Forest & Bird Magazine 357 Spring 2015

ISSUE 357 • SPRING 2015 www.forestandbird.org.nz

Our beautiful big blue backyard It’s time to act

PLUS

Guardians of the land

Wetland loss

Star of the show

Don’t just see it, feel it.

Leica Trinovid 42 binoculars.

Rugged and reliable.

With the new Trinovid 42 you are part of the action. State-of-the-art technologies and the highest-quality materials set these binoculars apart from the rest. The magnesium housing is as elegant as it is robust, designed to withstand the roughest treatment. Thanks to their ergonomic design, the Trinovid 42 offer superior eye comfort and handling, during lengthy observations. exceptional optical performance perfect contrast and high colour neutrality waterproof to 16.5 ft / 5 m with HDC® multicoating models: 8 x 42, 10 x 42

New Zealand‘s most affordable premium quality binoculars

For further information, please visit www.leica-sportoptics.com Lacklands LP / sales@lacklands.co.nz / 09 630 0753

ISSUE 357

• Spring 2015

www.forestandbird.org.nz

Forest & Bird National Office Level 1, 90 Ghuznee St, Wellington.

PO Box 631, Wellington 6140.

Tel: (04) 385-7374 EMAIL:

office@forestandbird.org.nz WEB:

www.forestandbird.org.nz/contact us

Contents 2 Editorial

call 0800 200 064 or email membership@forestandbird.org.nz or go online www.forestandbird.org.nz/joinus

36 Pacific Ocean Alliance

4 Letters 6 From

the Chief Executive

8 Conservation JOIN FOREST & BIRD

Birdlife International Forest & Bird reserve 38 Bushy Park

news

Cover story 10 Our oceans deserve better 13 Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary

Biodiversity Forest & Bird would like to thank Honda New Zealand for their ongoing support

14 Ngā Whenua Rāhui 24 Dr Seuss tree

Citizen science 17 Nature’s watchers KEEP UP WITH NATURE

Wetlands 18 Why bulldoze this?

Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ ForestandBird

Battle for our birds 20 Friends of Flora film

Watch us on YouTube www.youtube.com/ forestandbird Follow us on Twitter @Forest_and_Bird

EDITOR

Caroline Wood MAGAZINE ENQUIRIES AND LETTERS

E editor@forestandbird.org.nz

A climate for change

Our partners 40 Honda

Focus on flora 41 Quirky kohekohe

22 World off course

42

Freshwater

Amazing facts

25 Speaking up for estuaries

45 The Otago Skink

Marine

Going places

26 Tackling seabird bycatch

46 Hakatere Conservation Park

Pest-free New Zealand

In the field

28 Thinking big in Golden Bay

48 The ant’s story

Community conservation

Kiwi Conservation Club

30 Shoal Bay story 44 Our little blue neighbours

50 The Great Kererū Count

Our people

ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER

Rob Di Leva, Dileva Design E rob@dileva.co.nz PRINTING:

Printlink FOR ALL ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES:

Karen Condon T 0275 420 338 E mack.cons@xtra.co.nz Membership & circulation enquiries T 0800 200 064 E membership@forestandbird.org.nz

Forest & Bird AGM 32 F&B award winners 34 Changes at the helm

52

Book reviews

Parting shot IBC Bellbird

COVER SHOT Over and under shot of trevally (Pseudocaranx dentex) feeding on the surface. Mokohinau islands, 21 km northwest of Great Barrier Island. This shot was taken by Darryl Torckler and has not been digitally altered. See www.darryltorckler.co.nz for more of Darryl’s wonderful images.

Editorial

Marine reserves matter Learning to scuba dive on Wellington’s South Coast in winter is an activity bordering on the lunatic, but thanks to Dave Drane and his team of instructors at Dive Wellington (Derek Simpson, Jerry Hughes, Paul Cooper and Sue Byers) the awesome world below the waves has now been opened up to me. Following my training in June, I went for a dive in Wellington’s Taputeranga Marine Reserve, an underwater world with special resonance for me.

It’s almost 20 years since Colin Ryder talked me into being one of the team that applied for the marine reserve (Dr Jonathan Gardner and Michael Harte being the other members of the tight four). Now, seven years after its establishment, I’ve seen with my own eyes the recovery that’s taking place: large blue cod following my every move, big crayfish and paua recolonising the reefs directly off the coast, and schools of spotties and banded wrasse swimming among the algae beds.

The experience led me to think what a great shame it is that most communities do not have a marine reserve on their doorstep. Nationwide the restoration and protection of terrestrial reserves is becoming commonplace, with fenced and unfenced sanctuaries and large-scale pest control well established. By comparison, few communities have easy access to protected marine environments and few people are able to experience the amazing and beautiful plants and animals that live just off the coastline.

One reason we have so few marine reserves is that the criteria and process for getting approval are time consuming and difficult. The other reason is that proposals are always met with vocal and well-organised opposition by individuals and groups who want unrestricted access to the coast for fishing or private recreation. This attitude means the great majority of New Zealanders are denied the experience of seeing the natural marine world, and our oceans are increasingly depleted of fish and other marine life.

The opportunity to experience the ocean in its natural state should be just as much of a ‘right’ for all New Zealanders as the ability to go fishing, or to take other marine life. Yet less than one percent of the mainland coast is in marine protection, and many reserves are in remote locations and difficult for families and communities to get access to.

Soon we will have an opportunity to shift the balance back toward nature. The government has announced it is well advanced on a new Marine Protected Areas Act and will be seeking comment on a discussion paper later this year. This is a chance to simplify the process for creating marine protected areas, improve the conservation of our oceans, resolve issues around comanagement with iwi and communities, and give more communities access to marine protected areas.

I encourage you to have your say on marine reserves and, if you get the chance, experience first hand the marine wonderlands off your coast. You won’t regret it!

Ka kite anō

Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Inc. (Founded 1923) Registered Office at Level 1, 90 Ghuznee Street, Wellington.

PATRON

His Excellency Lieutenant General the Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, Governor-General of New Zealand CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Hōne McGregor PRESIDENT

Andrew Cutler TREASURER

Graham Bellamy BOARD MEMBERS

Brent Barrett, Lindsey Britton, Tony Dunlop, Karen Field, Kate Graeme, Mark Hanger, Marc Slade CONSERVATION AMBASSADORS

Sir Alan Mark, Gerry McSweeney, Craig Potton DISTINGUISHED LIFE MEMBERS:

Bill Ballantine, Stan Butcher, Ken Catt, Linda Conning, Audrey Eagle, Alan Edmonds, Gordon Ell, Stewart Gray, Philip Hart, Joan Leckie, Hon. Sandra Lee-Vercoe, Carole Long, Peter Maddison, Sir Alan Mark, Gerry McSweeney, Margaret Peace, Fraser Ross, Eugenie Sage, Guy Salmon, Lesley Shand, Gordon Stephenson, David Underwood Forest & Bird is a registered charitable entity under the Charities Act 2005.

Registration No CC26943.

Forest & Bird is published quarterly by the Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Inc. Opinions expressed by contributors in the magazine are not necessarily those of Forest & Bird.

Andrew Cutler Forest & Bird President

Change to publication dates Forest & Bird magazine is now being published seasonally with this issue becoming our Spring 2015 issue. The magazine will still be distributed four times a year in Spring (early September), Summer (early December), Autumn (early March) and Winter (early June).

Please send any ideas, photos or suggestions for our next issue to Caroline Wood at editor@forestandbird.org.nz.

2

| Forest & Bird

Forest & Bird is printed on elemental chlorine-free paper made from FSC® certified wood fibre and pulp sourced from responsibly managed forests.

Registered at PO Headquarters, Wellington, as a magazine.

ISSN 0015-7384. Copyright.

All rights reserved.

Letters Forest & Bird welcomes your feedback on conservation topics. Please send letters up to 200 words, with your name, home address and daytime phone number. We don’t always have space to publish all letters or publish them in full.

The best contribution to the Letters page of the next edition will win a copy of The Smallest Continent by Derek Grzelewski (Bateman, $34.99).

Please send letters to Editor, Forest & Bird magazine, PO Box 631, Wellington 6140, or e-mail editor@forestandbird.org.nz by 1 October.

Cats are deadly I am thankful John Flux (May letters) was also successfully controlling rats around his house with traps and bait stations. The current scientific evidence shows cats have no ability whatsoever to control rat numbers, otherwise their introduction to control rats would have been a huge success.

As prolific breeders every time an adult rat is removed another one quickly replaces it. The evidence shows that rats subsidise cat numbers by providing an alternative food source when birds have disappeared – thus preventing bird re-establishment. The optimal solution is appropriate and responsible management of both cats and rats.

Dr James Russell, Swanson, Auckland This letter is the winner of Tramping – A New Zealand History by Shaun Barnett and Chris Maclean There has to be someone standing up for cats doesn’t there? However I have to report that I dislike them in part because they do kill birds. Until recently this was negligible [in my neighbourhood] but then there was an explosion of bird catches, due I believe to my neighbour being very sick and not able to feed his cats properly. Over a four-week period I must have noticed the remains of about 10 birds, mainly sparrows and wax eyes, and not one mouse or rat. It would be nice to hear other people’s comments on the kills cats make. I believe Dr John Flux’s report to be an anomaly and he doesn’t mention birds other than fantails in his study.

Cats, I believe, are deadly.

Stephen Conn, Nelson I have just found a tūī that had been mauled by a neighbour’s cat. It took a couple of hours to die. No way could that cat owner be aware of the pet’s playtime activity, so how can Dr Flux be so sure of just what his ‘top predators’ have failed to show him? New Zealand has an estimated 1,600 of those hunters, and 8,000 owners. The tally of endemic fauna must be horrendous and very much to our disrepute.

Max Aston, Eastbourne, Wellington

Loving the lodge I was delighted to see the article about Ruapehu Lodge in the May edition of the magazine. Although I am deeply nostalgic for the old lodge, at which I spent many fabulous weekends, the new lodge is cleaner, warmer, more spacious and much more aesthetically pleasing. The meeting room/library is a real bonus and was put to good use at this year’s KCC coordinators’ annual gathering.

The lodge is a treasure and I would encourage members 4

| Forest & Bird

and their guests to take advantage of it if they need accommodation in the area. As a Waikato branch Forest & Bird member, I feel very proud to be associated with Jon Wenham and the Waikato branch, both of whom made such tremendous contributions (although not by any means the only contributions) to the new lodge.

Di Farrell, Raglan

Another elephant in the room Catherine Cheung (May letters) says it is “technically feasible for everyone to have enough energy for a good quality of life”. The last part: “using only existing renewable technology” is, however, highly debatable. Only about 10 percent of world energy is met by renewables – mainly hydro-electric, which is environmentally a very questionable solution. Energy density refers to the earth surface area occupied in harnessing an energy source. Renewables are sadly deficient in this respect. It is estimated that half of the UK covered in windmills might supply their current energy needs. What sort of environment is that?

Renewables, such as solar, are ideally suited to applications at the point of collection – for example, home heating. This should be promoted as part of the total solution. We will however always need high grade sources of energy to run our industries and means of food production. A tricky proposition running an aluminium smelter using solar power! Nuclear power is almost unlimited. The technology is many times safer compared with fossil fuels. Energy density is high and generation can be placed right where it is required.

Allan Brown, Christchurch The letters in the May edition regarding hydraulic fracturing (fracking) raise important issues. However, the elephant in the room is what impact fracking will have on CO2 emissions.

The conventional wisdom, repeated largely uncontested by gas companies, is that the exploitation of gas through fracking is an essential part of the cleaner energy future.

Such assertions are debatable, and indeed contested by academic research. For example, in research published by the prestigious Nature magazine in October 2014 (Limited impact on decadal-scale climate change from increased use of natural gas, Haewon McJeon et al) it was concluded that “abundant gas will not necessarily reduce CO2 emissions... and in some cases, leads to increased CO2 emissions”. In summary, in addition to the well-documented pollution risks, fracking could also lead to worse CO2 emission outcomes than the status quo.

Timothy King, Mosman, NSW, Australia

Pitpat priorities Further to Melissa Hutchison’s letter (May issue) we would like to second her view that this publication “could help raise the profile and knowledge of our special flora even more”. Readers can do more still and actually grow this kind of flora in their gardens. For example, we have a grove of pitpats (Pittosporum patulum) flourishing in our front garden in Te Atatu, Auckland. We bought a dozen saplings raised from seed by Texture Plants of Christchurch and so far nine have survived to grow into curious-looking small trees, with most of them flowering despite only some developing adult foliage. New Zealand has a lot of weird and wonderful native plants, often from quite unexpected families, that deserve to be cultivated in gardens but just don’t get the profile needed to popularise growing them.

Michael Coote and Kent Xie, Auckland Readers have spoken and we have listened. Check out our new column ‘Focus on Flora’ on p39 – Editor.

WIN A BOOK Forest & Bird is giving away two copies of the latest edition of The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand by Barrie Heather and Hugh Robertson (Penguin, $55).

