oamaru Hut, approximately 10 km on each river. The survey was to determine how many Whio were resident, so we could decide where to place the first line of traps, which need to

The following plan was agreed and put in place: The Sika Foundation will supply all the volunteers needed to carry out this project, from setting out trap lines to regular and ongoing maintenance of the traps. The Sika Foundation, NZDA Taupō branch, Hunters & Habitats and DOC donated $5000 each to start the project. With the $20,000 available, we purchased the initial 110 Goodnature A24 stoat and rat traps, complete with lure and counters. The A24 traps are perfect for this type of remote locations. Once set in place, can be left for six months before they need servicing. They have a small automatic lure pump and gas canister attached, and once the trap is triggered it will reset and continue to kill predators for six months before the gas canister and lure pump need replacing.

cover at least 6 km of river to be effective, placed at 100m intervals staggered on each side of the river. One pair of Whio were encountered on each river, demonstrating how urgent it was to get this project underway. On Friday, 17 August 2018, a team of 12 volunteers went to the Oamaru hut and set out 110 Goodnature A24 traps along the Kaipo River from the swing bridge down to the confluence with the Oamaru River, protecting just over 10 km of the Kaipo river. The first check of the traps was carried out after 32 days, with 183 kills recorded. The second check was carried out 63

Above: Two adults and five juvenile Whio. Photo: Garrack Carle

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Above: Jadon McConnell from Goodnature giving the team a briefing. Photo: Gary Harwood

days after the first check and this recorded a further 195 kills, making a total of 378 kills after 95 days. A satisfying result with dead stoats, rats, mice and even a hedgehog being found under the traps. The Goodnature A24 traps are certainly proving to be effective, especially in a reasonably remote location such as this. Even more satisfying was seeing a pair of adult Whio with five healthy young ones in the area we have the traps. It was really exciting to see evidence of positive results at this early stage. We then raised enough funding to purchase a further 73 Goodnature A24 traps to complete stage 2 of the project, the 10 km of the Oamaru River from the Waitawhero Stream to the confluence with the Kaipo River, giving us 20km of river protected in this location. These traps were installed by a team of 16 volunteers on the 15 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 16 February, 2019. On the following Friday, the 22 February, a team of seven volunteers went into the Kaipo River to carry out a full service on the 110 traps in stage 1 which were installed in August last year.

It was six months since these traps in stage 1 were installed so the team went in and replaced the lure, gas canisters and checked and zeroed the counters on each trap. 121 additional kills were recorded in the three months since we last checked the counters on 21 November last year, making a total of 499 predator kills in the six months since the traps were installed. We are now raising funds for stage 3 of the project to protect a further 10km of Whio habitat in the area. This is a long-term project and it could take up to five years before we see a real increase in Whio numbers. We will continue expanding the area protected within this location to create more safe stretches of river as young birds mature and start breeding in larger numbers and dispersing to new territories within the area. The project has now received national recognition, being included in the DOC Whio forever programme as an official Whio Recovery Site.

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Andrew Glaser, Department of Conservation Whio Recovery Group Leader, said:

“Great initiative by our hunters to showcase what can be achieved through their capable skills in the bush. “

Andrew Glaser, Department of Conservation Whio Recovery Group Leader said:

Great initiative by our hunters to showcase what can be achieved through their capable skills in the bush. This effort and the level of commitment the team has shown qualifies this as our newest “Whio Recovery Site”.. Through your efforts and the management of the whio predators the Kaimanawa Forest whio population will flourish in an area where we didn’t previously have any representation. We greatly appreciate your teams support and keen to help out where we can. The Sika Foundation is extremely appreciative of the support received from the our sponsors for this exciting and nationally important conservation project, as without this generous support we would not have a project. Also, a big thanks to the dedicated team of volunteers who have given their time to make this project possible, many travel significant distances, take time off

work and give up their spare time just to be involved. A special thanks to Poronui for allowing us vehicle access through their property, without this access it would not be feasible to maintain this project, and also to Heliska who donate helicopter flying time to drop off equipment and teams to the more remote areas of the project. For more information about the Central North Island Sika Foundation, this project and our sponsors follow this link: https://sikafoundation.co.nz Gary Harwood Project coordinator Mobile: 027 487 2304 Email: gharwood@xtra.co.nz

Above: A team of Sika Foundation volunteers head into the Kaimanawa Forest Park to set and check traps. Photo: Gary Harwood

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Heather dieback in Tongariro National Park Harry Keys formerly Department of Conservation Simon Fowler and Paul Peterson (Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research)

Below: Figure 1: Heather beetle feeding front next to SH 47 within Tongariro National Park, 2018. Photo: Paul Peterson MWLR

A biocontrol agent battling a problem Central North Island pest plant (ling) heather (Calluna vulgaris) is causing major dieback effects 23 years after it was first introduced to control the spread of this invasive environmental weed. Recent years have been very significant for this longrunning project targeting the most widespread plant pest in Tongariro National Park (TNP).

Heather was deliberately introduced from Europe into Tongariro National Park in 1912 as gamebird habitat. However, heather is now considered a pest plant because it displaces native vegetation, both within Tongariro National Park (TNP) and in surrounding areas, out-competes some vulnerable or threatened species on conservation land, and disrupts military operations on Army land. The problem was recognised in the 1960s by DSIR ecologist Ian Atkinson and Chief Ranger John Mazey but by the late 1980s a series of control attempts by Lands and Survey staff, Wanganui Tramping Club and Ivan Watkins Dow had failed to stem the â&#x20AC;&#x153;purple plagueâ&#x20AC;?. By the 1990s it had become the most widespread weed in the park, and since then has continued to spread far beyond

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Map. Area of heather damaged by heather beetle (adult and larval feeding) is shown in blue overlaid on area heather has spread over in purple. Small areas of heather or damage to it may not be shown Map: Paul Peterson MWLR

park boundaries. It is now present over more than 50,000ha of the North Island’s Central Plateau. In addition, observations on Hauhungatahi, Iwikau and Mangatepopo Valley suggest that climate change has assisted the weed to spread viable seeds at altitudes possibly higher than 1600 m, some 200-400 metres higher than it could 30 years ago. In 2019 Danial van der Lubbe and Lois Allison-Cooper found about 20, apparently mainly small, adult plants at about 1700 m in Central Crater on Tongariro. Pioneering work by scientists and students, a workshop in 1986, and early management efforts by Paul Green and Don Bogie,

spanned the DOC establishment and restructuring years when momentum on this project could have been lost. An environmental impact assessment published in 1990, discussing the implications of biological control options for heather within TNP, led to the intensification of research including the careful selection and collection of potential non-target “host plants” to any potential biocontrol agent introduction. This was then followed by four years of rigorous testing in quarantine at Lincoln and some in England by Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research to ensure the most promising biocontrol agent, the heather beetle (Lochmaea suturalis), would be host specific.

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Top left: Figure 3 January 1996 Lindsay Smith MWLR Photo: Harry Keys Top right: Figure 4 Early 2002 Paul Barrett Massey University Photo: Paul Peterson MWLR Middle left: Figure 5 Late 2002 Photo: Paul Peterson MWLR Middle right: Figure 6 2004 Photo: Paul Peterson MWLR Bottom left: Figure 7 2007 Photo: Paul Peterson MWLR Bottom right: Fig 8 8 April 2019 Photo: Harry Keys

Figures 3 - 8. Photos of the Te Piripiri heather beetle release site showing the extent of Calluna vulgaris at the time of release in 1996 (Figure 3) and again early in 2002 (Figure 4). This site, which in 1996 was comprised of a dominant swathe of Calluna vulgaris, had undergone severe defoliation and collapse by late 2002 at which time Dracophyllum subulatum dominated this area above a ground cover of decaying Calluna vulgaris litter (Figures 5 & 6). From late 2004 to at least 2007 Chionochloa rubra (red tussock) had been able to take advantage of the heather decline (Figure 7). By April 2019 a restricted heather swathe that had regrown here, albeit restricted by growth of Phyllocladus aspleniifolius var alpinus (Mountain toatoa) and Dracophyllum subulatum (Figure 8), was again succumbing to beetle attack. Meanwhile a key non-target native plant used for monitoring Pentachondra pumila (not visible in photo) continues to show no signs of browse or debilitation while Chionochloa rubra (red tussock) has resumed its decline here as part of the natural shrub succession that is widespread in TNP below the biological treeline. The succession and overtopping of low stature vegetation by large shrubs was successfully modelled by Geoff Rogers as part of background research on the possible future of heather in TNP

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We needed to ensure biocontrol by the beetle would pose no risk to native plants. A decision was taken at a second workshop in 1993 with various agencies involved, including DOC, Forest and Bird, Massey, Otago and Victoria universities, to develop a biocontrol project if this testing confirmed the risk was low. It did, and following approval by the NZ Conservation Authority in 1995 the heather beetle was first released into New Zealand to control heather in January 1996 near the Mangatepopo road-end (1120 m) and beside Te Piripiri Stream (1020 m) 1 km from SH1. The first beetle outbreak was detected at the Te Piripiri site in late 1999. Since then, the beetle has been released at many sites as high as 1300 m by both Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research and DOC. Years of ongoing monitoring, especially by the former, have shown success has been limited above 1000 m. However, many outbreaks have occurred at lower elevations and the rates of beetle establishment have been improving with research by Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research which has refined release techniques. The latest surveys show heather beetles have damaged or killed heather over more than 5000 hectares at elevations up to almost 1200 m (Pukeonake) (see map) since becoming established. For example, heather throughout the wetland near National Park township has been killed. Every year the damaged area has been growing exponentially without human assistance, and net reduction of heather biomass is now at landscape levels in some places. As expected on local scales, the majority of heather plants have died in outbreak areas. Some heather plants survive and regrow after outbreaks but are then vulnerable to attack during further outbreaks. An April 2019, a visit to the original Te Piripiri outbreak showed that some heather plants had re-established (see photos) from a few survivors, and probably the soil seed bank, after beetle numbers crashed at the site in 2002 during an unusually cold spring. Similar localised crashes, if still occurring, have now become irrelevant as beetle

numbers and distribution have vastly increased. In April 2019, heather plants over a broad area of several square kilometres surrounding the Te Piripiri site, possibly extending as high as 1160 m up to 4 km west of State Highway 1, were also being attacked by the beetle. This shows that vastly greater beetle numbers occur now compared with 23 years ago and that they have been killing heather on a landscape scale. This outbreak is a continuation of the outbreak that started in 2006 at site 40 on Army land beside State Highway 1, south of the summit, and is the longest documented outbreak of heather beetle in the world. Generally, beetle establishment and spread have been more difficult and slower than expected, especially at higher altitudes or in harsher climatic areas where some native vegetation is more at risk from heather. Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research has investigated reasons for this, discovering that heather in TNP is very low in nitrogen (a key component for insect growth) compared with heather plants in the UK. So fertiliser was applied to some release sites on a small scale (5 x 5 m plots) as a management solution to give beetles a ‘kick-start’ from which they could radiate. On top of that, the beetle population suffered a genetic bottleneck during lab

Above: Figure 9. Visit to Te Piripiri release site in April 2019 showing heather damaged by the beetle outbreak in the foreground (from left to right: Jane Williams DOC, Joana Mendonca DOC, Harry Keys and Paul Barrett Massey University. Photo: Paul Peterson MWLR

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environmental concerns around the use of herbicides. We could not have achieved the results to date using control methods such as herbicide treatment.

