Chairman’s report

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT - CHRIS HAWKES

Chris Hawkes, Chair, Trustee

Kia ora Koutou Katoa

As Trust Chair I am delighted to report that over the past twelve months the Sanctuary has continued its forward momentum, building on previous year’s notable achievements. Four key events stand out, over the past 12 months, these are:

• Very successful introduction of the rare and endangered kākāriki karaka – the orange-fronted parakeet

• The translocation of ~30 powelliphanta (endemic carnivorous land snails) sourced from local sites in the Roding Water Reserve, and from Ngati Koata land in the Maitai Valley

• The appointment of a new Trust patron – Lou

Stanton, former Director General of the Department of Conservation

• Substantial additional financial support and recognition from a strategic and key sponsor who notes ‘the sanctuary is heading in the right direction and am pleased with what has been achieved to date’ (paraphrased).

These four “events” have contributed to, and enhanced, the profile of the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary and have raised awareness of the Sanctuary within our region.

Other significant activity in the Sanctuary in the past year includes the establishment of new walking tracks, the placement of the new bridge at the Flagstone Crossing, and commencement of the upgrade and refurbishment of the Sanctuary’s Visitor Centre. These are just some, but certainly not all, the key activities undertaken during the financial year.

We continue to improve in our external communications both in content and channels utilised reaching not just the local populace but potential visitors to the region from elsewhere in New Zealand. The Board, along with senior management are aware we need to tell our story, to explain what we are doing, what we are planning, initiatives underway along with the

resulting highs and lows of operating a Sanctuary – and there are many! All resulting in increasing visitors through the gate which will help us to meet our stated commitments, and at the same time provide a unique and memorable experience to all.

The growth in Sanctuary supporter numbers (aka membership) over the past year from 875 to 1400 is an indicator of our continued development. Other indicators, such as visitor numbers reaching the same level as the previous year should be recognised as a significant achievement in a very difficult period due to COVID19.

The Sanctuary Board and Chief Executive are of the view that the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary can become a key regional visitor destination for both domestic and international visitors, and that this presents a commercial opportunity for the city to grow by helping the Sanctuary to the recognised for the amazing community asset that it is. I am also of the opinion that the contribution made by 400+ volunteers - their enthusiasm, knowledge, hard work, and the time committed to the continual protection and improvement of the Sanctuary environment is not fully appreciated or understood by the wider Nelson community. For, as is often said, without our team of volunteers there would be no Sanctuary, certainly not in the condition or at the levels of service that it is today, and Nelson’s biodiversity would be poorer for it.

In the past year, the Sanctuary has experienced several pest incursions ‘behind the fence’ but thankfully, not to the same scale as last year. Although we make diligent efforts to mitigate the risks of pest incursions, the unfortunate reality that we’ve accepted is that from time-to-time incursion events will occur. The speed with which our staff and volunteers deal with these pest incursions and fence breaches is truly remarkable and gives confidence to all parties that we are on top of our game and can move rapidly once an incursion is detected or suspected.

Financial

The 2022-23 financial report shows that despite the negative influences of COVID19 and challenges faced in the past year, the Sanctuary has maintained a ‘steady’ financial position ending the year with a modest operational surplus. This is due to the continuing support from our sponsors and funders, who have contributed cash and ‘in kind’ support. The Trust has diligently managed our expenditure; it should be recognised that the high level of volunteer labour input, particularly into maintenance and capital developments projects, contributes enormously to the bottom line result.

Ensuing Year

The groundwork has been laid for further species translocations/introductions with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Ngati Koata iwi for the introduction of tuatara to the Sanctuary. The actual introduction of tuatara will not happen until we have completed the necessary containment area and received sign Photo: Andrew MacDonald off by the Department of Conservation. Initial talks

for the translocation/introduction of other species have also been initiated, however, it is too early yet to comment further on what these might be and when they might happen.

As mentioned earlier, the refurbishment of the Sanctuary Visitor Centre was started at the end of the 2021/22 financial year and excellent progress has been made to date. This project is certain to be a highlight for the new financial year starting 1 July 2022.