To enter the draw, email your entry to draw@forestandbird.org.nz Please put Field Guide in the subject line and include your name and address in the email.

Or put your name and address on the back of an envelope and post to Field Guide draw, Forest & Bird, PO Box 631, Wellington 6140.

Entries close on Nov 1.

Further fracking fracas Jean and Walter et al (May letters, Fracking fracas).

Fracking is not extreme or unconventional, it’s been done here for many years and we owe the low oil barrel price to this efficiency. Yes there has been a contaminated site due to flare pit (where hydrocarbons are flared off to assess production potential) and leaching, but I have never seen or heard of a fracking dump in New Zealand – or the term – or the practice.

You mention contamination. If it’s the monitored site I’m aware of, it is of hydrocarbons (oil and condensate) not fracking fluid. This is about proper site management during well clean-up and production flare-offs. As you both inferred it’s a process system failure, not that the fluid has escaped the formation somehow. There is a recognition by major players that this has occurred in New Zealand and legacy cleanups and water bore monitoring to assess contamination have been put in place in some cases. The New Zealand oil industry has made the necessary steps to good stewardship and I’m proud of what the industry has now achieved.

Tom O’Donnell, Wanaka

50 years ago

The winners of Galapagos of the Antarctic – Wild Islands South of New Zealand by Rodney Russ & Alex Terauds are: AC Winkworth (Upper Hutt), K Wilkinson (Hamilton) and E Davies (Orewa). Your books will be posted.

Precious freshwater Coming to live in Waikanae on the Kapiti Coast has brought home to me the fact that our wetlands and waterways are just as, if not more, essential to our survival as are our forests. Forest & Bird, founded out of the campaign to restore Kapiti Island as a predator-free nature reserve, has continued to campaign for nearly another 100 years “giving nature a voice”. The extent of pollution in our lakes and river shows it’s high time we all listened!

Cushla McGaughey, Waikanae

Research and indigenous forests A considerable area within Mamaku State Forest is to be milled and largely replaced with exotics. The Matamata County Council would like the area to be cleared and developed as pasture land. The New Zealand Forest Service wants it cleared and replaced with exotic timber species. ...There is another viewpoint which might well be considered at this stage – that of the man in the street. He has seen many millions of acres of indigenous forest cleared or burnt on the plea of economic necessity...but has not the time arrived to say “taihoa”.

Must we continue to destroy the almost pitifully small remaining stands of commercial indigenous timber? Surely we must set at least some aside for regeneration for future needs, and thereby give consideration also to values other than quick economic returns.

Extracted from Forest & Bird magazine, August 1965

Forest & Bird

| 5

From the Chief Executive HŌNE MCGREGOR

Breaking new ground It was a pleasure at our Annual General Meeting in June to meet Guy McDonald, a Timaru 17-year-old who has been doing valuable work in conservation for five years, including monitoring katipō spiders and advocating for our native praying mantis.

Guy is the first and worthy winner of our new youth award, Te Kaiārahi Rangatahi o te Taiao. We think this award is important because young people are the future of conservation. For the same reason, we are growing and giving more strategic focus to our Kiwi Conservation Club (KCC) programme for primary school-age children.

Another area where Forest & Bird is breaking new ground is in working more closely with iwi and better understanding Māori conservation perspectives. We are exploring other ways in which conservation can honour the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and draw on Māori conservation knowledge and skills. In this issue of the magazine we start a series on Māori conservation to recognise the need for iwi and pākehā to work together to protect our natural taonga.

We have already been doing work in this area. For several years we have been working with Ngātiwai to introduce a rāhui tapu or fishing ban at Mimiwhangata, on the coast between Whangarei and the Bay of Islands. This would in effect create a marine reserve allowing both the Crown and local iwi to be responsible for managing the reserve and adjacent traditional fishing areas.

Despite our roots as an organisation focused on land conservation, marine issues have for many years been an important part of our work. The seas within our Exclusive

Guy McDonald with his mum Julie and Hōne at the AGM in June.

6

| Forest & Bird

Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf amount to 20 times our land mass. We are a small country, but the EEZ and continental shelf we are responsible for is the fourth largest in the world.

It seems crazy that while almost a third of our land mass is set aside for conservation, less than half a percent of our marine environment has protection. Along with climate change, pollution – such as the threat from deep offshore oil production – and overfishing are endangering our marine wildlife.

Over half the world’s albatross species breed in New Zealand, and almost all populations are in trouble. We have Maui’s dolphin – the world’s rarest and smallest – and the critically endangered New Zealand sea lion. Action is needed now to save these species and protect our marine biodiversity.

We are working on all the major threats to marine life. For example, our legal team made a submission to the Environmental Protection Authority, which this year decided against allowing mining of phosphate rock on the Chatham Rise using untested technology. Climate change has become one of our top priorities, and we advocate more sustainable fishing practices through lobbying and our Best Fish Guide, a powerful tool for consumers to influence fishing practices.

The story about marine protected areas legislation on p10 explains one of the most important developments for marine conservation in New Zealand and what Forest & Bird is doing to try to ensure the legislation protects our vital marine ecosystems.

Conservation news

Vote for your favourite bird The Bird of the Year competition is one of Forest & Bird’s most popular annual events. Now in its eleventh year, it raises awareness of New Zealand’s unique native birds and the threats they face by asking New Zealanders to vote for their favourite bird. Much like a general election, it includes all the drama, dirty tricks and tactics that you might see in a political campaign.

Each year well-known and enthusiastic Kiwis come on board to champion their favourite bird.

In the past, they have gone to great lengths to get their bird ahead – by making videos, running online campaigns, designing posters – even getting tattoos.

Our longest-serving campaign manager, Jackson Wood has been backing the saddleback/tieke since 2011. He hopes that 2015 will finally be the year the tieke (saddleback) takes out the top spot.

“I love the tieke. It’s a great symbol of how conservation can bring back species and have a positive impact. Every time I go to a sanctuary where my cheeky red-wattled forest friends are fossicking, I feel a sense of hope that we can turn the tide on pest species. Also, they’re darn cool birds.

They know how to have fun. Bird of the Year is a great way to make conservation fun.“

Saddleback at Zealandia. Photo: David Brooks There is also the ever-present smart talk with other campaign managers on the birdlovers favourite communication medium: Twitter.

So get ready for another Bird of the Year – and may the best bird win! *Voting will run from 9am on Monday 5 October until 5pm on Sunday 25 October at www.birdoftheyear.org.nz

Biodiversity action

Forest & Bird member Franki James, who lives in Hawke’s Bay, created this mixed media image of the proposed Ruataniwha Dam. It includes some of the wildlife that would be adversely impacted by the dam, including fernbird, New Zealand pipit, pied stilts, long-finned eel and lamprey. For the latest on Forest & Bird's Ruataniwha Dam campaign, see www.forestandbird.org.nz

8

| Forest & Bird

Environment Minister Nick Smith has announced plans to create National Policy Statements on biodiversity, urban development, aquaculture and natural hazards.

Alongside this work, National Environmental Standards (NES) are being proposed for pest control, air quality and contaminated soils.

He said: “New Zealand is too small a country to have different, complex rules across our 78 councils. We can get better environmental outcomes in areas like water quality and pest control, as well as better economic results in areas such as housing and telecommunications through stronger and clearer policies and standards.”

The Government has already released a NES for plantation forestry. Forest& Bird made a comprehensive submission on this in August, saying the standards would not improve environmental outcomes from forestry.

On biodiversity, Nick Smith said the area was fraught with difficulty, but he was optimistic agreement could be reached, saying: “My preferred way forward would be through a collaborative process involving farmers and conservationists in a format similar to the Land and Water Forum.”

You can see Nick Smith’s full speech to the Environmental Defence Society’s annual conference in August at www.beehive.govt.nz.

News in brief Forest & Bird annual gatherings Come along and enjoy stimulating conversation, amazing landscapes and presentations on a range of contemporary conservation issues. Everyone welcome – members and non-members.

South Island Gathering Date: Saturday 10 – Sunday 11 October Location: Makarora Tourist Centre Contact: Forest & Bird Central Otago-Lakes Branch

denise.bruns@gmail.com

Nature on our flag?

As an alternative to the multitude of koru, ferns and Southern Crosses proposed for New Zealand’s flag, Dennis Smith from Auckland has submitted a design based on the manuka, one of our most beautiful native flowers.

Dennis, a retired architect, Forest & Bird member and volunteer trapper, looked at the 192 flags of other countries and concluded the most memorable stemmed from a simple bold design.

He said: “What can one say about the choice of the manuka flower as a motif for our new flag? Manuka has been here since the Palaeocene era – about 70 million years. Hardy and adaptable, it grows in all sorts of soils and climatic conditions from the coast to the mountains.

“In colour and form its flower has an elegant simplicity, which lends itself to a distinctive, abstract rendering similar to the maple leaf on the Canadian flag. The colours in the design convey freshness and light that sit well with our image as a country.”

1080 facts A fact sheet has been produced in response to strong public demand for accessible, factual, summary information about 1080 and its use. The Pest Control Education Trust, a joint Federated Farmers and Forest & Bird initiative, has released 1080: The Facts, an illustrated, easy-to-read explanation of 1080, its use and impacts.

Did you know?

• New Zealand has 2,700 species at risk of extinction • Nine out of 10 kiwi born in the wild die from predation before reaching maturity • Without predator control, most female kōkako are killed while sitting on their nests.

1080 success stories • The kōkako population has skyrocketed by 700 percent in the Mangatutu Ecological Area, in central North Island, following four 1080 drops in the area since 1989.

• Following a 1080 drop in Okarito in 2015, the kea nesting success rate increased from 51 percent to 100 percent *The fact sheet is available online at www.1080facts.co.nz.

For hard copies, please contact info@1080facts.co.nz

North Island Gathering Date: Friday 13 - Sunday 15 November Location: Forest & Bird Ruapehu Lodge, Whakapapa Village Contact: Forest & Bird Taupo Branch,

rainbow@reap.org.nz For details and updates see www.forestandbird.org.nz/ gatherings

Sea lion campaign We’re urging all Kiwis to get behind the New Zealand sea lion and make the government listen and take immediate action against squid trawling. You can lobby your local MP and raise this concern, or please send an email to Nathan Guy, our Minister for Primary Industries, and Maggie Barry, our Minister for Conservation. See www.forestandbird.org.nz for details of how to do this.

Valder conservation grants Forest and Bird’s Waikato Branch awards grants for conservation projects annually in memory of Lilian Valder.

Each grant is usually $1000-$2000 and can be awarded to individuals or group projects. Closing date for applications is September 30. For more information and an application form, email waikato.branch@forestandbird.org.nz. Preference is given to Waikato projects, but applicants from other areas will also be considered.

New lizard book Trent Bell, herpetologist and director of EcoGecko consultants, is writing a comprehensive book on New Zealand’s lizard fauna. The project has been funded by the Royal Society’s Charles Fleming Publishing Award. Trent is now taking pre-orders. If you are interested in getting your hands on a copy, you should order now as there will be a limited print run. See www.ecogecko.co.nz.

Green Ribbon award winners A total of 10 community groups, organisations and businesses were named as winners of the prestigious Green Ribbon Awards, with Abel Tasman’s Project Janszoon scooping the supreme winner 2015 award. For details of the other winners, see: www.mfe.govt.nz.

Forward together A Hauraki Gulf Marine Park seminar is taking place at Auckland Museum on 27 October from 9am to 4.30pm.

Organised by the Hauraki Gulf Forum, the seminar includes a top line-up of inspiring speakers, adventurers, scientists and kaitiaki. Tickets cost $30 from the museum or call 09 306 7048.

Forest & Bird

| 9

BIODIVERSITY An astonishing 80 percent of the earth’s biodiversity lives in the oceans, and undiscovered marine creatures are found every week.

THE THREAT Twelve percent of our marine environment has been allocated for mining or oil and gas permits. Most of New Zealand’s marine environment is open to fishing.

Our oceans deserve better From leader to laggard, New Zealand needs to do more to protect our oceans. Marine advocate Anton van Helden explains.

Warratah anemones hanging off the cavern walls.

Poor Knights Islands marine reserve. Photo: Darryl Torckler 10

| Forest & Bird

Cover story

N

ew Zealand’s seas have an extraordinary array of habitats and biodiversity, and we want them to stay that way. Our coasts and oceans face ever increasing pressure from multiple human uses, from exploitative fishing practices to the major expansion in resource exploration and development for oil and gas, and seabed mining.

Less than 0.5 percent of New Zealand’s marine environment is fully protected, and yet most of New Zealand’s public overestimates the proportion in protection. Ninety-five percent of Kiwis believe just under a third of our seas are protected by reserves. Clearly we have work to do in spreading the word about protection.

New Zealand was once a pioneer in ocean protection.

The country’s first reserve was proposed in 1965, setting in motion a six-year battle that led to the Marine Reserves Act being passed in 1971. Even then there was further significant resistance from parochial interests, which is why it took a further four years to create New Zealand’s first marine reserve.

The Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve (also called Goat Island) was one of the first “no-take” marine reserves in the world. Opened in 1975, it now attracts around 400,000 snorkellers, divers, sighteers and marine scientists a year.

World-leading and ground-breaking but, 40 years on, where are we now?

Today New Zealand has 44 marine reserves covering an area of 17,400 square kilometres. While this sounds like a lot, it is only 0.42 percent of our Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone and just three percent of our reserves are found around mainland New Zealand. The rest are located around our distant offshore islands (the Kermadecs and sub-Antarctics).

New Zealand’s protected marine areas are just a drop in the ocean. New Zealand has a biologically rich, diverse and extensive marine environment. We are responsible for the fifth largest marine environment in the world, but we are dragging the chain in responsibility for our oceans and lagging behind world standards.

chance to significantly improve our marine protection. It is important we get it right.

There is currently a lack of coherent planning, and current legislation does not provide for the creation of Marine Protected Areas in the Exclusive Economic Zone and Extended Continental Shelf. We believe the new legislation must include provision for the establishment of MPAs beyond our Territorial Seas ie beyond 12 nautical miles.

Forest & Bird wants to see a network of marine reserves (no-take areas) and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that contain representative examples of the full range of New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and its outstanding, rare, distinctive or nationally important marine habitats and associated biodiversity. MPAs are important for protecting marine mammals and seabirds and many of New Zealand’s marine habitats are internationally recognised.

Not enough: less than 0.5% of New Zealand’s marine environment is protected.

New Zealand’s territorial waters Exclusive Economic Zone Extended Continental Shelf

Beyond 12 nautical miles All our existing reserves are within our Territorial Sea, the 12-nautical-mile band around New Zealand’s coasts.

None of the expanse of the Exclusive Economic Zone and Extended Continental Shelf areas that New Zealand is responsible for has full protection.

At the time of writing, the government was poised to bring out a discussion paper for its new Marine Protected Areas Act that will include a review of the Marine Reserves Act 1971. Forest & Bird has been asking for changes to this act for 17 years, as there has been a recognised need to better integrate this legislation with other government processes, including Marine Protected Area (MPA) planning policies.

The form of this new legislation will be critical for the ongoing management and protection of our ocean environment. We believe this is a once-in-a-generation

The marine environment is complex, and so we need to ensure that enough of each habitat type is protected to safeguard the functionality of all habitat types and their ecosystem processes. We want to protect and maintain marine biodiversity, ecological representation and special natural features. These must include the water column not just the seafloor. Along with this we want to see additional protection measures for endangered or threatened species and the prevention of species loss, such as identified by our IBA programme for seabirds.

Any proposed legislation should provide a streamlined, robust and credible process for the development of MPAs. Forest & Bird supports marine spatial planning and established forum processes like the Hauraki Gulf Marine Spatial Plan and the Otago Southland MPA planning forum. These processes can deliver effective protection in

We believe this is a once in a generation chance to significantly improve our marine protection. It is important we get it right.

Forest & Bird

| 11

Cover story

What do we want?

Blue shark (Prionace glauca) off the coast of Whakatane, New Zealand. Photo: Richard Robinson an efficient way provided all stakeholders have balanced representation, they are independently chaired and they are well-resourced both financially and technically. It is vital that created MPAs have high conservation standards applied and opportunities for tourism, recreation, scientific research, education and contribution to social, community and economic certainty are maintained and encouraged.

Forest & Bird also supports traditional iwi management tools, like rāhui tapu, and will advocate that they are included in the new legislation. A rāhui tapu is similar to a marine reserve but allows for a generational review and cogovernance structure with iwi Māori. These rāhui tapu will allow for protection of traditional use, cultural heritage and archaeological resources.

Forest & Bird as a voice for nature wants the government to clearly hear the need for marine protection through marine reserves and protection measures that will safeguard our oceans and the animals and plants that live in them. You can add your voice to this campaign by making a submission on the discussion paper. Follow us on our website on how to do this.

Forest & Bird would like to see a meaningful network marine reserves (no-take areas) and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) – right throughout New Zealand’s waters. This will help to: n Safeguard our marine environment n Protect our marine biodiversity, including seabirds and marine mammals n Support our fisheries n Support marine science n Provide healthy marine ecosystems for the public to enjoy n Educate people about the importance of our marine environment n Build our eco-tourism industry Join our campaign at www.forestandbird.org. nz/marinereserves and make a submission when the government’s discussion paper on the Marine Protected Areas Act is released.

How can you help?

Please donate to protect our marine environment at www.forestandbird.org.nz/marineappeal Your donation will: • Work towards establishing a meaningful network of marine protected areas, specifically marine reserves, throughout our ocean environment • Assist in the protection of endangered and threatened marine species, including dolphins, whales, sea lions and seabirds.

• Fight for the establishment of the Kermadecs Ocean Sanctuary (see right).

Forest & Bird’s marine work Forest & Bird is committed to improving the protection of our ocean in the same way we protect native wildlife and environments on land. New Zealand's ocean estate is more than 20 times our land area and one of the largest in the world.

Many of the species and habitats found in our seas are currently under threat. Here are just a few of the things we do: Maui’s dolphins

Sharks

Maui’s dolphin is the rarest dolphin on the planet, so we’re working hard to ensure its protection through set net bans, fishing restrictions and the establishment of marine protected areas.

Forest & Bird and our partners successfully banned shark finning last year and also secured important shark protection and management policies (the National Plan for Sharks).

Sea lions. Photo: Craig Mckenzie

Sea Lions

Maui’s dolphin.

Photo: Erin Green DOC

12

| Forest & Bird

New Zealand sea lions were once found right around our coast but are now largely restricted to the sub-Antarctic islands, with a few returning to coastal Otago. Forest & Bird is campaigning for better fishing regulation to reduce their deaths as bycatch in squid fishing nets.

Hammerhead shark. Photo: Terry Goss, Marine Photobank

Ocean sanctuary

A female Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) keeps a close eye on her calf Photo: Photo Richard Robinson

Forest & Bird has been campaigning hard for the creation of a large ocean sanctuary in the pristine Kermadec region, writes Anton van Helden.

The most northerly part of New Zealand’s marine environment is the subtropical Kermadec region, home to some remarkable species of sharks, sea birds, whales, dolphins, turtles, fishes, corals and other marine invertebrates, some of which are found only there. Many species such as humpback whales (pictured above) pass through the region on their migratory pathways through the Pacific.

The deep seas of the Kermadec region are in a near pristine state. The deep sea is the largest ecosystem on earth and one of the least studied. The seabed in the Kermadec region is very deep, almost all of it over 1000m and a third of it over 5000m. It includes the Kermadec Trench, at over 10,000m deep one of the deepest submarine canyons on the planet. No part of the Kermadec Trench is protected within the current reserve, the boundaries of which only extend to 12 nautical miles

from each island’s coastline.

The Kermadec region includes numerous submarine volcanoes and seamounts and includes a portion of the Kermadec Arc, the longest submarine volcanic chain on the planet. This very geologically active subduction zone between the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates provides one of the most complex deep-sea marine habitats on earth.

Unique gatherings of organisms are found nowhere else in New Zealand’s waters.

Forest & Bird wants the government’s new marine protection legislation to ensure the creation of a Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Marine Reserve. This would be as a schedule of the bill that extends the current marine reserve from the 12 nautical mile limit to the limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone creating a 620,000 square kilometre no-take marine reserve.

Seabirds More than half of the world’s 22 albatross species breed in New Zealand.

See overleaf to find out how Forest & Bird is working to reduce the deaths of albatrosses and other seabirds.

Best Fish Guide This guide helps consumers make the best decisions about the fish they buy, and encourages our fishing industry to improve their fishing practices.

Yellow-eyed penguin. Photo: David Hallett

Penguins Forest & Bird’s Places for Penguins project helps restore habitat for little blue penguins in Wellington (see p44,) and our Te Rere Reserve, in Southland, is a haven for yellow-eyed penguins.

Cambell Island Albatross.

Photo: David Hallett

Forest & Bird is also involved in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Spatial Plan, the Mimiwhangata Rāhui Tapu marine protection proposal and the OtagoSouthland Marine Protected Areas Forum.

Forest & Bird

| 13

Ngā Whenua Rāhui

Conserving the land for future generations 1

The Ngā Whenua Rāhui Fund, which protects Māori land through kawenata (covenants), is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Harry Broad looks back at how it came into being and how it has helped preserve New Zealand’s unique biodiversity.

“Really how it arose was from the people out at Waikare in Northland. They wanted to sell their lands and mill their bush to pay their rates,” recalls Ngati Hine kaumātua Kevin Prime. ”Tom Parore, who was then Director of Māori Affairs up in Northland, wasn’t happy with that and wanted to create a fund to help Māori pay their rates and keep their land.”

Tom Parore brought a paper to Wellington outlining his ideas. It became part of the then Labour Government’s Indigenous Forest policy, which was looking to protect the remnant areas of native bush on private land and allow only sustainable harvesting. In 1989 a rather unusual komiti was set up to progress the idea.

“There were no terms of reference, no criteria and nothing to point the way apart from the overall purpose of trying to protect the conservation values on Māori land. We were just told to figure out what we were there for and that was the start. There were Tumu [now Sir Tumu te Heuheu] 14

| Forest & Bird

and me, Di Lucas, John Ruru and Rangi te Maiharoa – and a blank sheet of paper,” explains Kevin.

“There was a strong feeling that Māori cultural dimensions were ignored in existing land protections.

Ngā Whenua Rāhui was really for the protection and preservation of indigenous biodiversity, but the word used wasn’t biodiversity at the time, I think we used some of the Māori equivalents. We thought it was part of the land.

There was that Māori concept that we are part of the land, of the river and the maunga (mountains), all things that are hard to put into the pākehā construct.

It was important to recognise mauri, the life force of the forest, which is so important to Māori. This includes memories of the landscape, not just things you can see.

A series of hui were held to put the concept to Māori.

But the idea didn’t go down well. There was great suspicion that this was the last of the great Māori land grabs.

Success for me is that more iwi now understand and are aware about what is happening on their land and are making use of that knowledge Kevin Prime “There was a great deal of cynicism right at the start.

I said it wasn’t a land grab but it was going to be hard to convince people, even in Northland,” remembers Kevin.

Despite the suspicions, a komiti was formed under the guidance of Sir Tumu. It reported directly to the Minister of Conservation and Mike Mohi was hired as the executive officer, reporting through the DOC system to Allan Mckenzie, who was manager of the Forest Heritage Funds.

The fund began operating in 1991 and offered consideration payments ($100 per hectare, mainly to large blocks) to owners in return for protection of their land with a provision for review clause after 25 years.

“I recall it as a wonderful time,” says komiti member Di Lucas, who made a major contribution over the 10 years she was on the fund. ”I had a lot of involvement with the criteria and with working to overcome the suspicions of iwi and gain their confidence.”

The komiti quickly realised the only way to overcome the mistrust was to work together and deliver on any promises.

It worked first on the East Coast, but there were only a few in Northland, where there were deep-rooted suspicions about the kawenata (covenants).

Kevin remembers how Nukutere, in the Bay of Plenty area, was one of the first kawenata. “People were saying: ‘What’s the catch? And how come you are giving us this money?’ And working it through with them and saying: ‘Get your lawyer to check it out, your name is still on the title’.”

The approach worked, and 25 years later a quarter of Māori land with high conservation value is currently protected by kawenata (171,000 hectares).

But it isn’t about the number of hectares protected, says Kevin. “Success for me is that more iwi now understand and are aware about what is happening on their land and are making use of that knowledge.”

For the next 25 years the fund managers are committed to empowering landowners to manage their own whenua, with support from Ngā Whenua Rāhui as a strategic advisor. The fund is moving away from forestry blocks with an increasing emphasis on wetland restoration to provide nature with a much improved sets of lungs.

The Ngā Whenua Rāhui Fund What is it?

Ngā Whenua Rāhui is a contestable Ministerial fund established to facilitate the voluntary protection of indigenous ecosystems on Māori-owned land from the mountains to the sea. It has a total annual budget of $6 million.

What does it do?

The fund provides protection for Māori landowners through the use of kawenata (covenants). It also supports active pest monitoring. Its Matauranga Kura Taio Fund seeks to preserve the history and stories associated with Māori land and tikanga.

How much land has been protected?

The fund has protected about 25 per cent of Māori land with significant indigenous values, with around 220 agreements protecting 171,000 hectares at a very low cost. It has approved 238 Matauranga Māori projects to preserve the histories of their land.

Who makes the decisions?

It has always had an independent komiti, which reports directly to the Minister of Conservation. The current members are Sir Tumu te Heuheu (chair); Kevin Prime; Piri Prentice, Mavis Mullins. Paki Nikora and John Paki.

3

A Māori interpretation of nature

2 1 Ngā Whenua Rāhui founding member Kevin Prime. Photo: DOC 2 Kawenata protect more than 170,000 hectares of Māori land.