Above: Heather beetle damage in Tongariro National Park. Photo: Paul Peterson MWLR

rearing in quarantine to remove a microsporidia disease, before release in 1996, which is thought to have contributed to a smaller-than-normal body size. As a consequence, beetles have had difficulties surviving harsh climatic conditions at high altitude sites in the Park. Recently, fresh beetle stocks were introduced from Scotland to help alleviate this bottleneck and better match beetles to our harsher climatic conditions. By releasing these (also microsporidia disease-free) beetles to boost current populations, it is hoped that beetle performance will improve still further in coming years. Dr Simon Fowler, who leads Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research’s biocontrol of weeds programme, says biocontrol agents aren’t considered a quick fix but instead usually build up slowly over a number of years and can often take decades before a significant impact is seen. He suspects that beetles are starting to adapt to the local climate and actively spread into some areas where they could not before (e.g. above 1000 m. Daniel van de Lubbe has seen them on the summit of Hauhungatahi at 1519 m). In any case, programmes like these are self-sustaining and constantly active and they allow for weed control over large remote areas, saving money and time, and avoiding

It is clear that the biocontrol project is starting to make significant gains for conservation in TNP and the surrounding wetlands. The Department of Conservation is taking a long-term view of the biocontrol of heather. Management of the project has now been passed to the Tongariro and Central Plateau districts who continue to release the beetle at various sites, as well as continuing conventional treatment at outlying areas like the summits of Pihanga and Hauhungatahi, and the Waipakihi Valley. Project Tongariro also controls heather around Lake Rotopounamu. The outcome for the weed will continue to depend on the scale of beetle spread across and up the landscape but also, perhaps, on the frequency of its outbreaks in relation to the heather recovery from survivors and seeds, as well as the ongoing natural processes of growth and species succession of the indigenous vegetation. We expect that by 2040 (130 years after the first release of heather), or perhaps as soon as 30 years from the first release of the beetle, that heather will have become a minor component in the landscape of Tongariro National Park World Heritage Area and adjacent areas such as the Army training area.

Acknowledgements We acknowledge funding from the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST)/Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the NZ Defence Force for supporting research done by Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, and to Bhrent Guy and staff from the local DOC districts for continuing the emphasis on this project.

Limited biography Atkinson, I.A.E. 1981. Vegetation map of Tongariro National Park, North Island, New Zealand. Department of Scientific and industrial Research, Wellington. 27p. plus 1;50,000 colour map.

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Deverell, S.R. 2005 Heather beetle impact monitoring at Tongariro National Park baseline Survey 2004. Tongariro/TaupĹ? Conservancy Monitoring Report, TONCO43016 Grove, P.B., Mark, A.F., Dickinson, K.J.M. 2002. Vegetation monitoring of recently protected tussock grasslands in the southern South Island, New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 32: 3. 379-414 Fowler, S.V., Peterson, P.G., Barrett, P.D., Forgie, S., Gleeson, D.M., Harman, H., Houliston, G.J., Smith, L. 2015. Investigating the poor performance of heather beetle, Lochmaea suturalis (Thompson) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), as a weed biocontrol agent in New Zealand: Has genetic bottlenecking resulted in small body size and poor winter survival? Biological Control. Keys, H. 1994 Heather the purple plague. Forest and Bird magazine May 1994 (including a timeline) Keys, H., Syrett, P. 1995. Introduction of heather beetle Lochmaea suturalis into New Zealand for biological control of Calluna vulgaris. An importation impact assessment. Landcare Research Report. Peterson, P.G. Fowler, S.V. 2004. Biological control of heather in central North Island: progress since Landcare Research Contract Report LC0001/016, October 2000. Landcare Research Contract Report LC0304/156. Peterson, P.G. ,S.V. Fowler, S. Forgie , D.P. Barrett, M. Merrett and F. Preston, 2011. Biological control of heather (Calluna vulgaris) [progress 2004-2011]. Landcare Research Contract Report LC571. Peterson, P.G., Fowler, S.V., Barrett, D.P., Smith, L.A., Merrett, M., Forgie, S., Gleeson, D.M., Houliston, G.J., Hayman, E. 2015. Biological control of heather (Calluna vulgaris): Re-introduction of the heather beetle (Lochmaea suturalis) into New Zealand. Landcare Research Contract Report LC2228.

Rogers, G.M. 1994 Control, demography, and post-control response of heather in the central North Island: Part: 2. Science for Conservation: 29 Silvester, W., N. Singers and H. Keys (editors), 2009. Use of Fire for Ecological Management in Tongariro National Park Central North Island, New Zealand. Tongariro/TaupĹ? Conservancy, Department of Conservation Report. Smith, L.A., Harris, R.J., Peterson, P.G., Syrett, P. 1998. Introduction of heather beetle Lochmaea suturalis ( Thomson) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelaidae) into Tongariro National Park as a biological control agent for heather (Calluna vulgaris) (Ericaceae). Landcare Research Contract Report LC9798/133. Syrett, P., Smith, L.A., Bourner, T.C., Fowler, S.V., Wilcox, A. 2000. A European pest to control a New Zealand weed: investigating the safety of heather beetle, Lochmaea suturalis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) for biological control of heather Calluna vulgaris. Bulletin of Entomological Research 90: 169178

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Predator Free Taupō Robyn Ellis Greening Taupō & Predator Free Taupō Coordinator

Below: Doing predator control in your own backyard, Titok,i Gulley. Right Newly constructed Trapping tunnel at the Reporoa trap building workshop Photos: Robyn Ellis

Another great year for Predator Free Taupō (PFT) as we mixed and mingled with the community through a range of conservation events, family nature days and community trapping workshops. We visited numerous education centers, supporting Kids Greening Taupō with the mission of supporting tamariki to become kaitiaki of our local

environment. It is great fun getting the kids to see what’s living in their playgrounds or nearby reserve , by firstly putting out tracking tunnels, then building trap tunnels and finally properly setting out the traps. All done with the ultimate goal to reduce predator numbers and help bring back native biodiversity! This mahi is made all the easier with local support from businesses such Taupō ITM donating all the timber for making the backyard trapping tunnels. Just need to emphasise - timber is the proper name for this material, not wood as I keep getting corrected! We have also been fortunate to have secured Fonterra Grass Roots funding for rat traps and DOC 200s for Reporoa College and the surrounding residents, along with Kiwi Bank supporting Kinloch to become a predator free community. Schools,

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Right: Warren Johnson from ITM with Hugh.Eccles. Far Right: Roel Michels at Waitahanui Kura. m May 2018 - June 2019 Photos: Robyn Ellis

kindergartens and play centres continue to show a strong interest in utilising hands on, practical environmental learning opportunities. Plenty more community events are planned so keep an eye on our Facebook page for more details. Along with all the workshops and school visits PFT have many volunteers actively managing traps across various sites in the TaupĹ? region with more trapping projects being implemented and a

Left: Making a trapping tunnel at Conservation Week. Photo: Robyn Ellis

growing number of individuals and groups wanting to join the Predator Free movement. A database for collating the number of sites, traps, volunteer hours and ultimately pests trapped is established and being added to on a regular basis. PFT support 13 trap lines that are actively and regularly managed by volunteer trappers,. At present, there is a total of approximately 440 traps within these sites, and trapping results

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Left: Nigel Lloyd helping construct a rat trap tunnel at The Acacia Craft Fair. Photo: Robyn Ellis Below: Waikato River Project Trap Catch Data from May 2018 to June 2019

recorded at Trap.nz indicate that over 2564 pests (and counting!) have been killed, check out the table below Even more exciting is the fact that there are another 350 backyard traps out there trapping pests! The Waikato River Corridor Project is a great example of a successful project. At the start of 2018, PFT received two generous donations from local businesses Huka Jet and Huka Lodge to purchase the initial traps to go along the Waikato River. Soon after, additional traps and resources were supplied by Quality Print making the total of 95 traps established, including a mix of Goodnatures and DOC 200s. A keen group of volunteers led by the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coordinator Clyff Harrington regularly service these traps which are situated mostly along the mountain bike tracks. Year and month

Bird

Cat

Hedgehog Mouse

Possum

Rat

Stoat

Weasel Unspecified Total catch per month

May 2018

June 2018

July 2018

August 2018 0

September 2018

October 2018

November 2018

December 2018

January 2019

February 2019

March 2019

April 2019

May 2019

June 2019

128

139

Total

485

598

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PFT signage along the tracks clearly acknowledge the sponsorship and safety warnings. With the recent donation of another 30 DOC 200s from the Department of Conservation, the total number of traps for the Waikato River Corridor Project now equates to 125.Thanks to these sponsors, Clyff and volunteers, this group are certainly doing their bit to help reduce predators and enhance the native bird population

There are many opportunities to support Predator Free Taupo when you find yourself with some time and the inclination. Whether it be building traps, leading or volunteering on a trapping project or just getting down to business in your own backyard, any help is very much appreciated,. Check out our new website www.predatorfreetaupo.nz

Number of Traps

No. of catches as of 04/07/2019

Waipahihi Botanical Reserve

136

653

19 Oct 2017

Opepe Recreational Reserve

591

Oct 2017

Blue Ridge

24 Nov 2017

Waipahihi Gully

121

12 Feb 2018

Craters of the Moon Trust

April 2018

Titoki Street Gully

April 2018

Harvey Street Gully

13 June 2018

Hospice

June 2018

Waikato River Corridor

125

628

Oct 2018

Rangatira Point Acacia Bay

Mar 2019

TFC Mapara Stream Trapping Tahunatara Point

May 2019

Predator Free Waitahanui River

121

Oct 2017

Motuoapa

564

2564

Established

Predator Trapping Sites

2013

TOTAL

Left: Predator Free Trapping data showing the trapping sites.