Our Chief Executive has recently completed visits to a number of larger, and several smaller sanctuaries throughout New Zealand, and has met with key iwi, primarily in the South Island, who are active in the species translocation/conservation efforts. In doing so, Ru has established a cordial, supportive working relationships with key players and other Sanctuaries. An opportunity exists for all Sanctuaries to speak / coordinate as a collective or sector, especially in their dealings with Government and other associated parties.

In the coming year, we’ll continue to work on challenging issues such as, the entrance to the Sanctuary is through the Brook Motor Camp, our need for increased parking and turning space for buses, and the continued development of our walking track network. The aesthetics of the Visitor Centre entrance are important project we’re working on.

The Board have approved a new sales position within our staff; this part time role is intended to promote the Sanctuary to increase visitor numbers, encourage more sponsorship, engage with specific groups such as retirement villages and special interest groups, regional tourism accommodation providers to ensure the Sanctuary and its key events are well publicised. This role will cover all New Zealand but will be primarily targeted at the traditional South Island summer visitor(s) and locals in initial years.

Education of our younger folk is, as it always has been, a key purpose of the Sanctuary and the past year has witnessed this developing to a higher level with an increase in school groups visiting the Sanctuary. The Trust has increased its staffing and resourcing for this important aspect of the Sanctuary’s activities. In the 2022 school year, student visits to the Sanctuary are already up 32% on the whole of last year with the final term, usually our busiest still, to come.

This year I am not going to thank you all as per tradition in a Chair’s report, instead, I am going to do is ask you to turn and look to your Sanctuary friends, co-workers, whether staff, volunteers, supporters, or sponsors and say, “Great job, well done” and shake hands. You can be rightly proud of all your achievements – I certainly am! A group of 30 snails from the Maitai and Roding sites, were released into the Sanctuary on 17 June. The specific release sites were pre-selected and pegged by Kath Walker, who was, unfortunately, unable to attend on the day. The release was attended by Sanctuary staff and volunteers, iwi representatives, Nelson Nature staff and senior high school students. The pegs were removed after the release in order to avoid creating too much curiosity amongst Sanctuary volunteers

Translocation of Powelliphanta hochstetteri consobrina to Waimarama/Brook Sanctuary

KĀKĀRIKI KARAKA

Three species of kākāriki were once widespread throughout mainland New Zealand: yellow-crowned parakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae), red-crowned parakeet (Cyanoramphus auriceps), and orange-fronted parakeet (Cyanoramphus malherbi). The three species have similar habits, diet, and breeding biology, but occupy different niches in the forest.

The kākāriki karaka is considered to be a midcanopy understorey forage species, and the wild mainland population is now confined to less than 100 birds in just three alpine beech forest valleys in the Arthur’s Pass region.

The wild kākāriki karaka population has numbered about 360 birds, limited to several Canterbury alpine valleys and predator-free Blumine Island in the Marlborough Sounds. Since 2005, over 300 captive bred parakeets have been translocated to Chalky Island in Fiordland, to Maud and Blumine Islands in Marlborough Sounds, and to Mayor Island in Bay of Plenty.

Kākāriki karaka are highly vulnerable to predators like rats and stoats and their populations can be quickly devastated during years when the beech trees mast, or seed heavily, and predator numbers increase dramatically. The kākāriki karaka is therefore the rarest of the three species of mainland parakeet and classified as “nationally critical” putting them in the same category as kākāpo, takahē, black stilts, and black robins.

The Department of Conservation’s orange fronted parakeet recovery team first approached the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary in early 2019 concerning a possible translocation of kākāriki. Due to its large size, predator proof fence, intensive monitoring, and largely pristine habitat (including sizeable beech forest), the Sanctuary has been identified by DOC and iwi as a desirable place to translocate kākāriki karaka.

A total 104 kākāriki karaka were translocated to the Sanctuary in five translocations between November 2021 and May 2022. These birds were reared in captivity at the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust and Orana Park in Christchurch. Since their translocation, unbanded fledglings have been sighted, confirming that the birds have been breeding within the Sanctuary since their arrival.