Photo: DOC

3 Manuka in flower. Photo: DOC

“The cultural context is critical to how Māori interpret nature. Fundamentally it’s all about reconnecting our people with their lands,” says Ngā Whenua Rāhui manager Trevor Lambert.

“Our unique contribution is to use the best of western science methods and marry them to the Māori view of the natural world. We work with landowners to clarify what the mauri [special nature/vital essence] of the land means to them, so they can tell their own stories relating to their cultural histories while still protecting the land with pest control operations.”

Forest & Bird

| 15

Restoring the mana of Matakana Jason Murray and his partner Aroha Armstrong have been at the heart of an inspiring effort to regenerate significant areas of Matakana Island, which stands guard on the western flanks of Tauranga Harbour.

They have a vision of redemption for the island that has evolved over time from humble beginnings and have received strong support from Ngā Whenua Rāhui for their kawenata and plant nursery.

It is also about rediscovering the knowledge of the old people on the island and harnessing it for regeneration, as well as restoring the mauri of the waterways to enhance the health of the fish species.

And in a quiet way it has provided some valuable employment opportunities.

“All our focus on the island is around wetland and restoring fish habitat. A lot of the wetlands were dumps for old machinery so we’d get the steelworks fellas to come over and to pull the old stuff out. Then if we have got weeds you get another digger in and clear all the weeds away and it gives you a clean slate to go in and plant,” says Jason.

Perhaps the key to their nursery’s success is that they have been growing plants for their own purposes

and also for other blocks of Māori land as well, through the Ngā Whenua Rāhui connection.

They have achieved an enormous amount of wetland restoration already and they have worked to build relationships with Māori and stakeholders so all feel they have a place on the island.

*Harry Broad is a former Department of Conservation officer, who is helping organise Ngā Whenua Rāhui’s 25 year celebrations

Forest & Bird

Conservation Calendar 2016

Featuring superb photographs of our extraordinary wildlife and wilderness habitats taken by some of our leading nature photographers.

Weighs less than 200g for economic postage.

Envelope included.

17

$

99

includes post and packaging

Forest & Bird

New Zealand Conservation Diary 2016

Every week brings a new photograph of our unique landscapes, plants and wildlife. This quality week-toview diary features public holidays, and a lay-flat spiral binding.

$

24

99

includes post and packaging

Both calendar and diary are available now. Send orders with cheque and delivery details to: Potton & Burton, PO Box 5128, Nelson 7043, New Zealand To order online please visit www.forestandbird.org.nz and click on ‘Shop’ or www.pottonandburton.co.nz

16

| Forest & Bird

Citizen science

Nature’s watchers Becoming a citizen scientist can be very rewarding, as Kimberley Collins explains.

The scientific community often seems like an exclusive club that only those with years of experience and expensive equipment can join. But scientists are increasingly turning to the public for help – asking them to gather data to answer real world scientific questions.

This practice, known as citizen science, has been getting a lot of attention in recent years. But there’s nothing new or novel about the concept. Science has always relied on self-taught researchers – nearly all scientists who made discoveries before the late 19th century were citizen scientists, interested in a particular field or with a question to answer and an eye for observation.

For example, Frank Chapman helped to change the attitudes of hunters in America 115 years ago by proposing they participate in a Christmas bird count, rather than a traditional shoot. Since 1900, the data collected by these bird counters has saved many species – such as the American black duck and Harris’s sparrow – by providing early warning of population declines.

Advances in technology have made it easier than ever for the public to collect this kind of information. By asking citizens to record observations online, scientists can increase the sample size of a research project and receive information from far-flung locations they might never have the chance to visit themselves.

New Zealand’s best known citizen science project is doing just that. Nature Watch NZ (www.naturewatch.org. nz) asks citizens to use their computers, smart phones and tablets to record observations of species from around New Zealand. To date, more than 150,000 observations have been made – from Auckland to the Antipodes Islands in the Southern Ocean. In fact observations can be made anywhere in the world, either through NatureWatch NZ or its parent iNaturalist.

Colin Meurk, a co-founder of the initiative, says citizen scientists help researchers to gain a better understanding

3

of New Zealand’s wildlife, plants and pests, as well as tracking changes. And occasionally they observe something really unusual or special.

“One of the coolest things we saw early on was a pink, stalked slime mould that someone found in their wood pile on Stewart Island – it’s the most amazing, alien-looking creature. A number of undescribed species have also been recorded, especially in groups that are less studied, such as fungi and invertebrates,” he said.

In 2014, a critically endangered fungus was rediscovered when a user uploaded a picture of strange looking mushrooms. A mycologist, Dr Jerry Cooper, identified it as the critically rare snowbank fungus (Nivatogastrium baylissianum, pictured below). The species had been collected just once before – from the same area, 44 years ago.

In some cases, Nature Watch NZ has also been the first to record an exotic species that could go on to be a potential biosecurity risk.

“The giant willow aphid (Tuberolachnus salignus) was first recorded in New Zealand with an observation on Nature Watch NZ. Unfortunately it came too late as the bugs were already well established, but we work closely with the Ministry for Primary Industries and encourage all users to alert them of new incursions,” explains Dr. Meurk.

"But it’s not just about scientists ‘using’ citizens to do the grunt work. It can be very rewarding to be part of a community of people uploading observations – whether they are gardeners, school students, community groups or teachers. They can be involved in conversations that generate fascination and respect for our biodiversity and biosecurity, and feel they are contributing to wider knowledge as well as improving their own learning,” he added. *Are you involved in a citizen science project you would like to share with other readers? Email Caroline Wood editor@forestandbird.org.nz.

1 Frank Chapman, American ornithologist and early proponent

of ‘citizen science’. Photo: ©AMNH Library #110999

2 The critically rare snowbank fungus (Nivatogastrium

baylissianum) was discovered by a Kiwi citizen scientist.

Photo: Kathy Warburton

1

3 Author Kimberley Collins, Forest & Bird’s Online

2

Communications Officer, is a keen citizen scientist – here she is pictured with penguins on MacQuarie Island.

Forest & Bird

| 17

Wetlands

Why would you

bulldoze this?

1

Veteran environmental campaigner Derek Schulz explains his failed fight to protect what he believes was a remnant dune lake on the Kapiti Coast.

T

he intention of the National government to repeal our environmental legislation has had a preliminary rehearsal here in Raumati Beach and given a taste of what it will be like living in a post-RMA world.

I work with a small film-making collective, and four years ago we began recording the wildlife at a local remnant dune lake. This is former swamp forest country, and we were startled to discover such a rich ecological area, about five minutes walk from the centre of town.

Here native waterbirds were feeding and nesting in relative safety because there was no public access to a wetland ringed by blackberry. Over time we discovered pārera, pied stilt, grey teal, shoveller, paradise duck, black swan, pukeko and welcome swallow all nesting, while royal spoonbills, white-faced heron, little and black shags, kahu and kotare were regular visitors.

Then there were rarer birds – NZ scaup and our delicate little grebe, the dabchick – long with tantalising indications of even rarer animals. Fernbird were rediscovered just up the coast at the Waikanae estuary, and a spotless crake turned up dazed and confused, about a kilometre upstream from the lake. Our primary interest however was in pārera – the New Zealand grey duck. It is critically endangered through interbreeding with introduced mallard, yet can be legally shot in season.

Scientific interest around this conservation debacle 18

| Forest & Bird

is concentrated on genetic inquiry, but our attention focused on behaviour. Pārera kept turning up at the lake while a small colony of pārera-cross birds was regularly in residence. Their behaviours didn’t seem to stack up with current wisdom. Like teal and shoveller, pārera-cross males hung around with their mates after the ducklings emerged on the lake. Mallard never do this, in fact they are quite up to sexually assaulting the females while they are trying to protect their young. There also seemed to be a racial bias in mallard males who don’t appear to tolerate grey headed pārera in their ranks. It raised the intrigue that ‘cultural’ differences may be operating between these species, even after their genetic lines have been crossed.

Through all this, the political noise was getting louder as the Government’s fast-tracking of the Kapiti Expressway (road of national significance) proposal picked up momentum. We had imagined this motorway would steer clear of the lake, until we found a geological team coresampling the centre. A Board of Inquiry had replaced the usual Environment Court process, and I drafted a submission to its hearings.

I had experience in working in coastal restoration for the Department of Conservation and then preparing submissions for Forest & Bird, so was immediately skeptical because I believed the Board contained no-one with credible environmental experience. While it was chaired by

a retired judge and run like a Supreme Court, it worked as a mediating body. Nevertheless I concentrated my evidence on the dune lake and, using visual footage, found myself in stark disagreement with the New Zealand Transport Agency’s environmental scientists.

The NZTA had stated that the different groupings working on the application had collaborated closely, but it was immediately clear they hadn’t. One wetland was assessed as both highly valued and insignificant. There were eight different descriptions of the dune lake, ranging from definitely a wetland to definitely not a wetland. It was assessed nevertheless at 1.8 hectares of which 0.23h would be disturbed.

The lake was claimed to have been formed by stopbanks along the nearby Wharemauku creek. This was not correct. It was a cleared remnant of the original Wharemauku swamp.

As a dune lake it varied in size from dry in summer, to five to seven hectares from April through January. The slope of the land meant water flowed away from the stopbank. More seriously, a large bridge was to be constructed at the site.

There would be nothing left of the dune lake or its wildlife inhabitants.

In the end there was no mention of the dune lake or pārera in the Board of Inquiry’s final report. We watched as the NZTA finally began excavating through this area in May 2015. It had been a dry autumn, and the dune lake was about a month late in returning. Three days into their work, however, a violent storm hit the coast with 120mm of rain falling through a 12-hour period. This nonwetland came back to full capacity overnight, submerging the land around it.

But it was too late. The birds had voted with their wings and not returned to this rare remnant ecosystem. Bulldozers carried on clearing and filling it in preparation for erecting a large overbridge. Little now remains of the dune lake and the rich birdlife it once supported. *About the author: Derek Schulz was formerly a member of the Forest & Bird Executive and the WhanganuiTaranaki Conservation Board. He is a writer working with the Midnight Collective. Their film, Death of a New Zealand Wetland, was shown for six weeks at the Mahara Gallery in Waikanae and subsequently at the Tivoli on Waiheke Island. They are preparing a full-length feature on this dune lake. Find out more: www.midnightcollective. blogspot.co.nz

2

3

4 1 The end of Raumati Beach lake.

2 Earthworks swamped after major storm May 2015.

3 Male pārera at the site.

4 Royal spoonbill were once regular visitors.

All photos: Midnight Collective.

Kapiti wetland restoration The MacKays to Peka Peka Expressway is a 18km fourlane road project upgrading State Highway 1, north of Wellington, at a cost of $630 million. Tagged to the Expressway is a huge wetland restoration project to mitigate the loss of freshwater habitats due to the road’s construction .

“Mitigation is provided for 1.8 hectares of wetlands affected by the Project. Approximately 5,000 metres of streams will be restored or re-established to mitigate approximately 2900 metres of stream that will be modified as a result of the Project. The Project will therefore result in a net gain in freshwater habitat quality across the Project area,” according to MacKays to Peka Peka Expressway: Assessment of Environmental Effects: Non-Technical Summary Last year NZTA awarded a $7m contract to a Kiwi company to undertake landscaping and planting on the Mackays to Peka Peka Expressway. Natural Habitats will plant more than one million indigenous, locally sourced plants across an area of about 140 hectares. The project is said to be the largest civil landscaping project ever undertaken in New Zealand.

“Every hectare of wetland that is lost or modified will be recreated to five times the size, ultimately resulting in 9.5 hectares of new or restored wetlands,” said NZTA’s Rod James, at the time the contract was announced.

Forest & Bird

| 19

Battle for our birds

Friends of Flora film to screen in New York

1

A short film that celebrates the wildlife of Kahurangi National Park is to screen at the Wilderness Conservation Film Festival in New York. Jenny Riches reports.

W

hio, tomtit, and kea are just some of the residents of Kahurangi National Park that feature in a film about volunteer conservation group Friends of Flora’s work to protect their habitat.

Friends of Flora founders, long-standing Forest & Bird members Maryann Ewers and Bill Rooke, hope the film will send an important message that protecting New Zealand’s native biodiversity is too important a task to be left to volunteers alone.

A prestigious film festival screening in New York this October is a long way from the project’s origins 15 years ago as an ‘experimental’ trapping project in the Flora Stream catchment that was set up in the wake of the great mast year of 1999-2000.

“The decline of birds in the Flora area was dramatic,” recalls Maryann. “Eastern Kahurangi is nearly 100 percent ancient beech forest and the abundance of seeds led to the number of pests swelling to plague proportions.

“With the Department of Conservation not having the resources to do any further conservation work, we decided a trapping programme would be better than nothing. It was an experiment, to see if trapping would work over such a vast area.”

The Friends of Flora film features stunning footage of rare birdlife and is testament to the success of their volunteer efforts. In 2012, Maryann and Bill were awarded a Forest & Bird ‘Old Blue’ award for their conservation efforts, including bringing back whio from one lone male to a breeding population.