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Rangitaiki Conservation Area Frost Flats Report 2018-19 Jane Williams Senior Ranger Biodiversity Department of Conservation

Below: Sarah Beadle from Wildlands - first plant discovery. Photo: Jane Williams

The Rangitaiki Conservation Area has New Zealand’s largest remaining area of monoao (Dracophyllum subulatum) dominated frost-flat heathland. It is an internationally significant site with infertile soils and persistent severe frosts. The Juncus holoschoenus was found growing in open depressions with dense Gleichenia alpine (alpine tangle fern) dominated vegetation. Associated species in the depressions were Lepidosperma australe, Juncus articulates (non-native), Gonocarpus

micranthus, Schoenus maschalinus, Selliera microphylla and Utricularia dichotoma. Landcare Research has recently produced a report titled “Changes in Bay of Plenty frost flat heathland, 2012-2018” which shows a reduction in frost flats of 12% over the past 15 years. It is disappearing at a rate of 1% per year primarily as a result of pasture conversion or wilding pine invasion.

Juncus Holoschoenus var Holoschoenus (Status- Nationally critical) Presumed extinct in the wild, one plant was last seen in 2013 by Sarah Beadle of Wildlands on the Rangitiaki Frost Flats. Sarah had been searching for this plant in the muddy bog edges of wetlands in her work for 15-20 years. Botanist Nick Singers found six plants in 2004. On 21 Feb this year, Sarah, accompanied by DOC staff, found a population of 33 plants in the Rangitaiki Conservation Area. Otari Native nursery in Wellington will cultivate a population, some of which will be replanted into plots in the area. The NZ Indigenous Seed Bank were sent vouchers and seed for an Accession that will be stored to assist in the prevention of extinction. The seed was collected by NIWA scientist and DOC staff. NIWA scientists Paul Champion and Trevor James described and photographed the plant in March to add to the next addition of their book “An Illustrated Guide to Common Grasses, Sedges and Rushes of New Zealand” published by the NZ Plant Protection Society.

Field trip surveys 21 Feb 2019 Team Lead: Jane Williams Personnel: Jo Mendoonca, Gareth Chapman, Mike Fraser, Rebecca O’Sullivan, Bryce Nagel Visiting expert: Sarah Beadle from Wildlands (Rotorua) Species searched for from Bioweb and DOC records

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Left: NIWA website entry for Juncus Holoschoenus Left middle: Juncus Holoschoenus . Large seed heads and septate hollow stems (above and right). Left below: 19 plants in a 11m2 plot (below). Below right: Hypericum minutiflorum photo taken through a hand lens (x10 magnification) Photos: Jane Williams

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Action for Juncus Holoschoenus Management: Scientists/consultants recommended a hare fence be constructed around the majority of the Juncus holoschoenus population with 1m² cleared plots, inside and out of the fenced area, monitored to inform on predation, habitat preference and the plant’s life cycle, migration and regeneration characteristics. These plots will also provide spaces for the Otari Wilton’s Bush nursery cultivated population to be planted.

Hypericum minutiflorum

Top left and right: Hypericum minutiflorum flower on the Rangitaiki frost flats. Bottom: Close up of Hypericum minutiflorum. Photos: Jane Williams

An undocumented population of the minute plant Hypericum minutiflorum (Status- Nationally critical) was discovered on the Rangitaiki frost flats and seeds were sent to Otari for cultivation.

Mar 14th 2019 Team Lead: Jane Williams Personnel: Warren McGill (contractor) Visiting scientists: Paul Champion (NIWA) and Trevor James (NIWA)

Action for Hypericum minutiflorum: Enjoys disturbance, particularly driving over it which is not possible in these populations. Sarah Beadle to investigate unusual propagating structures and their role in the plant’s life cycle.

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Top left: Trevor James, Paul Champion (NIWA) and weed control contractor Warren McGill photographing Hypericum minutiflorum. Middle left: A healthy population of Carex rubicunda (Status- Nationally Vulnerable) was discovered in an NZTA roadside area, opposite Matea Rd wetland. Bottom left: Close up of Carex rubicunda. Photos: Jane Williams

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Right: Rangitaiki Conservation Area is the large green area south of SH5.

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Carex rubicunda Action for Carex rubicunda: continued Carex demissa control to prevent invasion from this exotic species and photo-points to monitor sedge invasion for both Carex rubicunda and Hypericum minutiflorum. Possible future management to include discussion of propagation and replanting .

Below: Ripia Frost Flats. Wilding pine and willow control work to begin on this private land in 2020/21 if access granted. Blue section is the base of the Rangitaiki Conservation Area.

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A change for good Based on an article on the Department of Conservation website www.doc.govt.nz

The evolution of the Tongariro Natural History Society is one of many stories that illustrate the connection between the growing success of community initiatives and DOC’s changing role to enable others. What started as a memorial fund 37 years ago, today provides a collective value of work in the order of $500,000 per annum to conservation if volunteer effort is included. Project Tongariro is one of many stories of the transformation of a community conservation initiative. It’s also a tangible example of how our community engagement role has shifted away from mainly leading to enabling and supporting others.

Former DOC conservator for Tongariro Taupō and DOC representative on the society’s committee since 1986, Paul Green has seen the society’s evolution both inside and outside of DOC. These days he is president of Project Tongariro and “delighted to have the opportunity to work from the community perspective.” Project Tongariro (legal name Tongariro Natural History Society) was originally formed after four National Park rangers were killed in helicopter crash in December 1984. The society was started from a memorial fund from two family bequests and a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the former Lands and Survey department. “It’s been maintained in good faith to this day and probably one of the oldest such agreements DOC has had.” Initially the organisation focussed on producing publications like a Park Handbook and assisting on summer programmes.

A change for good In the 1990s DOC Conservator, Paul approached the Society to be an active conservation group raising money and undertaking projects in Tongariro National Park and its environment. Project Tongariro “accepted this challenge” and undertook projects like restoring Waihohonu Hut, located on the Tongariro Northern Circuit Great Walk. DOC provided office space for one parttime coordinator which has now grown to four. The Conservancy provided a grant that funded Project Tongariro’s administration. By DOC funding $20,000, Project Tongariro was able to provide $100,000 -200,000 for conservation work. As Project Tongariro’s experience and confidence grew they reached out for broader community support ”We are also able to assist with DOC projects where additional help is needed – like heather control and dactylanthus surveys.” Paul adds that they’ve needed “more proactive management as the work range has grown. “We have had to develop policies and plans such as health and safety, strategic plan and a marketing plan.” The most significant change in the Society’s evolution is the amount of volunteer days spent on tasks like predator control, wetland restoration and planting.

“Project Tongariro has initiated additional conservation in the community through programmes like Greening Taupō, Kids Greening Taupō, and Predator Free Taupō. In monetary terms the collective value of work is likely to be in the order of $500,000 per annum if volunteer effort is included.”

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The Waiotaka Story Paul Green Ex Conservator Ex President Project Tongariro

Background

Below: Planting group at a planting on the TaurangaTaupo River. Photo: Kiri Te Wano

Project Tongariro has worked with DOC and the hapu for more than 12 years removing willows in the Te Matapuna wetlands and undertaking restoration planting where appropriate. These efforts have helped protect the most significant fresh water wetlands on Lake Taupo. Fresh water wetlands are a priority ecosystem to protect in the recently released draft of the NZ Biodiversity Strategy. At Te Matapuna there are now x hectares of willow under sustainable management- meaning willows have been controlled to the degree that they are now under a management regime where maintenance is carried out every three or four years.

The plan About 3 years ago, Project Tongariro volunteer ecologist Nick Singers commenced korero with Ngati Rongomai about the possibility of restoring hapu owned land above the Rongomai Marae at Waiotaka. Kaumatua Les Owens had long had a vision for this to happen and the hapu quickly came on board when Nick developed a restoration plan and an associated funding strategy as to how this might happen. Multi -year funding applications were made and accepted to Waikato Regional Council and the DOC Community Fund. Regional Council funding would enable removal of willows and other weeds and site preparation for planting of 15 hectares and DOC would fund restoration planting of 45000 trees over three years.

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To make the project viable Corrections would commit to growing the trees in their nearby nursery on a “cost only” basis and most importantly commit to providing a small team of inmates under the direction of Corrections Officer Warwick Simmonds to assist with site preparation and plant releasing for the first few years of their life. Without the approval of Ngati Rongomai and their ongoing support the project would never have happened. For Project Tongariro the project has provided a true partnership of working with iwi and indeed other stakeholders. Project Tongariro is indebted to Nick for his vision and leadership , technical advice and “hands on” commitment to the project. Nick has been ably assisted by Shirley Potter with her uncanny ability to attract down volunteers to help and Kiri Te Wano for her administration support. Corrections management and staff committed fully to the project.

Progress After two years the project is well advanced. Willow removal and weed clearance has exceeded all expectations as a result of the commitment and capability of Bryan Lawrance a local agricultural contractor. Bryan quickly came on board when approached by Shirley and has donated his time and only charged basic costs for equipment use. His contribution and ability to mulch cleared weeds meant that 4 hectares were cleared in year 1 [17/18] and 7468 plants put in the ground against a target of 5000 plants. Project Tongariro members will recall their enjoyable stay at the marae in October 2017 when there was a community planting day, followed by our AGM. Volunteer planting days have been well supported by both hapu and volunteers. Our volunteer team has included community supporters from both Turangi and Taupo as well as our members. They have very much enjoyed working in a project associated with Ngati Rongomai. We also recognize the

annual support of Iona College for their help. The plant been staked and carpet used to assist releasing. In the last year the marvelous work of Bryan Lawrance ensured 5.3 hectares of land was prepared against our target of 3.3 hectares. A tall willow infested flat of 1.5 hectares was felled in July 2018 with the help of DOC and Corrections. That October a 416metre 8 wire fence was built to prevent stock access with Ngati Rongomai identifying the appropriate fence line to avoid a waahi tapu site. This fence was funded by Regional Council and DOC. Follow up spraying of cleared areas was completed in November 2018 using the spray units of both DOC and Brian Lawrance.Warwick and his small Corrections team prepared inaccessible and ecologically sensitive areas adjacent to the Waiotaka River. Planting targets in 2018/2019 were not achieved as Corrections Nursery had problems producing the required 20000 trees. Less than half the target was achieved. But our funders have agreed we can push the planting completion date out to 2022. A feature of the planting has been a large number of ribbon wood, karamu and podocarps being planted along the river bank.

