NEWS FROM MATATĀ CONSERVATION CARE GROUP
Matatā Conservation Care Group is a conservation group formed two years ago by residents of Kōkako Heights, (situated at the coastal end of the Manawahe Ecological Corridor), to work together in an area of native forest they share. By protecting the area from plants and animals that threaten it, we hope to give native seedlings a chance to become saplings, and, for some, eventually be part of a canopy for the next generation. We have a good, (bad), selection of the many undesirable plants and animals, including most of the usual suspects, but also struggle with massive plant predation by wallaby and native plant strangulation by climbing asparagus. Our goal is to work to improve the health of the forest. This in turn will support increased numbers and variety of native bird species and other native plant and animal species, as well as increase the health of the streams that are part of the catchment that feed into Matata Estuary. Longterm, we work towards being ready for North Island kōkako. Locally, Manawahe Eco Trust are working to create corridors to give these birds the area they need to survive as a local population.
OUR 2023 PEST FOCUS The main goal in 2023 was to put in place strategies to get control of the possum numbers, so we could then tackle the rodents. In July, 66 leghold traps were installed and used over 5 nights on the western boundary. This significantly lowered our possum population, and next on the list was a rodent blitz. Tom from Regen Services installed two monitoring lines within our project area this year and pre-bait monitoring showed levels for rats was 30%. With Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s support, we filled our 116 stations with pindone in spring. Six weeks later the levels sat at 0%. We then set up two possum trap lines on the western boundary to maintain possum control. These are cleared and rebaited weekly.
THANKS TO BCA AND OTHERS Support from Bay Conservation Alliance (BCA) has been nothing but game changing. Their ongoing support and training helped equip us with the knowledge we need to plan a strategy for the next few years. Booths Logistics and the Steele family kindly donated AT220 traps. These are being used in a more difficult to access area and so far, we are impressed. Thanks also to Tom from Regen Services for the donation of a possum trap and the Richardson family for a Brownings Trail Camera. Both have been put to good use!
WHAT, WHERE AND WHEN We held two onsite education days with BCA’s Wayne O’Keefe and Emma Cronin. It is so easy to get overwhelmed when starting out. Wayne spent a morning in the bush helping us identify plants and we looked at our plant and forest health. Taking a step back and analysing what is there, before going in all gun’s blazing, has helped us put things into perspective and use our limited resources in the most effective way. Emma’s trapping education day gave us a chance to see and handle the many different devices and find out which trap and bait options are better suited for each pest species.
LEFT: A hidden waterfall within the bush. Sometimes conservation work can feel overwhelming, and it is hard to know where to start. Taking time to step back, observe and then plan has helped us to prioritise. TOP: Wayne O’Keefe from BCA visited our group and helped us identify plant species and recognise pest animal sign in the bush. BOTTOM: Emma Cronin, BCA with Den Phillips, MCCG Chair having a break while marking possum trap placements on a boundary ridge.
Facebook: @matataconservationcaregroup Instagram: @mcecaregroup Map Reference: Page 10
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