Their story reached Austria-based filmmaker Owen Kilgour, through his father in Motueka. Owen was looking to document the work of a New Zealand community conservation group. In summer 2014, he spent three days filming in the national park.

“We never expected the film to evolve quite as it has.

We put Owen in touch with conservation filmmaker Rod Morris, who suggested narration by [actor and filmmaker] Peter Hayden,” says Maryann.

“Owen has done such a fabulous job and having Peter 20

| Forest & Bird

as the narrator is the icing on the cake.”

While the film celebrates volunteer-led conservation, the Friends of Flora team hopes it will also underscore the need for greater efforts to conserve wildlife – including regular 1080 drops. The project now covers over 8,000 hectares – an area too big for trapping efforts alone to be effective in protecting native species.

Having seen the damage wrought by the last beech mast year, the team says the Department of Conservation’s Battle for Our Birds 1080 drop has been vital for protecting the whio in the Flora catchment.

“Trapping within a small area can keep pest numbers down but not in an area this size. We really need the input and support of DOC and a regular 1080 drop to ensure we can continue to bring back a healthy ecosystem in the Flora/Mt Arthur Tablelands area of Kahurangi National Park,” adds Maryann.

You can view the Friends of Flora movie at: https://vimeo.com/107632657?hc_location=ufi 1 Kahurangi National Park is the star of the show.

2 Friends of Flora founders Maryann Ewers and Bill Rooke.

2

V R C 2015 nd and created ed the CRV to New Zeala In 1996 Honda introduc y with a bold CRV reclaims that legac 15 20 e Th . ss cla V SU the and 18�alloys. , enhanced design detail new look, added luxury LaneWatch ed technology including Combined with advanc ra, Touchscreen p Signal, Reverse Came Camera, Emergency Sto the lead.

CRV once again takes and Navigation, the new

2WD & 4WD

APROPOS 30440R

www.honda.co.nz

A climate for change

World off course

to prevent global warming As debate heats up ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, Claire Browning reports on New Zealand’s ‘underwhelming’ new targets.

A

recent report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) makes grim reading. The IEA is an independent expert body, which monitors and reports on the world’s energy outlook and has become increasingly assertive about climate and fossil fuels.

World leaders have, since 2010, agreed a 2°C global warming threshold is the line that must not be crossed. It is a political rather than a scientifically designated target. In fact many scientists and climate advocates think a 2°C rise is too risky and that 1.5°C should be the boundary that the world must not exceed.

But the world is off course to prevent 2°C of warming, as reported the IEA in June, because countries’ current national commitments to cut greenhouse gases are not enough. The IEA isn’t the first to say this – others have – but its analysis is important. Otherwise, as online commentator

22

| Forest & Bird

David Roberts wrote recently: “Humanity is in for some awful [stuff]” – and the news isn’t good for New Zealand’s fauna and forests.

New Zealand is facing sea level rise, erosion of coastal dunes, storm surges, drought, biodiversity loss impacts, and risks of more and different pests and weeds. We can expect rising pressure on human population and risks to the future for all our main cities, with some, such as south Dunedin, experiencing impacts now.

In addition to the many and devastating ways in which climate disruption will affect people’s lives, Forest & Bird is focused on making sure that the very significant impacts on biodiversity aren’t overlooked, and that our wildlife habitats are as resilient as they can be.

The urgency is extreme. Recent months have seen a number of major world developments, but at same time,

Every climate target New Zealand has set has been substantially missed, while emissions and projected emissions continue to rise. rather underwhelming ambition from the New Zealand government in the announcement of its target.

G7 leaders have agreed to decarbonise by the end of the century – too slowly – but nevertheless their agreement on the need and feasibility of doing so is a major step forward. Pope Francis’ recent 40,000 word encyclical to his billion spiritual followers, Laudato Si (“be praised”, from the Canticle of the Creatures), tackled not just climate change: it was a broader call for an ecological approach.

Meanwhile, our government offered a target of 11 percent cuts on 1990 emissions levels by 2030 – a backwards step. The same government had, in Copenhagen six years ago, promised 10-20 percent cuts by 2020.

Every target New Zealand has set has been substantially missed, while emissions and projected emissions continue to rise. In its submission on the target Forest & Bird was therefore less interested in the target itself. Rather we wanted to see urgency, action, and a focus on positive opportunities for New Zealand – not the costs.

All countries will need to decarbonise, and need to do so sooner rather than later. The IEA report, calling for global peak in emissions by 2020, backed five policies for doing so (which all need to happen immediately and simultaneously): ramping up renewables, cutting coal use, investing heavily in energy efficiency, cutting fossil fuel subsidies and quickly capping emissions of the hard-hitting but short-lived climate pollutant methane.

In our submission, we called on the New Zealand government to actively commit to decarbonising energy (100 percent renewable by 2050, including transport fuel, plus phasing out all coal by 2030) and maximising environmental carbon sinks (eg, trees, healthy oceans, soils). We suggested more focus on indigenous forestry/ land cover for carbon sinks, and strategies (such as pest and predator control) for sequestration.

Wren Green argued in 2014 that climate change resilience strategies could be a win-win for New Zealand biodiversity because some of the things we need to do as insurance for nature in a changing climate will also significantly enhance water quality, biodiversity and indigenous habitat.

It has been claimed that greater reductions would be ‘disastrous’ for New Zealand’s economy. But according to the government’s own analysis by consulting firm Infometrics, if a 40 percent target (compared to no target) by 2030 was set, it would cut annual GDP growth from 2.2 percent to 2.1 percent – just 0.1 percent.

This would seem a low price to pay compared with the loss of our natural heritage, and the huge costs of major disruptive weather and climate events on our economy and community.

People’s Climate March: 29 November 2015.

On this date, the biggest climate protest ever will be taking place in cities around the world, including Auckland.

New Zealand’s climate target too ‘weak’ Climate Change Issues Minister Tim Groser announced New Zealand’s new target is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. This target is equivalent to a reduction of 11 percent below our 1990 emission levels by 2030. But many experts have criticised the government’s new target (see below).

The government’s announcement comes ahead of an international agreement to be thrashed out at the United Nations Climate Change summit in Paris from 30 November to 12 December. The aim is to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate from all the nations of the world. Countries were asked to publicly outline what post-2020 climate actions they intend to undertake.

The Government held a public consultation on the targets in May. The majority (99 percent) of those who specified a target recommended New Zealand takes an ambitious target of 40 percent below 1990 by 2030 – or zero carbon by 2050, according to an analysis of the submissions.

Expert reaction to NZ targets “We need to be more ambitious and match the EU promise to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030.”

Dr Jim Salinger, climate scientist “I would describe this as ‘the minimum credible target.”

Dr Adrian Macey, Victoria University of Wellington, former NZ Climate Ambassador.

“Is this really ‘doing our fair share’ when to meet the internationally agreed target of keeping the temperature rise below 2°C requires around 40 percent global greenhouse gas reductions by 2030?”

Prof Ralph Sims, Massey University “This new target is as weak as previously announced ones and does not come close to what is required, if New Zealand is serious about keeping warming to less than 2°C.” Prof James Renwick, Victoria University of Wellington

We say Forest & Bird recently adopted a new strategic plan aimed at reducing New Zealand's greenhouse emissions by 70 percent by 2040 and for New Zealand to become carbon neutral. Without concerted national and global action on climate disruption the future looks bleak, but it’s not too late.

Nature can play a crucial role in New Zealand’s climate disruption response. We need an action plan backed up by strong targets to reduce emissions and make communities and nature more resilient to the impact of unavoidable climate disruption.

Forest & Bird

| 23

Biodiversity

Dr Seuss tree discovery Three years ago ecologist Melissa Hutchison discovered a bizarre little tree growing on Banks Peninsula. David Brooks finds out what happened next.

T

he Lorax was nowhere to be seen, but Dr Seuss can claim a little credit for the rediscovery of a rare tree that hadn’t been identified on Banks Peninsula for 170 years. Now more than three years later the future is looking more assured for Pittosporum obcordatum, or heart-leaved kōhūhū, in Canterbury.

The species is only known in isolated patches from Northland to Lake Manapouri in the south and is classified as nationally vulnerable. In the South Island, it is known to exist only in the Nelson region, the Catlins, Manapouri and – thanks to ecologist Melissa Hutchison – Banks Peninsula.

The discovery was a stroke of luck. Melissa was on the peninsula in February 2012 working for Wildlands Consultants on an ecological survey for the Christchurch City Council when she saw a tree shaped like the truffula tree in The Lorax, a conservation story for children by Dr Seuss.

“The only reason I discovered it was because of one individual tree that looked so bizarre,” Melissa says. “I’m quite keen on photography, so I stomped up the hill out of my way just because I thought the funny Dr Seuss-shaped tree would make a cool photo with the sea in the background. If it hadn’t been for that one particular tree, I think it could have been undiscovered for another 170 years.”

The tree stood on an exposed ridge on a farmer’s property in the Okains Bay area. “It’s been completely wind-blasted. It’s hanging on rather than thriving, I’d say.”

Typically, Pittosporum obcordatum has a tall narrow shape, particularly the younger examples, and the tangled branches and small leaves are similar to a number of other New Zealand species, especially weeping matipo (Myrsine divaricata). If it is flowering, the pittosporum is easy to identify. Otherwise the main difference is the distinctive veins on the underside of the leaves, Melissa says.

Melissa studied the tree, under DOC’s now discontinued Biodiversity Advice Fund, finding another 65 plants in the surrounding area, the tallest reaching 5.5 metres.

Last November, she found another in a valley on the opposite side of the hill.

The species was first classified by Frenchman Étienne Raoul, a French naval surgeon and botanist who spent two and a half years in Akaroa from August 1840. In the following 170 years, there were no further reports of it on Banks Peninsula, despite searches by botanists.

Many believed heart-leaved kōhūhū had quietly disappeared from the peninsula. But, thanks to Melissa’s discovery, it is now being propagated at DOC’s Motukarara nursery, and 16 juveniles were planted in October last year at a site on Queen Elizabeth II National Trust-covenanted land owned by local farmer, Murray Thacker, a long-time Forest & Bird member.

The trial planting was kept small in case the site didn’t prove suitable. They were left alone over summer and, despite a drought, 13 were still growing when they were inspected in early June.

Melissa hopes heartleaved kōhūhū will one day be a more common sight around Canterbury and has planted a number of them on her own land on the Port Hills in Christchurch. “They’re great garden plants because they don’t get very big,” she added.

I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees.

I speak for the trees for the trees have no tongues.

Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

24

| Forest & Bird

Ecologist Melissa Hutchsion with her ‘truffula’ tree.

Freshwater

Speaking up

for the humble estuary

1

Why aren’t estuaries covered by existing freshwater protections? Amelia Geary, Forest & Bird campaign manager for freshwater, argues they should be.

The Manawatū estuary used to be teeming with shellfish and birds, a place filled with people fishing and gathering kai/food. Robin Hapi, Chairman of the Save Our River Trust based in Foxton, grew up on the shores of the estuary at a time when one could fill a basket with pipis without trouble.

“This is no longer the case,” he says, “Now you have to know where to look.”

The Manawatū estuary is of international significance, a Ramsar site with 98 different bird species recorded living there. Just upstream at Whirokino is the largest known inanga/whitebait spawning ground in the country.

“There used to be wharves on the Manawatū River at Foxton, flax was harvested from the swamps and exported by the tonne. Those swamps are now farms. I can remember swimming in the river as a boy. You can’t do that now at Foxton, it’s full of silt,” says Robin.

In 1943, a cut was made at Whirokino as a flood protection measure. However, an unexpected flood saw the Manawatū River make a complete diversion. Now the part of the river at Foxton, known as the Foxton Loop, is a silted-up shadow of its former glory.

Estuaries are defined as ‘coastal water’ in the Resource Management Act even though they are actually part of the wide lower course of a freshwater river, where the river’s current is met by saltwater tides.

Estuaries are currently protected under the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement. But the statement does not (by definition) protect estuaries from the sediment and pollutants arriving from the freshwater catchment upstream. These are caused by unsustainable land use practices many kilometres inland.

Estuaries are in the brackish area of environmental policy and are currently missing from 2014 National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS). But Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Jan Wright, says they should be included.

“Estuaries are not currently covered by the policy, although they are particularly vulnerable because of their location at the bottom of catchments,” she said in June, following the publication of her latest critique of the NPS.

“Estuaries are home to many shellfish, wading birds and juvenile fish like snapper, eels and whitebait, and should not be ignored. The Government’s review of its water quality policy next year is an opportunity to ensure that it will actually lead to better water quality in our rivers and streams, our lakes and estuaries and groundwater.”

Forest & Bird agrees. We would like to see meaningful bottom lines for freshwater management. The current bottom line of 6.9 mg/l of nitrate means that over 99 percent of our rivers ‘meet’ the standard.

It is hard to understand how every summer warning signs go up to not swim or walk your dog – yet, according to the current regulations, water quality is just fine.

We believe it is critical the government includes estuaries in the NPS when it reviews the policy next year.