Conclusion It is a project where results have exceeded all expectations. Planting days have been vastly enjoyed by all. It has been a great partnership with Ngāti Rongoma in their land ownership and kaitiaki roles. There has been marvelous support from a range of stakeholders , funders, contractors and all the volunteers. And it has been fun!

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Whio Volunteering Helen Boston Sarah O’Sullivan Whio volunteers

order to learn how to navigate fast flowing water and how to feed on the invertebrates that will sustain them in the wild.

Helen and I spent our weekends through the summer volunteering at the Whio Hardening Facility at the Tongariro National Trout Centre caring for the juvenile whio stopping there on their way to a life in the wild.

The 2018/19 season the fifth for the facility saw 27 juveniles come through from three captive breeding sites around the North Island. Ten whio from Auckland Zoo winged their way down to Taupō care of Air New Zealand, while those from Pukaha National Wildlife Centre and Hamilton Zoo made the trip by road.

Being Duck mums is not a glamorous occupation with a major daily task being the cleaning of duck poop from the enclosures, important to ensure our

During their stay a health check of the birds is done every 10-12 days during which they are weighed and dosed with a worm tablet to prevent tapeworms. The whio are also microchipped prior to release which will be the only way of identifying any captive bred birds if found as leg bands left on have the potential to wear and cause injury due to the environment they live in. The birds often take their first flights while with us – the landings of which are not always graceful but thankfully no injuries have been sustained and they quickly learn to operate their wings and judge the length of their enclosure.

Top: Whio in the enclosure: Photo: Sarah O’Sullivan Bottom: Whio being released back into their enclosure after a health check. Photo: Sarah O’Sullivan

charges remained healthy. Sterilised gumboots are the footwear of choice when hosing down the two purposebuilt enclosures where the whio teenagers come to spend 4-6 weeks in

Other than the day to day care of the whio and assisting with the health checks we are also incredibly fortunate to take part in some of the releases where our charges get their first taste of freedom. One of these was at the Blue Duck Station near the head of the Whanganui River. The birds were released on a couple of different sites on the Morinui & Kaiwhakauka rivers, where a mix of males and females are released together if possible, or just females into a known male populated area & vice versa to help ensure the birds can pair up. The drive there is long and the air conditioner needs to be ramped up full bore to keep the birds comfortable, so thermals, jackets and gloves are needed to keep the humans warm on the journey. On arrival the birds are welcomed by the

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Left: Whio receiving a health check. Right: Whio ready for the journey in their traveling boxes. Below: Whio being released at their new home. Photos: Helen Boston

local Iwi with a blessing and karakia before being released. I found it amazing that when the cages are open for release the birds come out very calmly and just swim off a couple of metres before taking stock of where they are. They do not fly off never to be seen again but just swim around exploring the area, giving us plenty of time to observe they are comfortable with their new home. I have to say it is a beautiful part of the country side and perfect for these ducks that need clear fast flowing water. Along with the birds in the enclosures we were often treated to sightings of wild whio on the Tongariro river. One pair that have made their home near the kids fishing pond at the Trout Centre

successfully hatched seven ducklings with a total of 59 ducklings known to have hatched on the river during the summer. This is due mainly to the extensive trapping network in place along the river keeping the mammalian pests such as stoats and rats at low numbers particularly at nesting time when the eggs, young and females are vulnerable. With a wild population numbering less than 3000, they need all the help they can get. Thankfully with DOC, Genesis Energy, iwi, volunteers and community conservation groups working together the whio have a future on our wild rivers.

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Taupō Enviromental Education Collective Mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu Adorn the bird with feathers so it may fly Renee Potae Ranger – Kaitiaki Ao Hapori /Kanorau koiora A whakatauki that reflects the ambitions of EEC, the Taupō Environmental Education Collaborative. It represents our shared kaupapa to connect and empower rangatahi (young people) and communities with the tools to become the kaitiaki of our environment.

What that means is you’ll see us out there planting and running trapping workshops, you’ll find us making beeswax wraps to reduce our plastic use. Your tamariki will see us at school, and you’ll discover us running exciting nature-based activities in your local green-space. We work with rangatahi, teachers, the community, and eachother, to achieve long-term sustainability for our rohe. We’re trying to make environmental education easier for teachers - we know that time, resources and energy are limited! We want teachers to know that they can take advantage of all the programmes on offer, or parts of them, they’re not mutually exclusive. We're all pulling in the same direction for environmental education, it makes sense that we join our strengths together for the good fight. At the moment we’re all working hard to bring together an inspiring day of professional development for Taupō District kaiako (teachers), which will lead into our lineup of Conservation Week events. We’d love to see you at some of our activities, so keep an eye out for us we’ll be the ones ridiculously excited to be there.

Above: Invertebrate Identification (Critter ID) lets kids engage with and explore the world of insects. Photo: Renee Potae

Who are we?

Ngā mihi

Who are we? We’re Kids Greening Taupō, Enviroschools and Taupō for Tomorrow, we’re Taupō District Council, and we’re the Department of Conservation. We aren’t exclusive. We welcome everybody and anybody who shares our vision.

The Taupō Environmental Education Collaborative (EEC)

We’ve developed around the principles of connecting people to real-life learning opportunities in our local places, incorporating cultural, environmental & societal perspectives and developing our rangatahi/youth to be environmental stewards, decision-makers & leaders.

The Taupō Environmental Education Collaborative (EEC) brings together a collective of environmental educators from across the Central North Island. The group is working together to share knowledge, build skills and empower local students, teachers and people in

Bringing together people and organisations across Taupō and the wider district

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Left: Arts and crafts in nature are a great way for families to engage meaningful way. Harakeke flower creations and Hand painted rocks. Below left: Trap building workshops are always a hit and EEC events. Largely run by Predator Free Taupō, kids have a chance to practice their skills with hammer and nail. Photos: Renee Potae

our communities to take action for our environment. The collective currently includes Taupō for Tomorrow, Kids Greening Taupō, Department of Conservation (DOC), Taupō District Council (TDC) and EnviroSchools, but there is scope to include anybody in the environmental education space. Further goals of the Taupō EEC include connecting people to real-life learning opportunities in our local places, incorporating cultural, environmental & societal perspectives and developing our rangatahi/youth to be environmental stewards, decision-makers & leaders. Some great examples of their work so far include professional development sessions for teachers, collaboration for Conservation Week activities and Whānau Nature Days. During these events, both locals and visitors alike have been able to engage in nature related activities, have fun and learn more about conservation in the process. The Collaborative meet regularly and

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Above: Ranger Krysia Nowak reads to children at the for the Tiny Tots Reading time – held at both the Tūrangi and Taupō Libraries during Conservation Week. Photo: Renee Potae

members of the team work to their strengths and learn from each other. However, soon after the group formed, it was identified that there was an opportunity to make environmental education easier. That is, easier to access and easier to use across the curriculum.

good fight.”

Krysia Nowak from Taupō for Tomorrow said, EEC will make environmental education less confusing to navigate, as well as providing some amazing professional development sessions and community events.

Keep an eye out for events, activities and professional development sessions in your neighbourhood!

“We're all pulling in the same direction for environmental education, it makes sense that we join our strengths together for the

The Collective has been a great way to collaborate and share ideas… and in the future expect some awesome collaborative professional-development from us and expect to see more combined community events around environmental education.”

www.eecTaupō.co.nz

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Aerial 1080 improves kiwi chick survival Paul Green Ex Conservator Ex President Project Tongariro A newly published study shows kiwi chicks in a North Island forest are more likely to survive following aerial 1080 to control pests. The study was published in March in Notornis, the peer reviewed scientific journal of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand [also called Birds New Zealand],

In the first longitudinal study of its kind, DOC researchers tracked hundreds of North Island brown kiwi and their offspring through four large scale joint OSPREY-DOC 1080 operations in Tongariro Forest over 22 years. DOC Principal Science Advisor Dr Hugh Robertson who was part of the research team says it shows unequivocally that using 1080 to suppress possums, rats and stoats [killed when they eat poisoned pests] benefit kiwi. Stoat attacks are the leading cause of death for kiwi chicks and without pest control as few as 5% of chicks survive to adulthood.

"Our research shows that 1080 pest control significantly improves the survival of kiwi chicks for two years before dropping off when rat and stoat populations begin to recover to pre control levels." "The 1080 operations knock down the resident stoats and likely all ferrets too which allow kiwi to survive to levels that can build their population." "We also monitored 142 radio-tagged kiwi through four aerial 1080 and none were poisoned." Results show that just over 50% of kiwi chicks in the 20000 Ha of Tongariro Forest survived to six months in the first breeding season after 1080 treatment and 29% in the year after. In the following three years, before the next five yearly 1080 operation kiwi chick

survival halved to 15%, well below the 22% survival required to maintain this kiwi population. Dr Robertson says the research supported DOC shifting in 2014 to a three yearly cycle of aerial 1080predator control in Tongariro Forest to help the kiwi population grow.

"Population monitoring shows that to get the kiwi population to grow by at least 2%, which is the target in our new Kiwi Recovery Plan, we needed to increase pest control operations to once every three years." The study began in 1992 and monitored radio tagged adult male brown kiwi as well as 207 kiwi chicks hatched in Tongariro Forest between 1996 and 2014. The chicks were monitored until six months old when they reach the size when they can fight off stat attacks. The result followed a similar pattern to kiwi with fantail nest survival highest in the first two years after a 1080 operation (at 25% and 30%) when rat populations were low and dropping significantly after that to 12 % in the third year and 9% in the fourth and fifth years. Breeding success of fantails was significantly better than in untreated areas in nearby forests.

