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Kaharoa Kōkako Trust
Kaharoa Kōkako Trust
Kaharoa Kōkako Trust work to protect the environment of the Kaharoa Conservation Area near Rotorua.
The Kaharoa Conservation Area is comprised of a number of distinct blocks: Aislabie, Ruato Stream, Kapukapu Rd., Onaia West, and Onaia East plus the Tapuika owned Te Pehu Pa Reserve. The total area under management is 952 hectares.
This area is a rugged piece of Crown land bounded by steep gorges and covered in native forest. It is home to a remnant population of kōkako. The Trust works closely with the Department of Conservation to protect these endangered birds.
The Trust was formed in 1997 by a group of locals. At the time, a research project in the northern portion of the forest (Aislabie block) recorded 26 kōkako. By reducing the number of pests (possums, ship rats, and stoats) across the whole area, kōkako numbers grew to 173 by 2015. However, the 2022 census showed a significant decline in numbers to 124. The Trust has focused on a number of measures to reverse this trend.
48 Kaharoa kōkako have been translocated to other areas to help found new populations or to add genetic diversity to existing ones. Translocations are managed on a national basis by the Kōkako Recovery Group (DOC). Kaharoa kōkako have contributed to populations in both the Manawahe Kōkako Trust and the Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust, our partner organisations in BCA.
We carry out annual pest control and have trialled many new toxins over our 25 years of existence. We routinely monitor the success of pest control operations through pre- and post-assessments of ship rat and possum indices. We recognise the importance of understanding the health of the Kaharoa ecosystem and, to this end, routinely monitor invertebrates, Pekapekatou-roa (long-tail bats), other forest birds, and some plants.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2023
2023 was an enormous year of work and achievements at Kaharoa. We upgraded our worst block for ship rat control - from 260 to 547 bait stations - to create a 100m x 50m grid and achieved our best ever results! RTI was 4% in that area.
By improving our trapping regimes we achieved a record year of kills of nearly every pest species! We successfully trialled Double Tap - a new toxin - and set up an ungulate exclosure to demonstrate browsing effects. We also set up an inforest equipment base.
We welcomed two new Trustees who made an immediate impact by resurrecting our Facebook profile and by completing a new website.
We did face some government redtape challenges though. Our pest control operation was a month late in starting due to a road block in the permitting process from DOC. And volunteers who were renewing their Controlled Substance Licences were denied 1080 inclusion by WorkSafe due to the incomprehensible ruling that they were not using it annually. This will seriously compromise how we carry out future pest control operations.
Due to a slip all access was cut off to the Aislabie block, but thankfully DOC had this repaired with a new road section in time for our pest control operation.
By improving our trapping regimes we achieved a record year of kills of nearly every pest species!
VOLUNTEER
People commonly think assistance is all about in-forest work via organised events or by adopting a track to carry out any necessary maintenance at any convenient time. But there are many other ways to support us with skills, varying from accounts management, fundraising, specific species monitoring or research. We have jobs for everyone! Information, both about upcoming events and our monthly work mornings, is posted on our new website and Facebook page. Active volunteers will also be sent an email.