We would also like to see a strengthening of the framework through which the NPS is implemented.

Both measures are vital and will improve freshwater protection in this country. If groups like Forest & Bird and Save Our River Trust are to make a difference, we need strong freshwater policy to support our efforts – or they will ultimately prove futile.

2

3

1 Manawatū estuary is an estuary of international significance.

Photo: Amelia Geary

2 Godwits at Manawatū Estuary.

3 Foxton Loop is a silted-up shadow of its former glory. Photo:

Amelia Geary

Forest & Bird

| 25

Marine

Tackling

SEABIRD BYCATCH

1

Forest & Bird’s new Seabird Liaison Officer Emma Cronin explains her project working with recreational fishers.

N

ew Zealand’s sea birds are under siege from decades of loss of habitat and predation. But their most prevalent threat is now accidental bycatch from fishing. While it is often commercial fishers who get criticised regarding fish stocks and unsustainable fishing methods, recreational fishers also have a role to play in minimising their impact when it comes to seabird bycatch.

Can recreational fishers really be causing much of an impact? We don’t really know the answer to this, but it is likely given the sport’s huge popularity. Sport and Recreation New Zealand estimates 16 percent of the adult population go saltwater fishing at some point during the year. In the north-east of New Zealand alone (between Sulphur Point, Bay of Plenty and Waitangi, Northland), 4.8 million fisher hours of line fishing from trailer boats occurred during 2004-5, resulting in 11,500 bird interactions – tangled or hooked (Abraham et al. 2010).

Interactions with seabirds when recreational fishing is common. Seabirds have far advanced means of knowing where the fish are, and can be good indicators to observant fishers of where to find fish. Of 654 fishers interviewed in the Abraham study, 47 percent had witnessed a seabird being caught at some stage in the past. Of the seabird species tangled or hooked by recreational fishers, 75 percent were either petrels (sooty shearwaters and ‘muttonbirds’) or gulls (black backed, red billed and others) and the remainder were albatrosses, shags, gannets, penguins and terns. About 77 percent of the birds were apparently released unharmed.

An estimated 15,000 birds are thought to die per year by commercial trawl, longline and set-net fisheries within New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (Richard & Abraham, 2013). The fate of the 77 percent of ‘unharmed’ birds released by recreational fishers is largely unknown, although the Rena oil spill, in the Bay of Plenty, may shed some light.

Research showed that 32 percent of unoiled birds that died (2,000 birds identified) had done so through starvation or fishing-related injuries. These included 64 flesh-footed shearwaters that were in good body condition and were likely to have died as a result of interactions

26

| Forest & Bird

with recreational fishers, and some sooty shearwaters and Bullers shearwaters (Miskelly et al. 2012).

While hooks used by amateur fishers were found in all three species, birds more commonly died from trauma associated with injuries inflicted when birds were removed from fishing hooks, such as broken wings, crushed skulls and stab wounds (Tennyson et al, 2011).

Research to date focuses on trailer boat fishers. However an enormous proportion of our population, particularly within the Hauraki Gulf, fish from the shore using lines or nets and never get the opportunity to get ‘out on the water’. These fishers may also potentially impact our seabird populations.

Safe Seabird Release Helpful Hints Approach birds from behind where possible.

Protect your eyes when handling birds.

Never cover bird’s nostrils.

Make sure the bills are not twisted when you hold the beak.

Keep a towel, net, and pliers on board.

Release Kit

Emergency Hotline 0800DOCHOT or 0800362468.

1

Use a landing net to lift the bird on board.

4

Hold large birds’ beaks shut, careful of nostrils.

7

If hook is swallowed cut as close to entry as possible.

2

Hold small birds between fingers behind the neck.

5

Use pliers to flatten the barb.

8

If bird is exhausted or waterlogged place in loosely covered box to recover.

3

Wrap medium sized birds in towels and cover eyes if possible.

6

Pull the hook back out of the beak.

9

Release healthy bird onto the water.

DESIGNED BY

AD

ALEX DOWNEY DESIGN

Commercial fishers update Commercial fishers are coming under increasing pressure to comply with regulations and voluntary codes in order to operate their business. This includes interactions with seabirds that can result in birds being killed as a consequence of fishing methods.

Most commercial fisheries in New Zealand are required to use a mix of voluntary and regulated mitigation measures to reduce the likelihood of accidental seabird bycatch. Methods include tori (bird scaring lines), weighted lines to sink the hooks rapidly beneath the surface and night setting of lines.

Despite these mitigating measures, commercial fishing remains a major cause of death, with around 19 seabird species at risk just from commercial fishing in New Zealand. They are also vulnerable to commercial fishers, recreational fishers and international fishing fleets once they leave our territorial waters to breed.

Forest & Bird’s seabird advocate Karen Baird is working to protect our seabirds and represents the society on a multitude of seabird forums both nationally and internationally.

The National Plan of Action for Seabirds (NPAS) was reviewed in 2013 and puts in place a strategic approach to reduce bycatch to negligible levels where possible.

Karen is on the Seabird Advisory Group helping to monitor the effectiveness of the national plan. She also sits on technical advisory groups that do research on seabird bycatch and report to the Department of Conservation and Ministry for Primary Industries.

Internationally Karen is working with the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission to provide scientific input and advice on risks to seabirds and requirements to mitigate these impacts (funded through BirdLife International).

See how Karen is helping to protect ocean biodiversity in the Pacific on p36.

2

What is Forest & Bird doing?

Emma Cronin has been appointed Forest & Bird’s Seabird Liaison Officer, Recreational Fisheries, to gain a greater understanding of the interactions of recreational fishers with seabirds.

Her role includes providing information to fishers to influence changes in fishing behaviours that will minimise/reduce harmful seabird interactions. Her work will focus on the Hauraki Gulf and lower Northland region, the most popular recreational fishing area in New Zealand.

Forest & Bird also participates in numerous forums associated with the Southern Seabirds Solutions, providing an independent viewpoint to contribute to progressing seabird protection.

Southern Seabirds Solutions is a New Zealandbased trust that works with professional skippers, crew and recreational anglers to reduce harm to seabirds through fishing. The trust includes representatives from the seafood industry, New Zealand government, WWF New Zealand, Te Ohu Kaimoana and recreational anglers.

Emma is interested in finding out about your experiences interacting with seabirds when fishing. If you have a story to share or would like her to give a talk at your branch or local school, she would love to hear from you, contact Emma via e.cronin@forestandbird.org.nz.

3 1 Flesh-footed shearwater. Photo: Karen Baird 2 Recreational fishers can help reduce seabird bycatch. Photo:

Wave Dancer Charters

3 Fluttering shearwaters found dead in a set net Hauraki Gulf.

Forest & Bird

| 27

Pest-free New Zealand

Thinking big in

Golden Bay

1

Project Mohua is a new partnership between two Forest & Bird projects and other volunteer conservation groups in Golden Bay. The aim is to create a mainly predator and pest-free mainland island linking Kahurangi and Abel Tasman, as Chris Rowse explains.

M

ohua is the Māori word for Golden Bay and also the yellowhead bird, which was once common in the area until about 60 years ago. Project Mohua is the coming together of different conservation groups – weedbusting (Project De-Vine), riparian planting (StreamCare) and many trapping, bird monitoring and habitat enhancement groups.

We have some pretty big plans for the future to create a mainland mainly pest-free island between two nationally significant national parks. We hope this will allow the mohua to return to live in Golden Bay following its release and establishment in Abel Tasman and/or Kahurangi National Park.

Golden Bay is bordered by the Abel Tasman National Park, the Kahurangi National Park, Farewell Spit and the sea.

The small population of 4,000 plus residents lives mostly on farmland along river valleys and a narrow coastal margin ringed by mountains. More than 70 percent of Golden Bay is within the Department of Conservation estate.

The natural landscape dominates throughout. The people are very community-minded and, for the most part,

2 28

| Forest & Bird

very caring of the environment. No region in New Zealand is better designed for a successful project to improve water quality, reduce weed and pest incursions, and enhance its natural character. We do not need predator-proof fences as the fences are those of the two national parks.

I am manager of Project De-Vine, which started in 2010 as a neighbourhood weedbusting project in response to the local problem of removing pest vine infestations.

Project De-Vine is a not-for-profit group under the umbrella of Forest & Bird, and we have benefitted massively from its local support, insurance, financial administration and logistics support from head office. To date we have manually removed over 130,000 banana passion vines and 11,000 old man’s beard from Golden Bay. Over the past two years our work has expanded hugely, and a pilot scheme has been launched to actively control pest plants on farms (see panel).

We work closely with StreamCare, a Forest & Bird project that was started to provide native plants to farmers for riparian planting. It has been running in western Golden Bay for eight years and planted 35,000 trees so far and is at capacity. This planting aims to have an impact on sediments and improve water quality coming down the Aorere River, helping mussel farms in the bay. A second nursery, StreamCare East has expanded (with local marine farmers’ support) to provide native species for planting in the Takaka and Motupipi River catchment areas.

Project De-Vine, trapping groups and StreamCare have a long-term plan to work towards a mainly predator- and pest-free mainland island of great proportions here in Golden Bay. This can be done through the cooperation of community groups and volunteers, the Department of Conservation and private philanthropic societies.

Project Mohua is the umbrella that unites these varied partners and programmes into a whole. The Project Mohua Forum, which was set up earlier this year, aims to meet a few times a year to set out plans and discuss on-going issues. Project Mohua needs long-term sponsorship to achieve its ambitious goals, and we are working towards raising funds for the project.

To find out more see: www.projectmohua.org.nz.

Mohua photo: James Reardon, DOC.

Project first for Fonterra Project De-Vine has formed a coalition with funding from Fonterra and Project Janszoon to carry out assessments on farms of the pest vines, old man’s beard and banana passion vine, and, if agreed by the farmers, other invasive pest plants.

It will be available to all 102 Fonterra supply farms, throughout Golden Bay and to other farms and lifestyle blocks along the boundary of Abel Tasman National Park. The aim is to help create a pest-vinefree buffer zone. Project De-Vine has received one year’s funding ($86,000) from Lotteries and will be offering subsidised pest vine control work to many farms as a follow up from the assessments.

This farm package has been 18 months in the planning phase and is supported by Federated Farmers – Golden Bay branch. Fonterra has agreed to all its supply farms completing riparian planting by 2030. Our programme of subsidised planting with pest vine management in the same package is a national first for Fonterra and can be modelled elsewhere.

3 1 Panorama of Golden Bay showing size and scale of planned

pest-free mainland island. Photo: Chris Rowse

2 Coastline showing dead banana passion vine among

healthy trees. Photo: Chris Rowse

3 Author and manager of Project De-Vine Chris Rowse with

one of the pest vines being targeted – climbing asparagus.

4 Red banana passionfruit vine flower alternative to invasive

4

Red banana passionfruit trial Banana passion vines were introduced in to New Zealand in the 1940s, and various attempts were made to grow them commercially for their fruit. They are very vigorous and hard to control. The seeds are easily spread by possums, rats and birds, where they will establish in almost any soil and some shade. This invasive vine is found around much of New Zealand, and is banned from sale, propagation and distribution.

With many people still wanting to eat the fruit, our team has been looking for alternatives to this rampant, easy to kill, but hard-to-control plant. There is another option, sometimes referred to as the red banana passionfruit (Passiflora antioquiensis), which is closely related to the banana passion vine, but with no reports of it spreading. It has stunning rose pink to red pendulous flowers, which are followed by long ovoid yellow fruit, considered by some to be the best flavoured of all the passionfruit species.

Project De-Vine is working with the local branch of Federated Farmers and Fonterra staff in Golden Bay, who have purchased three dozen of these plants to give out to green fingered growers. The intention is that, when they fruit, we will organise a taste-in on the Takaka village green to try out this special fruit. Golden Bay Flowers and Garden is also selling them in Takaka.

It is hoped that this red version of the fruit will become popular and supersede the pest version.

variety. Photo: Incredible Edibles

Forest & Bird

| 29

Community conservation

The Shoal Bay story

1

North Shore Forest & Bird member Philip Moll explains why his branch is working hard to protect Shoal Bay – a fragile shorebird haven next to one of the nation’s busiest motorways.

Shoal Bay contains fine examples of shell barrier beaches, a rare ecosystem with few other examples in the world. With its sandbars, intertidal mud flats, mangrove and saltmarsh areas, Shoal Bay is a mini version of the Miranda Shorebird Centre coastline across the water from Thames.

You may well have passed Shoal Bay in your car – it is the area of water that you see on your right when travelling north on SH1 having just crossed Auckland’s Harbour Bridge. It’s between the motorway and the Devonport peninsula.

Despite its unprepossessing location, Shoal Bay birdlife is of considerable interest. The Department of Conservation Site of Special Wildlife Interest (SSWI) designation was partly because of the particular importance of the bay to five specific species of birds – Caspian tern, northern New Zealand dotterel, banded dotterel, reef heron, and wrybill.