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Greening Goals Robyn Ellis Greening Taupō & Predator Free Taupō Coordinator Through the establishment of a predator proof fence and an extensive predator tracking and trapping programme, all mammalian pests (except mice) were eradicated within the Wairakei Golf Course and Sanctuary by 2010. Thereafter, the concept of Greening Taupō arose as a result of a discussion between the Department of Conservation and Gary Lane, the owner of the golf course and sanctuary. In simplest form, the big picture vision was to attempt to replicate the conservation work occurring within the sanctuary beyond the surrounding Taupō area so birds that spread from the sanctuary can thrive through a network of native plant corridors and are not killed by

introduced predators. The fact that having large areas planted around town would also increase the town’s visual appearance could not be ignored and led to Greening Taupō’s clear mission “to improve the Taupō environment for people and native wildlife through restoration planting and pest control”. To further develop the Greening Taupō concept and collate an action plan, local botanist expert and conservation advocate Nick Singers was contracted to write the initial scoping study. Funds for this study as well as the initial seed money to implement Greening Taupō came from proceeds from a charity auction held during a 2012 NZPGA golf tournament at the golf course. Through this study Nick laid the strategic foundation of the organisation, including long-term objectives and methodology as well as a set of shortterm goals (five year goals), the achievements of the latter being the focus of the rest of this article.

Lets see how we have done Goal 1: There are at least 25 businesses, schools, organisations and community groups undertaking restoration projects under the Greening Taupō brand.

Right: Debbie Ratana Branch Manager First Credit Union Taupō. Photo: Thea DePetris

We are so lucky to have such a wide range of supporting organisations, businesses and individuals who offer their support to Greening Taupō on an on-going basis. One thing for sure is that we never feel alone in our quest to ‘green’ our town. Support comes from a whole host of committed individuals who regularly join our community plantings and Wicked Weeders group to the big players such Taupō District Council, Waikato Regional Council, Department of Conservation, Tuwharetoa Māori Trust, and Mercury who have been long standing partners since our inception. We are also so thankful to a great number of local business entities such as Contact

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Energy , Shawn the 'Vegatator' Vennell = Quality Print, More FM, Trev Terry Marine, Pak n Save and Cheal who come on board year after year in various ways, from donating goods to hosting staff community days to plant trees. Recently, a trend has emerged whereby businesses are approaching us looking for opportunities to participate, rather than us seeking them out. Lastly, our consistent outreach to teachers, students and whānau has been further strengthened through implementation and successful delivery of Kids Greening Taupō to integrate the real-life vision of Greening Taupō into local school curriculum. In total, we have approximately 45 local business partners that have supported Greening Taupō in various ways since its launch and 15 kindergartens and schools on board. Goal 2: Greening Taupō is a well-known brand within the Taupō community with a known purpose and is a financial sustainable entity. Greening Taupō has built a significant community brand within our town, our digital platforms and social media activity is a very active space with a Greening Taupō Website Instagram account and over a 1000 Facebook Likes. Radio and digital sponsorship from Taupō MoreFM has been most beneficial to getting out regular advertisements about upcoming Greening events. Greening Taupō has secured another three years through the Council community to support a part time coordinator. We have recently secured another 5 years of funding from the Waikato Catchment Ecological Enhancement Trust to restore areas along the Waikato river just below the Waikato bridge. Goal 3: The Taupō community has planted at least 250,000 suitable plants with the Greening Taupō Projects. The community that have joined in with the Greening Taupō local community planting days have planted the magic

100,000 native plants since 2013. During consultation of the project in 2012 many local businesses and companies were very supportive of Greening Taupō and were keen to also undertake many of their own restoration projects. Tallying up what local and Regional Councils, businesses including Wairakei Golf and Sanctuary and companies such as Contact Energy an additional 200,000+ native plants have been planted within the Greening Taupō area. With an amazing total of 300,000 native plants being planted within the Taupō area since 2013, collectively all these plantings are joining the dots to create ecological corridors for native wildlife. Goal 4: Pest control to enhance native bird survival has been implemented within at least three important areas of native habitat within the Greening Taupō area. Predator Free Taupō (PFT) was formed to facilitate and coordinate community pest control groups in June 2017 it is an extension of Greening Taupō. Predator Free Taupō is the vehicle to link sites and people together within the Taupō region to coordinate trapping efforts across multiple sites, establish community trapping effort particularly at

Above: Shawn the “Vegetator” Vennel, from Quality Print and Andrew Leiataua from More FM. Both are annual supporters of GT and KGT and regular planters at planting days. More FM sponsorship is invaluable in getting the “Greening” word out. Photo: Thea DePetris

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sites with high ecological importance. To date we have 14 trapping projects with over 450 traps being actively managed this does not include all the traps in people's backyards. PFT projects are located along the Waikato River, Opepe Scenic Reserve, Lake Shore Reserves and throughout many urban gullies, these are all priority sites within the Greening Taupō area. Goal 5: Lakeshore kowhai forests are being successfully restored.

Below: Many hands get the job done. It is community support that makes Greening Taupō work. Photo: Greening Taupō

Taupō shorelines would have once been dominated by mature kowhai forests, and kowhai is the last remaining large tree species that remains in that e.g. Waitahanui to Five Mile Bay. Despite flowering and seeding prolifically in most years, these old trees are not replacing themselves and will slowly decline as trees die. Restoring lakeshore kowhai would be a considerable conservation achievement and would provide an important ecological linkage for wildlife (Nicholas Singers - Greening Taupō scoping Study 2013). With possible funding opportunities with

either the Department of Conservation Community Fund or the Waikato Environmental initiative fund we are talking with iwi on the best way to undertake a restoration project at Awaroa Reserve a Lakeshore Reserve just north of Waitahanui, the area has many beautiful mature Kowhais tree but with little or no kowhai regeneration happening. An opportunity to form a possible partnership between Greening Taupō and Iwi and using our individual skills together to get a good outcome that would benefit all. So having been operational for just under six years, this is what we have achieved in this relatively short space of time in relation to the organisation’s short-term goals, these outcomes could not have been achieved by the amazing support from the wide range of supporting organisations, businesses and individuals, it's a collaborative organisation taking conservation to the next level in the Taupō community.

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Top: Pak n Save are new supporters for Greening Taupō and Kids Greening Taupō Bottom: ITM recognising Shawn Vennel and his work on Wairakei Drive and ITM donating timber to PFT for traps. Photo:s Greening Taupō

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Tauranga field trip 10-12 May 2019 Lesley Mochan Project Tongariro Volunteer Executive Board member Despite the gloomy forecast, the sun was shining on Friday morning and continued to shine on us throughout the weekend. Gradually the group arrived at the beautiful McLarens Falls Park just out of Tauranga. The lodge was situated at the rear of the Park, positioned perfectly on a hill with a stunning outlook of the surrounding farmland, Lake McLaren, and glorious autumn shades of the deciduous trees that are dotted around the park. After introductions had been completed, Lesley, the group leader gave an overview of the weekend. This was followed by a flurry of activity in the kitchen as various aromas filled the air and dinner was consumed. All participants were keen to do the glowworm walk, so head torches and gummies were found, and a cross country track took us down to the waterfall walk. The glowworms were exquisite, a thousand little stars shone brightly from the banks, and it really felt like fairyland. The ‘Mc’ (mini McLaren) waterfall was dramatic too. Below: Group photo at McLarens Falls Lodge. Photo: Lesley Mochan

Saturday morning arrived eventually to a few bleary eyed participants. The bunks were particularly squeaky and the

shower fan extra loud. Our first site visit was to the Otanewainuku forest on Mountain Road, behind the township of Te Puke. The 1200ha forest is home to the Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust, a conservation group focused on the reintroduction of the North Island kiwi and kokako through bird translocation and predator trapping. Dave Brown who leads the operation team for Kiwi and Kokako and gave us a very informative history overview of the project, fascinating facts about kiwi, and a rather sad story of bad luck. Fortunately the tables have turned as the team has learned so much more about kiwi success rates and predator control tactics. The Trust is supported by a team of over 100 volunteers (including Lesley) and they regularly get 20-30 volunteers to monthly working bees. Dave asked the group if we would be interested in going to the part of the forest that supports the Kokako, which was greeted with a unanimous ‘YES’. Unfortunately the kokako’s were not compliant but it was a lovely part of the forest. We finished our visit by completing the Rimu loop track, the most popular walking track in the forest filled with lots of friendly robins, tuis, fantails, and amazing Rimu specimens. After a quick lunch, it was onto Trevelyans Packhouse in Te Puke where we were greeted by Rachel Brodie, the Sustainability and Communications Manager. Trevelyans is a family owned packhouse and coolstore facility packing a range of fruit, mostly kiwifruit. The group was introduced to the business operations which focuses on three key goals: •

Work smart

•

Respect our people

•

Tread lightly

This approach lead to the 2018 Horticulture NZ Environmental Award, backed up by the company being able to reduce their waste to landfill by 77% and significantly reducing their carbon

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Otanewainuku Scenic Reserve (1200 ha) is located approx 20 km south of Tauranga. The Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust (OKT) is a community-based conservation Trust formed in 2002 by the Te Puke branch of Forest and Bird and other members of the community concerned at the decline of North Island brown kiwi in the Otanewainuku forest. The Trust operates under a Memorandum of Understanding with DOC who administers the land and provides technical advice and guidance on pest control and translocation of birds. Our session there on 11 May was with the Trust's kiwi programme manager Dave Brown. He told us about native gut parasite coccidia which have infected kiwi in the reserve. Kiwi with coccidia must be treated and the process requires expertise. Not only that threat but neural larval migrans (other parasites from cats, rats and other predators) make kiwi behave in abnormal ways; daft is the word Dave used. Kiwi don't have a chance at Otanewainuku without human intervention. Fascinating stuff, and sad too! OKT has had a lot of bad luck with their kiwi. Such a lot of work is needed, besides predator control, to keep the kiwi alive at Otanewainuku. Dave took us off the road to listen for kokako but we weren't lucky; better to return early one morning. We happily walked the Rimu Loop with Dave, finding huge rimu which delighted us. I had never heard of Otanewainuku before Project Tongariro announced the trip, so I was grateful that Lesley made it happen and that enough of us signed up for it. Margi Keys emissions. On top of this, the company diverts part of their budget to community groups including Otanewainuku, has their own motor camp for staff, and has created a recreation area and is planting natives throughout the 20ha site, and a composting system for organic waste. Flattering hairnets were distributed to the team and a tour of one of the five packhouses began. This covered the fruit bin tip, through the grading and sorting systems, into the packing lines, and finishing with completed pallets which were then transferred to one of the 33 coolstores. From here we were taken to the waste management area, where Rachel showed us the segregated waste streams. She gave an overview of the end use of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;wasteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; products and

recycling opportunities. Rubbish bins are not found on site and the one and only landfill container is under lock and key. Our visit was completed after a very brief entry into one of the coolstores and a hasty retreat. This business really was a real eye opener on what is possible with a little vision and drive. Back to the vehicles and over to the Mount we went. We had an hour to fill in before dinner; some went to the hot pools, others a walk on the beach or surrounding area. One crazy lady climbed the Mount. At 5pm we were joined by Paul Cuming, the Co-ordinator of Grey- faced petrel field work for dinner at a Mediterranean restaurant which got the thumbs up for food, and sideway thumb for service.