Bar-tailed godwits feed in the Shoal Bay estuary during their season in New Zealand, building up condition before they migrate through China to Alaska in March. These birds stop over to feed in estuaries on the Asian coast before continuing to Alaska to breed. They then find their way back to New Zealand, a round trip of between 20,000 and 30,000km and the cycle starts again.

Recently a large number of endemic wrybill have been seen in the bay. They fly up from the braided rivers of the South Island to spend the winter in the Auckland estuaries to feed. There are only 5,500 left in the world and their numbers are falling. They are only found in New Zealand. We have them on our doorstep. South Island pied oystercatchers also visit from the South Island.

Birds feed in the Shoal Bay estuary at low tide and then use the shell banks to rest at high tide. They also roost – rest up in flocks – on the shell banks after breeding. The shell banks are used for nesting for some species. So you can see the ecological importance of the shell banks in the bay especially at high tide.

We have concerns about people using these shell banks and scaring the birds away. This has happened on other East Coast beaches, such as Cheltenham. Dogs are supposed to be kept on leash on some shell bars of Shoal Bay, but many owners flout this bylaw. There is currently a proposal to stop dogs entering the estuary and shell banks to protect the birds.

As the Auckland population expands, there are ongoing threats to this fragile and valuable ecosystem. Forest & Bird's North Shore branch has been working for many years to protect Shoal Bay. We will continue to make sure the significant natural values of this special shell beach are not forgotten.

1 Shoal Bay shell barrier beach.

2 Northern New Zealand dotterel.

2

30

| Forest & Bird

3 Wrybills on the beach.

3

All photos: Philip Moll

Forest & Bird AGM

A vision for the future What motivates Forest & Bird members to dedicate their lives to conservation?

Mélissa Irace finds out by talking to this year’s award winners.

CRAIG MCKENZIE Old Blue Award

JULIE MCLINTOCK Old Blue Award

ROD BROWN Old Blue Award

Craig McKenzie was honoured for his contribution in raising the profile and image of Forest & Bird through his incredible photography.

Craig has freely given Forest & Bird access to his world-class photos for use in this magazine.

This has helped lift the image of Forest & Bird to an extremely professional level and given great pleasure to everyone who sees them.

Julie McLintock was honoured for her exceptional contribution to Forest & Bird in Nelson over a period of more than 30 years, including helping with everything from weeding, trapping and planting to organising branch trips, market stalls, festivals and show days.

Julie also played a key handson role in a number of initiatives including Paremata Flats – once used for grazing and now flourishing with birdlife such as the rare South Island fernbird/mātātā and banded rail/ moho-pererū.

Rod Brown was honoured for his contribution to restoration in the Bay of Islands. Rod established the Kerikeri Shadehouse Volunteers in 2000, a centre for native plant propagation. Since then, nearly a quarter of a million trees have been grown from eco-sourced seed. Some of this seed has been used to help restore five islands, with the remainder being distributed to other community-led habitat restoration projects throughout Northland.

What are you most proud of?

I am old enough to have collected stamps as a child and remember when the daily postal delivery was an essential service. So I was very pleased to have one of my photographs (black-billed gull) featured on a New Zealand Post stamp. It formed part of the endangered seabird series in 2013. I think this was due to a referral from someone at Forest & Bird.

What motivates you?

Photography is a good motivation for me to get out and enjoy our natural heritage. If the resulting photographs can help to preserve this heritage for future generations to enjoy, so much the better.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if….. the vision for a pest-free New Zealand became a reality.

32

| Forest & Bird

What are you most proud of?

The project at Paremata Flats – a remnant of a lowland coastal forest. It started out with just me trapping and now there are so many volunteers and such abundant birdlife like fernbirds and banded rails.

What motivates you?

All the wonderful feedback from our members makes all my efforts so worthwhile. They send such lovely emails after our events that it is really encouraging.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if….. we had a government who was more sympathetic to conservation and realised that dairy farming and freshwater do not mix.

What are you most proud of?

Contributing to the increased numbers of volunteers interested and involved in conservation in the Bay of Islands and Northland. It’s a great feeling to have organised a community-led initiative that government organisations are now keen to fund and help.

I’m also proud to have helped recover habitats on the offshore islands that were decimated by 800 years of human habitation.

What motivates you?

Organising and galvanising a community of dedicated and passionate volunteers is very motivating. Also turning around the adverse affects of what us humans have done to the environment.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if.... the entire Bay of Islands was pest-free, moth-plant-free, and ginger-free – and we had a marine reserve.

SYLVIA JENKIN Old Blue Award

FRASER ROSS Distinguished Life Member

Sylvia Jenkin was honoured for her contribution to the Maara Roa restoration project. Her visionary aims, political savvy, drive and tenacity have led to huge wins for a project that aims to create an ecological ‘bush corridor’ from Cannons Creek Valley to Petone. As an outstanding advocate for conservation she has also made a strong contribution to the Greening Wellington project.

Fraser Ross has contributed more than 40 years of his life to conservation. His quiet determination, extensive field knowledge, sharp analysis, hard work and wisdom have inspired many. Over the years, he has advocated on conservation issues to government ministers and agencies, made submissions, sought to stop the conversion of indigenous west coast forest to plantation pine and established new national parks.

Fraser has also used his expert botanical skills to undertake field inspections in the South Island high country and has submitted a number of tenure review proposals for the region. The scale of the contribution Fraser has made to conservation is the reason why he was awarded life membership of Forest & Bird.

What are you most proud of?

The Maara Roa project and the way nature has come on board and responded to our efforts. We can see the trees that we planted – now so big and feeding birds from the seeds they are growing.

What motivates you?

I am a Christian and therefore a steward of God’s earth, so this is fundamentally my motivation.

What are you most proud of?

The Save Manapouri campaign in the1970s, getting all that public support was amazing. The campaign made a deep impression on me, and it has lasted to this day as one of Forest & Bird’s greatest conservation efforts and successes.

What motivates you?

Life around us, particularly here in New Zealand, is amazing. We just need to look after it.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if….. all our special areas – bush, waterways, oceans – were protected, particularly the iconic stands of cabbage trees that are so special but disappearing in Canterbury.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if….. the vision for this corridor that connects two harbours and provides a green corridor between three cities – Hutt Valley, Porirua and Wellington – is realised.

Did you know?

Old Blue awards are named after the Chatham Islands black robin called Old Blue who helped save her species from extinction during the early 1980s.

They represent the highest honour awarded by Forest & Bird.

They are presented only to a handful of members each year who have made outstanding contributions to Forest & Bird and to conservation.

Forest & Bird

| 33

Forest & Bird AGM

Changes at the helm The Forest & Bird AGM saw two long-serving and highly respected board members step down. David Brooks speaks to Ines Stäger and Jon Wenham.

President Andrew Cutler has praised the contributions of long-serving Forest & Bird Board members Ines Stäger and Jon Wenham after they stepped down at June’s Annual General Meeting.

“There is great respect for Ines and Jon among Board members and the wider membership, and they brought wisdom and sound advice to our discussions. We’ll miss them, but I know they’ll keep in touch and I hope they’ll remain part of the wider leadership of the organisation for many years to come,” Andrew said.

Jon is leaving behind a long-term legacy in the Ruapehu Lodge as he steps aside after seven years. When the old Forest & Bird lodge at Whakapapa Village burned down in October 2008, Jon had been on the Board for just a few months, but he immediately snapped into action to oversee the design, construction and fit-out of its far superior replacement. He devoted countless hours up to the opening of the new lodge in October 2010 and in the years since.

“During construction from Easter through to July 2010, I was going to Ruapehu every week and sometimes camped for a night or two down there with site meetings every Wednesday. It wasn’t easy as I was still running a business,” Jon says.

His departure from the Board brings no real let-up in a busy schedule, which includes continuing as Forest & Bird trustee on New Zealand Landcare Trust and a range of

conservation projects in the Waikato area. These include protection of kōkako in original native forest at Mokaihaha, and surveying bird life at Raglan, as well as photographic and promotional work for Waikato branch.

Ines departs the Board after five years, but there will be no slackening of her commitment to Forest & Bird and to conservation. “Now we have our governance sorted out, I need to be an activist again,” she says.

“It’s good to have some changes on the Board and I feel five years is a good time to have put into it. I think we have made positive changes in the last five years and hopefully Forest & Bird will continue to grow stronger.”

Ines will remain active in the South Canterbury branch and continue her close interest in water issues and biodiversity protection in Canterbury and climate disruption, which she is pleased to see Forest & Bird has focused on as a priority.

A passion for land and sea Welcome to new board members Marc Slade and Karen Field When Marc Slade (Wellington branch) moved to New Zealand 11 years ago he fell in love with New Zealand’s flora and fauna, especially native trees. Following this passion he became involved in the Wellington branch, soon being co-opted onto the committee and becoming Chair, where he helped set up the Places for Penguins Project. He then got paid employment working in conservation – with Wellington Council, WWF New Zealand and then DOC. He also studied ecological restoration at Victoria University. Marc now runs his own consultancy business. As a counter to his sedentary working life, Marc volunteers as a trapper with the Rimutaka Forest Park Trust, and set up his own community conservation project at Polhill adjacent to Zealandia eco-sanctuary.

34

| Forest & Bird

Karen Field (Far North branch) has been in love with marine life ever since she was given her first mask and snorkel. Feeling like Jacques Cousteau as she swam among the sprats at her local reef, she was determined to save the seas when she grew up. This led to a degree in marine ecology, work at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) on marine reserves, and then with MAF/ NIWA on orange roughy stock assessment. Recently having moved to Russell, in the Bay of Islands, she is enjoying weka wandering in her backyard, and has joined a local wetland restoration group that aims to reduce sediment flows into the Bay of Islands. Saving the sea is a work in progress!

Guiding light for nature Forest & Bird’s first Te Kaiārahi Rangatahi o te Taiao award winner Guy McDonald talks to Tiff Stewart about his love of conservation.

Forest & Bird’s new conservation award means ‘young leader (or guiding light) of the natural world’ and this description is spot-on for the first winner of this award Guy McDonald, 17, from Timaru.

Guy’s interest in nature was sparked from a young age by the trips run by the South Canterbury branch of the Kiwi Conservation Club (KCC). He recalls one trip where KCC members went to count katipō spider numbers at a beach north of Timaru for a DOC monitoring project.

The group were treated to an unexpected find – a whale carcass on the beach, which of course provided fodder for a spontaneous and memorable extension to the day’s exploration.

At 12, Guy’s interest in invertebrates saw him breeding native mantises to give to friends and family – perfect for aphid control. As his understanding of the natural world grew, Guy’s interests have expanded to include lizards, birds and all things native.

A natural progression now sees Guy focused on protecting the native animals and places he loves. He has spent the last few years assisting his local Forest & Bird branch with weed eradication at Kakahu Bush. Here, his youth, fitness and enthusiasm have made him invaluable, being able to climb and wriggle to those hard-to-reach places to see to that darned last bit of Darwin’s barberry.

As well as weed control, Guy has become a keen trapper, cycling up to 15km several times a week to run his trap-lines.

Guy’s interest in pest eradication is very strong. On a recent Timaru Boys High School tramping trip to Rakiura/ Stewart Island, Guy found an old possum trap under a bunk in one of the huts. Dragging it out, he fixed it up, baited it with some dehydrated food, and now, as a result, Stewart Island has one less possum.

As the name of the award implies, Guy also inspires others to follow his example. His 12-year old neighbour Isaac Bird regularly accompanies him on pest-busting trips, acquiring conservation skills and knowledge.

Guy’ parents, Julie and Callum, and two siblings are supportive but are not themselves active conservationists.

So this award truly is a tribute to the power of KCC and Forest & Bird to grow conservation leaders – from the initial inspiration provided by KCC Coordinator Win Parkes and the fantastic trips she runs, to the support, guidance and transport provided by many South Canterbury Forest & Bird members.

Guy’s ultimate dream is to help create a predator-free Stewart Island. Winning our Te Kaiārahi Rangatahi o te Taiao award will support him to follow this dream because the main component of the prize is experiential. This began the day after the AGM award ceremony with a guided tour of pest-free Matiu/Somes Island from DOC ranger Emma

Guy McDonald at Matiu/Somes Island after receiving his award.

Dunning. And over summer, we’ll send him to Codfish Island/Whenua Hou to experience predator eradication in action! The final component of his prize was a tramping pack from Kiwi Camping, which should prove useful on his future conservation adventures.

Happily for the future of conservation in New Zealand, it looks like Guy is a kaiārahi rangatahi (young leader) who is well on the way to equipping himself with the knowledge, skills and passion to achieve any goals he chooses.

For no pests go to www.nopests.co.nz

Eradicate rabbits, rats, possums and more.

Forest & Bird

| 35

Birdlife International

Building a

Pacific Ocean alliance The newly set up Pacific Ocean Alliance is working to protect the region from unsustainable marine development, as Karen Baird explains.

E

arlier this year I travelled to Fiji, which is one of my favourite holiday destinations, although this time I was on a working trip. I was invited to represent BirdLife International (Pacific Region) at the inaugural meeting of the Pacific Ocean Alliance – part of international efforts to protect the region’s oceanscape.