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After Sunday breakfast and a clean up of the lodge, the group disbanded with some returning home, others heading to different destinations, and the remainder driving over the Kaimais to re group at the Rhubarb café in Arapuni. Being ‘mothers day’, it was obvious the mother working in the café, was not happy about having to work – enough said.

Above: Listening for Kokako’s at Otanewainuku Forest. Photo: Lesley Mochan

Around 6.30pm we caught up with the Western Bay Wildlife Trust representatives, Paul and his two enthusiastic assistants, Suki and Nami (mother and son). Paul gave an outline of the Grey-faced petrel research project, which has been in place for many years, but not really in the limelight until the ‘Rena’ oil spill disaster in October 2011. We followed the team part way around the Mount (Mauao) track to the petrel nesting site which was quite noisy with the adult and young birds flying in and crash landing in the trees. Nami and Paul disappeared into the bush for a few minutes, then returned with wiggling cotton bags. All white torch lights were turned off, and only the red lights allowed to prevent the birds from being disorientated. Paul showed us the handling technique and talked about the habits of these lovely sea birds. The second specimen was definitely grumpy about being taken from their burrow in the ‘middle’ of the night, so the handling time was minimised and the birds returned to their homes. Penguins were next on the agenda, but as with the kokako’s not a specimen was to be found. Maybe word had got round. A brilliant evening with the Grey Petrel crew, with lots of knowledge sharing and laughter.

We arrived at the Sanctuary Mountain Maungatauari visitor centre around 10.30am and watched the DVD on the three year construction of the 47km pest proof fence, which was finely completed in 2006. What a feat! Sanctuary Mountain covers 3,400ha and is the best example of intact conifer/broadleaf/ podocarp forest pre-human environment. Our guides Tali and Jenny escorted us around the Tautari wetland and tuatarium where we were lucky to see five tuatara and a family of five takahe. A fascinating fact about takahe is that they produce 9m of scat per bird per day. That’s a lot of eating and lot of excreta! We were given more fascinating facts throughout the two hour tour and really appreciated the extra attention our group received. After lunch, Jan Olsen one of the 100 active volunteers (over 400 volunteers in total) treated us to a up and personal visit with the takahe as she cooed the family to feed them their supplementary food. As we sat quietly, the three young birds chattered away and were unfazed about having us so close. It was very special. The day was completed for the last group standing with a quick visit of the Te Tui a Tane southern enclosure. This included the 16m canopy viewing tower as the slight drizzle began to fall…. Thanks so much to all the wonderful guides and organisation representatives who shared not only their vast knowledge and skills, but their valuable time and passion. Thanks also to Shirley and Dianne for providing wonderful gifts and thank you cards. All in all, it was a pretty super weekend!

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Mt Pihanga - Lake Rotopounamu Forest Restoration Project Kiri Te Wano Conservation Coordinator Project Tongariro The Mt Pihanga - Lake Rotopounamu Forest Restoration project continues to see strong support this year through the annual Adopt a Hectare programme. A rise of approximately 10% in donations to this project indicate the desire to keep this special corner of Tongariro National Park pristine. This is the 16th year of this project and it’s absolutely fantastic to see the support continue! Support also comes via a strong and passionate group of volunteers who regularly give their time to maintain the trapping network and help complete forest health monitoring. Our heartfelt thanks go out to Shirley Potter and Karen Ardin (Ardy) for leading, mentoring and training new trap checkers. They are strongly supported by Nick Singers (technical advisor), Sarah O’Sullivan and daughter Becky (also a DOC Bio ranger), Helen Boston, Roel & Dianne Michels, Ailne and Ross Fletcher, Collette Taylor and of course the local DOC team who also help check traps. Jane Williams (Supervisor Biodiversity DOC) provides excellent support for resourcing and coordinating monitoring. This season saw another aerial 1080 operation, completed by OSPRI and TBFree NZ, in August 2018. The results to breeding bird life are very noticeable and loud! Anecdotally breeding Kereru and kaka were spotted on numerous occasions. But unfortunately we are now seeing a sharp increase in trapping numbers as we experience a forest masting event (trees and plants produce an unusually high amount of flower and seed due to environmental factors). We plan to undertake another round of tracking tunnels in early September (one year since the 1080 drop) which will give further evidence of this increase in predators. A lovely evening was hosted by Sarah O’Sullivan for our trapping community

where Nick presented encouraging results from our trapping network and we discussed techniques to improve it. Deer and pigs were also identified as issues and we hope to advocate the control of these in this coming year. The decision of TBFree NZ to declare Rotopounamu as officially ‘TB free’ area also means that the final drop planned for 2021 will not be funded by TBFree NZ so we are now trying to strongly advocate to DOC to bring Rotopounamu into areas identified as important sites to protect, and part of the ‘Battle for the Birds’ programme.

We continue to see strong visitor numbers to Lake Rotopounamu, and we have also hosted several school groups there - noticeably a very large group from Hiltop School from Taupō who checked traps. This has to be one of the best ‘outdoor classrooms’ in the country! Another highlight for us was the filming and development of a YouTube video for Project Tongariro, and about half of the filming was taken around Rotopounamu. So we have also put together a short clip which includes some of our trapping team members talking about what and why they love spending time at Rotopounamu. This can be viewed when searching ‘Project Tongariro’ on YouTube!

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Trapping Research Roel Michels Project Tongariro volunteer Executive Board member In the 2017 issue of the Tongariro Journal we presented an article about the predator control activities undertaken by Project Tongariro. The article was written by Amelia Willis (Community Ranger Central Plateau) and titled â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Community trapping on the rise for a Predator Free New Zealandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. This time we present the perspective from one of the PT volunteers.

Below left: First trap-line check with Shirley Potter and Di in the Rotopounamu area Below right: Camping on the slopes of Mt Pihanga checking tracking tunnels Photos: Roel Michels

About three years ago, on a walk along Okura Bush Walkway (currently closed to the public to contain the spread of Kauri Dieback) we noticed a large number of corflute tunnels with predator traps. It started me thinking about the work involved with placing, checking and maintaining such a trapline. It appealed to give the love for tramping in the native bush an additional purpose. With the availability of processed foods in supermarkets hunting and gathering is no longer mankindâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major pastime. Trapping, like recreational tramping, hunting and

fishing, can keep the old instincts alive. Project Tongariro plays a major role in looking after the areas where the environment is still close to pristine. But native birds, who help spreading the seeds in this environment and who are providing the music for people without earphones, are under threat. When we moved to the Central North Island (better late than never) I made some efforts to find out how to get involved. Via Google and the Project Tongariro website I made contact with Shirley Potter, a Department of Conservation (DOC) ranger and keen member of Project Tongariro. She took me and my wife Dianne on our first trap-line in the Rotopounamu/Pihanga area. It was not an easy line and it happened to be covered in snow at the time, but the challenges of the undertaking appealed to us immensely. We have since checked that and other lines many times spending between one and five hours in unspoilt bush with lively birds and carcases of predators in various states of decomposition. We have been able to confirm first-hand, that these predator control efforts are directly related to the well-being of the native bird-life. We made friends with North Island Robins

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(Toutouwai) and Fantails (Piwakawaka) and heard and saw many Wood Pigeons (Kereru), often also Kaka and other birds. From time to time we also check the occurrence of predators and other creatures in the area by leaving partially inked cards in so-called tracking tunnels overnight and then check the trails printed on the cards next morning. Even wētā leave their tiny spots while during the day these can only be found sleeping in so-called wētā-hotels. In October 2017 we got involved with setting up the trap-lines in the Opepe Bush Scenic Reserve. Forty traps were set up along the walking tracks in this reserve at roughly 100 metre intervals. We had an opportunity to learn more about the techniques and objectives from the DOC staff involved as well as from members of the Forest and Bird conservation organisation. The 100 metre intervals are related to the roaming range of ship rats. Starting with traps along the main walk-ways in this area, the trap-lines at Opepe are now being extended with off-track lines to cover the whole area with a grid of roughly 100-metre square-spaced traps. The results are obvious from the number of tourists visiting both the Rotopounamu and Opepe areas and their comments on the bird-life there. If the trapping is successful the number of catches is low, but the predators we target are plentiful and are prolific breeders. So, it always seems as if we are not achieving much, because the catch rates fluctuate, but remain at a relatively high level. So, how can we trap or kill predators more effectively and really make an impact? New Zealand is leading the way in these efforts in various ways. Particularly since the announcement of ‘Predator Free New Zealand 2050’ the interest in trap-design has sky-rocketed. A standard trap used for back-yards is the Victor trap. These are effective for rats, sometimes mice and hedgehogs. Yes, hedgehogs are cute, but they are also predators who are a major threat to the native birds. Many birds are nesting at or close to

ground-level, because they only had to deal with these types of predators since the arrival of Europeans in New Zealand. The Department of Conservation (DOC) is continuously researching and testing new trap designs and promotes a range of ‘DOC standard’ traps. These traps are

Above and below: Traps designed by 13-year-old students from Tauhara College to design the ultimate double rat-trap with a solution to prevent doubleentry through same entranceway’. Photos: Roel Michels

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Above: Trap building workshop with Robyn Ellis, Predator Free Taupō coordinator. Right: Robin supervising trapbuilding. Photos: Roel Michels Below: Double DOC 200 design.

effective, safe (for kids and non-target species like birds) and kill predators ‘humanely’. The traps we use most often in the bush are DOC 200 standard traps. They are particularly targeting rats, stoats and weasels and also come in a larger and stronger version called

DOC 250 to also deal with Ferrets. In February 2015 ZIP (Zero Invasive Predators) was established as a research and development entity focused on developing the tools and techniques to enable the complete removal of rats, stoats, and possums from large mainland areas for the long term, sustainable protection of native biodiversity. This organisation is developing and testing new versions of

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Top left and right: A treemounted two-storey trap with access from above. If the trap on the upper floor is sprung, part of the floor moves up and only access to the lower floor is possible! Bottom left: A trap with timber ends (no mesh) with a ramp, which may prevent predators from getting out. Two mice were caught in this trap. Bottom right: Slaminator. Double trap with baffles. At either end hinged doors are spring-closed when the trap is sprung. Photos: Roel Michels

traps and other tools for this project, such as predator proof fences. Private companies are also coming up with ground-breaking innovations, such as self-resetting traps and new lures. One such company is Good Nature. Their traps are exported world-wide and successful, although costly and reports can show mixed results in some areas. In the Taupō area a new organisation

was launched by Project Tongariro to combine the efforts of members of ‘Greening Taupō’ and various separate trapping projects. The name of this project is ‘Predator Free Taupō’, which now has 14 more of less independent sub-projects in different parts of the town and surroundings. We live in Waitahanui, a small village just 12 km south of Taupō itself and there are plenty of the predators in back-yards as

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and traps. Chewing cards are laced with a lure and can be used to find out which predators are active and where. She had solved part of the problem herself by using an electronic Rodent Free Pest Repeller. We decided to investigate if those devices would be a useful addition for the equipment used for the project, but apparently the claims on their effectiveness is not supported by clear research results and after a while rodents tend to ignore the units and return.

Above: Floating trap made of corflute on polystyreen base. This trap caught a rat in the first night out, while moored on the side of the river. Photo: Shirley Fraser

well as in the public and private surroundings. We decided to start a new project called ‘Predator Free Waitahanui’. We called meetings and started various attempts to raise funds for traps and other costs. Predator Free Taupō and ITM Taupō were very helpful with organising and funding trap building workshops where residents could come and build tunnels for the Victor traps with parents and children involved. They could then go home with their own self-built trap for a donation of $5 or similar. It is a great way to contribute to the community and get people from different backgrounds to work together. We also started a survey to find out what predators people were aware of in Waitahanui and which native birds they observed regularly. And we tried to find out what trapping efforts were already underway in individual households, so that we could establish priorities. One of the contacts we made during these efforts was a lady who had a problem with rats indoors. She told me, that she had poisoned a rat which died on the ceiling and the smell was of course quite unpleasant for some time, because the ceiling cavity was inaccessible. We visited her to check the property out with some chewing cards

The same lady provided me with a contact at Tauhara College who were looking for a community project with research aspects for their re-furbished technology department. At the AGM of Project Tongariro I had spoken with a DOC ranger (Mathew Howell) who does extensive trapping at the Tongariro Forest. He and his colleagues use double DOC 250 traps there to try to eradicate particularly ferrets. One of the problems they have, is that their double traps regularly only have single catches. He explained, that animals caught in those traps and the bait on that side were often eaten by other predators, who had no reason to enter the trap from the other side. He had told me, that it would be great if the entrance-way at the side of the catch could be closed by some sort of door at the time the first catch was made. I had done some experiments with that and had come up with a mesh ‘door’ sliding on some wires and pulled shut by some fishing-line strung from the trap at the time it sprung. I contacted the Head of Science at Tauhara College and he was interested in getting involved with the project together with a technology and a mathematics teacher. We decided to give students the task to design the ultimate rat trap to catch more than one predator. Ideally, when one of the traps is sprung, no other rodents should be able to access that trap without being killed themselves. The result was, that a group of 13 year old students came up with various solutions on the trap-door

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issue. The approach and therefore the project got considerable publicity in the New Zealand Education Gazette. Several innovative ideas were built into the traps by the students as shown on the previous page. We are now testing a variation of traptunnels with or without ramps, with plywood or mesh ends placed close to or further away from the water to find out if any of these innovations make a difference in the catch-rates. Meanwhile these and other students do further work on improvements and new designs. Is Predator-Free New Zealand an impossible dream or are we going to win this challenge? Further research is being done by engineers with night-vision cameras which can recognise species and shoot poisoned bait in their direction. Others use drones to cover remote areas. Live traps are used to catch enough predators to do further tests with traps and predator proof fences. The ultimate solution may come from genetic engineering. Efforts are on the way to change the genes of individual predators in such a way, that further breeding with these individuals eventually makes the species extinguish itself in future generations. New Zealand is in a great position to lead the way in this research, particularly with growing interest from our own next generation. We recommend, that you try volunteering with Project Tongariro yourself and involve kids and other people who prefer the outdoors rather than the shopping mall.

Above: Together with Robyn Ellis, we are trying to save birds, like the Kiwi, from extinction. Photo: Photographer unknown

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Greening the Curriculum Thea Depetris, Kids Greening Taupō Education Coordinator

In theory

Below: Outdoor Education students get a taste of kaihikatea berries kindly brought in by local expert Shirley Potter. Photo: Thea DePetris

Education best practice in the 21st century promotes the engagement of students in real-life contexts. Commonly referred to as community-based action projects, the ideal scenario equates to teachers and students working towards a shared goal or resolving a local issue with support from local organisations, experts, volunteers and businesses. This theoretical best practice is what Kids Greening Taupō is all about; assisting our local kindergartens and schools to integrate the vision of

Greening Taupō into their respective curriculums through which children and young people are working together to help ‘retrofit’ ecological corridors throughout our town. At present, Sian and I, as the Kids Greening Taupō education coordinators, work closely with twelve kindergartens and schools to restore local green spaces. Each school has a key ‘link’ teacher who is the coordinator’s first point of contact. Link teachers tend to be the passionate ‘greenies’ who wholeheartedly believe in the benefits that come from connecting students to the natural environment and communityservice projects. One of the biggest challenges Kids Greening Taupō coordinators and link teachers face is finding ways to integrate this real-life context into the curriculum, so that a whole class gets to be involved in Greening Taupō rather than just an exclusive group of a few students. Generally, it seems that the difficulty to integrate the Greening Taupō context increases with the year level of the participating students, largely because of structural barriers within schools such as silo’ed class periods and adolescence developmental stages having an influence as well.

Spotlight on Taupō-nui-a-Tia College For these reasons, this is why we are excited to highlight Taupō-nui-a-Tia College’s efforts to utilise the Greening Taupō context in the Outdoor Education and Science Department’s respective curricula this year. One of the key enablers to their successful integration was the fact that the college had recently adopted ninety minute class periods in lieu of the traditional sixty minute periods. This longer class duration allows adequate time for students to make their way to and from their school’s restoration project area, located between Taupō Bungy and Cherry Island, with plenty of time to undertake the necessary mahi.

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Predator Free Taupō organized a workshop whereby the students constructed trapping tunnels and then established a trap line within the school’s restoration area. With rat kills under their belt, work is now underway by the students to get the neighbors involved through backyard trapping as well. Simultaneously, the College’s Science Department involved Year 10 students with three different community based projects of which one was based on the Greening Taupō context. As stated by science teacher Alison Cook “Kids Greening Taupō has provided my students with a real-world opportunity to learn about the environment (in both a theoretical & practical way) and make a difference in their local area”. Alison sees some the benefits of learning through authentic contexts like Greening Taupō as being an opportunity for students to see and participate in science in the real world. Therefore it becomes not only about learning the content but also the skills and competencies to work and act like a scientist. Alison believes that this has encouraged some of her students to consider science as a realistic and rewarding future career path.

With respect to the Outdoor Education curriculum, Greening Taupō fitted nicely under the umbrella learning topic of ‘Kaitaki’, which students discussed and researched its meanings and the impacts on it. They then put kaitaki into practice by spending time in the bush and learning about pests. Through Kids Greening Taupō, the students were fortunate to learn from a range of our local pest management gurus such as Cam Speedy, Shirley Potter and Jason Day. Thereafter, Robyn Ellis from

Left top: Kids Greening coordinator Sian Moffitt helps science students identify invertebrates through the INaturalist app Left bottom: Robyn Ellis from Predator Free Taupō helped Outdoor Education students build trap tunnels and establish a trapping line through the school’s restoration project area. Below right: First rat casualty for the College’s restorative efforts. Photos: Thea DePetris

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Kiwi Forever Serena Taylor Community Ranger Ohakune The ‘Kiwi Forever’ programme seeks to provide our future conservation leaders with a greater understanding of conservation in the ‘real world’. It is jointly supported by local iwi Ngāti Rangi, the Department of Conservation, Genesis Energy and Winstone Pulp International. It is a weeklong program for up to 20 secondary students and six preservice students from Waikato University, hosted by Tirorangi marae, near Ohakune. Above: Takarangi from Ruapehu College at the Kiwi release. Photo: Serena Taylor

Those selected to take part get to experience hands on work with

endangered species; gain a greater understanding of iwi links to the environment; participate in environmental monitoring and predator control; debate the pros and cons of different pest control methods and tread the fine line to balance competing demands on our natural resources. The programme runs once a year in March, and since the first programme was delivered in 2006, more than 200 students have participated. ‘Kiwi Forever’ is a part of a wider network of complimentary programmes that seek to develop our future leaders. Bhrent Guy, who was a key figure in the birth of the programme, said that “the chance to get these young people out into the natural environment, exploring the impacts that we, as humans, have on it, is invaluable. You can read about human impacts in a book or research it online but to see it in front of you is, I think, a much more profound experience”. The chance to work with some of New Zealand’s endangered species is always going to be appealing for participants who were able to accompany DOC rangers into the field to release kiwi or to follow whio on their journey as fledglings from the whio hardening facility in Tūrangi to their release on the Mangawhero River. The students also had the chance to see another side of species recovery, pest control. They constructed DOC200 traps as well as clearing trap lines and installing tracking tunnels on the Southern slopes of Mount Ruapehu. Being immersed in Māori culture staying on the Ngāti Rangi Marae, Tirorangi was another of the highlights for many of the students. They enjoyed the warm manaakitanga / hospitality of the whānau. Local kaumātua Keith Wood shared Ngāti Rangi Māori cultural views of the natural world, conservation, human impacts on waterway management and restoration.

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Genesis Energy is a key sponsor of the programme. Company staff contributed to programming during the week and gave students the opportunity to discuss how power generation companies maintained the balance of using freshwater resources to meet the needs of water users. Participants gave presentations on their experiences and knowledge gained on the final day. The presentation topics grasped big ecological and social responsibility ideas such as “Everything is connected”, “Striking a Balance”, “Conservation is an investment, not a cost”, and “The Ngāti Rangi world view and how it fits into the modern world”.

Above: Planting trees at Ngā Roto-o-Rangataua Scenic Reserve. Left: Phoebe, a preservice teacher from Waikato University at the kiwi release. Photos: Serena Taylor

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Wai Ora restoration for Ngā Rotoo-Rangataua Lakes Serena Taylor Community Ranger Ohakune Bringing the birdsong back to Ngā Rotoo-Rangataua Lakes (Ohakune Lakes) will be the result of culture, nature and community collaboration between iwi, the Department of Conservation and Transpower

Below: Ngā Roto-oRangataua Volunteer day with DOC, Transpower and Ngā waihua o Paerangi July 2019. Photo: Serena Taylor

Ngā Roto-o-Rangataua Lakes, locally known as Ohakune Lakes, is currently surrounded by invasive weeds, birdsong is weak, and willows have taken over. This is about to change with collaboration between Ngā Waihua o

Paerangi (previously known as Ngāti Rangi Trust), Uenuku, the Department of Conservation and Transpower. Transpower will provide $100,000 over a four-year period to help remove weeds, exotic trees, establish a trapping line and start replanting natives at the lakes. The Lakes are culturally and spiritually significant to both Iwi. Land surrounding the Lakes is in the process of being returned to iwi through the Ngāti Rangi deed of settlement agreement. Department of Conservation identified Rangataua (Ohakune) Lakes based on its connection with Ngā Waihua o Paerangi and Uenuku, access and interest from

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Left: Geoff Wishart from Transpower digs the next hole for a new plant at the recent Volunteer day at Ngā Roto-o-Rangataua. Photo: Serena Taylor

locals, pest issues, and the potential to share cultural values and restore natural values. Transpower Director, Bill Osborne says that Transpower’s involvement is very fitting. “Transpower has been a neighbour to the Ngā Roto-o-Rangataua Lakes for over 70 years with our transmission line over the fence and our Ohakune substation just down the road. The wairua feels right for us to help in restoring a neighbouring area of such rich cultural heritage. We enjoy working with DOC and are looking forward to working with iwi and the wider community too on this project.” Previous Ngā Waihua o Paerangi Pou Ārahi – General Manager, Kemp Dryden says the collaborative project is timely. “With lands being returned as part of treaty settlement Ngā Roto-o-Rangataua Lakes provides an opportunity to continue to work toward co-governance and management with the Department of Conservation and developing key relationships with the likes of

Transpower. It also supports our environmental strategy being - A healthy environment sustainably cared for by Ngāti Rangi”.

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Tauranga-Taupō Restoration Shirley Potter Executive Board Te Matapuna Wetlands Ranger Volunteer Coordinator for Rotopounamu Trapping In 2007 Ardy (Karen Ardin) and I began trapping introduced predators in the Tauranga-Taupō area, thanks in part to pesky possums eating all our walnuts! As our possum trapping area expanded through the bush, we began to notice an absence of regenerating native vegetation. We witnessed a clutch of juvenile Piwakawaka fall prey to predators. It was time to take action, this led to our initial self-funded set of Victor snap traps in a collection of homemade boxes.

Top: October 2014 from the top of the stop bank 1st restoration site Bottom: May 2019 showing well established trees – note Leni’s growth too! Photos: Shirley Potter

Our fleet of Timms traps grew rapidly as we realised just how many possums were in “our patch”. I learnt how to skin a possum after deciding that it was a waste to bury them and found a tanner in Napier to turn them into beautiful furs. Mum’s old Bernina sewing machine was bought out of storage and

a commercial machine called a Cup Seamer was eventually purchased to sew the skins together. A small cottage industry was born to help fund our conservation efforts. Our cat has had a total possum diet since this began. For many years we cut and gelled, drilled and poisoned and slashed at climbing plants strangling our native trees. The conservation reserve has some fabulous old Kowhai trees (200 years), Totara, Rimu, kānuka, the occasional Matai but has large patches of open ground with invasive Japanese honeysuckle, cotoneaster, berberis and Himalayan honeysuckle. Sadly, we also have willows, hawthorne and wilding pines. We began to notice a difference with our predator work. Many birds we hadn’t seen before such as Kereru were beginning to visit, Popokatea (whiteheads) were now in flocks and holiday makers commenting on how many birds they were seeing. Finally, with predator control in full swing we were seeing native seedlings appearing – with the removal of close to a staggering 2000 possums by this stage!

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Hilltop school weed-busters year 7 and 8 assisted greatly with our momentum thanks to local teacher Collette Taylor. They came down by the bus load from 2013 to 2017 and worked hard on weed infested patches of land behind Heuheu Parade and off Oruatua Avenue. Some large patches of weeds were cleared and planted in natives supplied by the school.The school now has its own projects closer to home. In October 2014 things changed on a scale we could only dream of. Bryan Lawrance our local hay contractor very generously offered to clear a “patch” for us to restore. He had two machines, one to claw all the honeysuckle etc from the ground and pile it into windrows and another to harrow the ground in preparation for planting. Dave Lumley from DOC came to inspect our site and commented “It’s a bit big!” Not at all nervously I replied, ”Don’t worry Dave we’ll look after it!”. So, we had a big patch of cleared land and no trees and no funding – enter Ian and Frances Jenkins who kindly gave us around 300 beautiful home-grown native trees (a generous act that they continue, in greater numbers each year). We managed to score a few from Project Tongariro and some home-grown trees filled the gaps. A drought made the task even more challenging and a bit of borrowed water from the locals was enough to save the day!

Tuki St site Meanwhile behind the scenes Bryan has our weedy patch in mind and is building a rotary slasher for the task. Just something you do in your spare time! This rotary slasher is a beast that took no prisoners and Bryan also set to on a couple of our Waiotaka restoration sites. He certainly raised the bar on how much land we could prepare and the quality of the preparation. All this work by Bryan and his machines was free – because he is a good guy and passionate about the land. We are exceptionally lucky.

In 2017 we received funding of $5000 from the Waikato Regional Council SCCIF (small scale community initiative fund) round, so we had money for trees and a plan. Our next big plot of land was a large well-defined patch of almost 100% blackberry and honeysuckle. DOC kindly did the spray preparation, but the patch of weeds was so large the spray hoses wouldn’t reach. Downers were mowing the stop bank and were happy to detour and cut more access for spraying (koha of a few beers and pumpkins helped!). The WRC funded plants were planted in September 2017, with the trees being sourced from the Tongariro prison, using locally sourced seeds. All the plants have grown beyond our wildest dreams, thanks to the hot wet summer that followed. Tania Wells from DOC arranged for Community Service (old PD) workers to come and help us. They did some great work clearing under existing natives for our next planting site enabling us better access to spray. They moved loads of mulch and made some great toasted sandwiches! Early 2018, enter Nick Singers with an offer to help on an even grander scale! We had just secured funding form Waikato Catchment Ecological Enhancement Trust (WCEET) of $2000 per year for the next three years. So it was look out weeds here we come. At this stage we also had an approach from Hellmuth Hartag at TDC saying we should apply to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) / Te Uru Rākau fund. The Matariki Tu Rākau plantings are designed to create living memorials to complement our war memorial monuments. They are in public places where whānau, communities, and visitors, can reflect on the work and sacrifices of our service personnel. The patch of land we were preparing was well in excess of the size that our WCEET funding would plant so the

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Top left: March 2016 DOC spraying the site Top right: August 2017 – Voluntary land preparation by Bryan Bottom left: 2nd September 2017 Planted 1300 plants Bottom right: May 2019 Fantastic growth! Photos: Shirley Potter

Below: Laying out plants the day before with help from the Air Force and an auger borrowed from Greening Taupō.. Photo: Shirley Potter

opportunity to source more trees was very exciting. I had Dave Lumley visit to inspect our new large site and asked if it was too big “Nah, you’ll be right” was his reply this time! Thanks, Dave, for trusting us to take care of the land. Jim Maniapoto, Mike and TeKanawa Pitiroi local Ngāti Te Rangiita land owners have visited the site on several occasions and have given us their blessing to restore the land.

Our application, in October 2018 to Te Uru Rākau was approved in February 2019 for 3400 trees, jute mats, fertiliser tabs, advertising and a BBQ lunch! A generous $18,000 of funding. Sadly, the prison could not produce an extra 3400 trees in four months! We were lucky to have tentatively booked ahead and ultimately received good quality plants from Treeline in Rotorua. In June 2018 Bryan drove his tractor through the weedy mess to create access for weed spraying (see drone photo). September 2018, Nick and I used a 500-litre sprayer to knock back weeds. Follow up sprays were made in February and April, with help from Sarah and Ardy to ensure a good knock down of invasive weeds prior to planting. Thanks to WRC for putting Nick and myself through a Growsafe course to enable us to use spray chemicals and to DOC for Ardy’s Growsafe course. Warrick Simmonds, Willie Tulloch and friends helped immensely by felling three massive old man pine trees and

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removing all the fire wood. One tree alone took three months to remove from the site! Thanks guys, as you made our project much easier and gave us access to more land for planting. Again, Bryan came to the fore by mulching all the leftover wood into the soil.

part of our WCEET funding. This was done by a group of 13 Rotary volunteers from Lower Hutt (with a bunch of loyal locals). They also came for a planting weekend in 2018 and hope to make an annual trip to help us with our restoration work.

Our first planting for 2019 was to plant 700 trees from the prison nursery, as

Our Te Uru Rākau funded planting day was 25th May with over 3000 trees

Top: June 2018 – access tracks for spraying. 2017 plantings in bottom left. 2018 infill plants shown with carpet squares to suppress weeds. Bottom: April 2019 – our large patch ready to plant. Photos: Shirley Potter

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Above: 25th May 2019 – 65 locals turn out to plant. Above right: Holidays – a time to pull Canadian Flea Bane! Bottom: This aerial photo shows our progress. Tuki St bottom right of photo. Photos: Shirley Potter

being planted by around 65 locals, an amazing turn out for our small community. Heather from MPI joined us for the day and thoroughly enjoyed herself. Not only were the trees planted, but many were mulched and staked, a top effort by all involved. We have a little more tractor work needed on some dead blackberry and the remainder will be planted soon. Once the planting has been done the work begins in earnest keeping invasive weeds in check, a sentence for the next 3 - 4 years at each patch. Fortunately, we are lucky to have had repeat visits from

groups wishing to volunteer their time. The groups who have volunteered to help us include St Peters College from Hamilton, Little Brown Kiwi international students, the Navy, Air Force and the Army, they must all like us! I suspect we are at ‘weeding’ capacity now and will need contractor help for ongoing maintenance of any new planting areas. We must not forget to thank the contractors who drop mulch for us and the wonderful collection of locals, family and friends who heed our “help” emails and turn up cheerfully to pull weeds, plant trees, stake, mulch or do any other jobs we need them for. Finally, a massive thanks to Bryan Lawrance, without whom we would still be slashing honeysuckle from the trees.

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