The Pacific Ocean Alliance (POA) was established by the Pacific Islands Forum (New Zealand is one of the 11 members) under the 2010 Framework of the Pacific Oceanscape. The framework aims to “ensure in perpetuity the health and wellbeing of our oceans and ourselves”.

The Alliance is the next step to strengthen coordination and partnership between the many different international stakeholders. The focus is on the sustainable development, management and conservation of the Pacific Ocean and its resources.

The POA’s first meeting, which took place in May, was organised to develop advice for the new Pacific Ocean Commissioner and Forum Secretary General Dame Meg Taylor. Despite difficulties getting to my destination (plane cancellations), I was warmly welcomed by Don Stewart, the BirdLife Pacific Secretariat Director based in Fiji, and his wife Daisy at their lovely home overlooking Suva.

36

| Forest & Bird

Entitled High Hopes for High Seas, the focus of this first three-day meeting and conference was implementing the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in relation to the sustainable development of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) in the Pacific (high seas).

Attendees included representatives from the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, including Mike Donoghue (an ex-colleague from DOC who is now its Threatened and Migratory Species Adviser). Also in attendance were the Forum Fisheries Agency, Conservation International (they have an office in Auckland and their Pacific Marine Director Sue Taei was there with Olive Andrews, a humpback whale expert), the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, the United Nations, UNESCO, Wildlife Conservation Society, World Bank, International Seabed Authority, Regional Fisheries Management Organisations; University of South Pacific, plus government representatives of most Pacific Island countries.

The NGO and IGO community was well represented with Duncan Currie from the High Seas Alliance, Pew Charitable Trusts and Alistair McFarlane from the International Coalition of Fisheries Associations.

Although the meeting focused on the high seas, discussion ranged across the oceanscape. Talks covered

1

a range of topics starting with background to UNCLOS, moving to the economic and environmental values of the ABNJ, including deep sea mining and marine genetic resources. Finally we covered Environmental Impact Assessments and area-based ocean management.

For anyone especially interested in the topics many of the presentations are available on the web site http:// www.forumsec.org/pages.cfm/strategic-partnershipscoordination/pacific-oceanscape/pacific-ocean-alliance/ pacific-ocean-alliance-meeting-1.html

Deep sea mining in the Pacific Deep sea mining is a significant threat to marine biodiversity in the Pacific (and beyond), but many Pacific Island countries are looking with great interest at the potential for wealth generation. Some countries are well advanced – Papua New Guinea will be the first to begin actual mining operations starting soon, while the Cook Islands government has legislation in place and will be accepting applications from October to December this year for manganese nodule mining.

Our BirdLife International Partner in the Cook Islands – Te Ipukarea Society – has been working hard to raise awareness about deep sea mining and has developed resources such as a brochure on its environmental impacts, see http://tiscookislands.org Marine genetic resources (bioprospecting) has great potential and is far less invasive than deep sea mining – often just small samples are taken and products are developed without having to return to the source.

Conservationists in Papua New Guinea are campaigning to stop experimental seabed mining in the Pacific.

2

Operation Restoration Birdlife International and its Pacific partners have just completed an ambitious conservation operation on six remote islands in the Tuamotu and Gambier archipelagos of French Polynesia. The project makes an unprecedented contribution to saving one of the world’s rarest birds and a number of other endangered species from extinction.

The critically endangered Polynesian ground-dove (Alopecoenas erythropterus), locally known as the tutururu, is one of the world’s rarest birds. Found on just five small atolls in French Polynesia, there are only about 150 of them left in the world. Thanks to this project, the safe habitat now available to the tutururu has more than doubled.

“Rarely do we get the chance to have such a big impact in the conservation of birds and other island biodiversity with just one project. “The continued support and enthusiasm of the local people and government of French Polynesia are absolutely crucial to the eventual success of this project,” said Don Stewart, Director of BirdLife Pacific.

Even though the six islands are in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, over 1500km from Tahiti, their isolation has not protected them from the arrival of humans and invasive predators such as rats.

The expert BirdLife International team – along with SOP MANU (BirdLife’s partner in French Polynesia) and Island Conservation – worked on the first stage of the project, which was completed in July. Additional technical assistance came from New Zealand’s Department of Conservation.

BirdLife International has already restored more than 30 Pacific islands. Read more at www.birdlife.org *Forest & Bird is a member of BirdLife International and its representative in New Zealand.

3 1 Fiji’s Pacific Ocean is home to tropical fish and colourful coral 2 Landing supplies on a remote Pacific island in French

Polynesia. Photo: Birdlife International

3 The critically endangered tutururu (Polynesian ground-dove)

Forest & Bird

| 37

Forest & Bird Reserve

A lasting legacy

1

A farmer’s deathbed bequest led to the establishment of Bushy Park, a 100-hectare predator-free bird sanctuary near Whanganui, as Jo Priestley finds out.

G

F Moore was a lover of New Zealand flora and fauna, and he dreamed of creating a forest sanctuary for public pleasure. When the Whanganui farmer died in 1962, he donated the forest, homestead and surrounding land to the Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society of New Zealand.

Since taking on the responsibility of caring for the estate and building on GF Moore’s dream, Forest & Bird, and latterly the Bushy Park Trust, have worked hard and effectively to establish a mainland island surrounded by a predator-proof fence enabling the re-introduction of other birdlife such as north island robins, kiwi and hihi. Today Bushy Park’s lowland rainforest is highly valued for biodiversity conservation, and is one of the largest protected natural areas in the Manawatū Plains Ecological District.

With rimu, northern rata, kahikatea, tawa, pukatea, hinau, and miro, and 2 more than 160 indigenous 38

| Forest & Bird

vascular plants recorded, it is a truly majestic place.

Until the early 1960s the land was owned by GF (Frank) Moore, a prominent local farmer and thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder. He died without any direct heirs, leading to his amazing bequest to Forest & Bird.

Since then his gift and vision have brought joy to many generations of local families.

When Bushy Park’s predator-proof fence was officially ‘opened’ in 1995 (celebrated by the fence being finished), Executive Committee Chairman Allan Anderson said in his speech: “What we see today is an expression of a pioneer’s foresight and dream, a Society’s determination to preserve a remnant of a pre-European New Zealand, a band of volunteers even more determined to honour that vision, the knowledge and expertise …..of DOC, and, finally the generosity and goodwill of so many people to bring this together in what surely must be one of the finest examples of a ‘mainland island’ sanctuary.”

Chairperson of Bushy Park Trust, which now runs the sanctuary, Liz Tennet says GF Moore’s vision of protecting his beloved and historic homestead, stables and virgin native forest lives on and his legacy keeps getting better and better. Earlier this year, the Governor General, The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, opened a new boardwalk and outdoor classroom in the protected wetlands area, home to gold-striped gecko and other rare species.

You people must have the bush, you are the only people I can rely on who will ensure that the bush is preserved in perpetuity GF Moore, 1962 The Trust’s vision for the future is for Bushy Park to be a showpiece of community-led nature and heritage conservation in New Zealand. They hope it will serve as an inspiration and example of effective and ecologically sound restoration and management of natural and heritage resources.

“With over 1,000 hours of voluntary labour donated by locals every month and some strong leadership from the Trust, the future of Bushy Park is looking good for the next 100 years,” Liz says.

“Forest & Bird has committed to a long-term relationship with the Trust, to assist with developing a longterm strategy and working closely with staff and volunteers at Bushy Park. This has been very helpful and bodes well for a strong relationship into the future.”

Bushy Park Trust also wants to build a strong relationship with the Department of Conservation and the Horizons Regional Council. It has applied for funding to both organisations and wishes to work with them to protect Bushy Park, which is one of New Zealand’s top 100 biodiversity sanctuaries.

The Heritage Category I homestead is available for public accommodation and as an events venue, and the Heritage Category II stables are in the process of restoration to be used as an interpretation and education centre for the sanctuary. The Trust is fundraising and invites people to consider becoming a Heritage Champion of the Bushy Park Stables Restoration Project, see www. bushyparksanctuary.org.nz for details.

Jess Winchester, Forest & Bird’s Bequests Manager, says GF Moore’s gift is an example of the enduring nature of a legacy gift, in this case allowing generations of locals and visitors to enjoy and learn about the special environment of Bushy Park.

“After you have provided for your loved ones, there is a gift with no greater meaning than a legacy which seeks to save and protect New Zealand’s incredible environment.

Bequests come in all shapes and sizes but are, above all, driven by a love of nature and a desire that future generations will not lose what we hold dear,” says Jess.

For more information about legacy giving, see www.forestandbird.org.nz/natureslegacy

4

What’s special about Bushy Park?

Bushy Park Sanctuary is a 100-hectare conservation area 24km north-west of Whanganui. Within the sanctuary there are 3.4km of metalled or well-formed walking tracks throughout the forest providing easy all-weather access for visitors. Tree species include mahoe, mamaku, pukatea, rata, and rimu along with colonies of ferns and mosses.

A special feature of the reserve is a large northern rata Metrosideros robusta named Ratanui (“Big Rata”).

It is estimated to be between 500 and 1000 years old and is 43 metres in height and has a girth that exceeds 11 metres.

With a wide variety of birdlife thriving in the sanctuary, on your visit you will be able to see or hear species such as bellbirds, kereru, north island robin, saddlebacks, hihi, moreporks as well as the falcon, fantail, grey warbler, mallard, pukeko, silvereye, kingfishers, and white-faced heron. The sanctuary is home to some kiwi too. Giraffe weevils, glow worms, and huhu beetles also inhabit Bushy Park.

1 Enjoying the new wetland boardwalk. Photo: Jo Priestley 2 Bushy Park benefactor GF Moore. Photo: Bushy Park 3 Alex Greig, 10, and Mandy Brooke at a hihi feeding station.

Photo: Jo Priestley

3

4 Ratanui ‘Big rata’. Photo: Marina Skinner

Forest & Bird

| 39

Our partners

A week on the road Honda provides six cars for Forest & Bird, which prove invaluable for our work, as Amelia Geary explains.

As part of my job as Regional Conservation and Volunteer Manager for the lower North Island, I recently spent a week cruising the lower North Island catching up with some of our branches. Monday was in Waipukurau with a local who is working on a project to protect Australasian bitterns on Lake Hatuma and the surrounding catchment.

Then I picked up a Forest & Bird member and headed off to Napier, where I attended a hearing at Hawke’s Bay Regional Council with members of the Hastings-Havelock North branch to speak to our submission on the council’s Long-term Plan. That evening I drove to Palmerston North to attend the Manawatū branch monthly meeting to hear all about training conservation dogs for work on threatened species.

The next day I had lunch with members of the Manawatū branch, where we discussed local issues and opportunities.

Then it was off to Marton, where I gave a presentation to Rangitikei branch about conservation projects in the UK. I spent the next day checking out some of the Forest & Bird reserves in Rangitikei where we cleared windfalls off the track and ended up in Taihape tackling old man’s beard vines.

Finally I went to Whanganui where I attended the Taranaki/Whanganui Conservation Board meeting to hear

about conservation work occurring in the region. With a busy week of travelling, it made a huge difference having a comfortable car that was also very fuel efficient. Thanks to Honda for enabling Forest & Bird to do this important work while minimising our impact on the environment.

Tai Haruru Lodge

LODGES Arethusa Cottage Near Pukenui, Northland Sleeps 6 herbit@xtra.co.nz 09 405 1720

Ruapehu Lodge Whakapapa Village, Tongariro National Park Sleeps 32 office@forestandbird.org.nz 04 385 7374

Mangarākau Swamp Field Centre North-west Nelson Sleeps 10 javn@xtra.co.nz 03 525 6031

Piha, West Auckland Sleeps 6 hop0018@slingshot.co.nz 09 812 8064

Waiheke Island Cottage Onetangi Sleeps 8 fb.cottage.onetangi@gmail.com

William Hartree Memorial Lodge Near Patoka, Hawke’s Bay Sleeps 10 hayhouse@clear.net.nz 06 844 4651

Matiu/Somes Island house Wellington Harbour Sleeps 8 wellingtonvc@doc.govt.nz 04 384 7770

Tautuku Forest Cabins Ōwaka, Otago Sleeps 16 diana-keith@yrless.co.nz 03 415 8024

40

| Forest & Bird

Focus on flora Welcome to our regular new feature focusing on our native flora, kicking off with the lovable kohekohe.

Quirky kohekohe This handsome tree is one of New Zealand’s most spectacular. The large leaves with their glossy green appearance give a luxurious tropical look to any ornamental garden. Kohekohe is sometimes known as New Zealand mahogany, because its wood is light, strong and polishes to a fine red colour.

Joakim Liman, award-winning Zealandia volunteer and project coordinator of Te Motu Kairangi-Miramar Ecological Restoration, explains why he likes kohekohe.

“There are lots of reasons why I like this tree and its quirkiness. Its sweet-scented, orchid-like flowers grow straight from the trunk or large branches.

This model of flowering is called cauliflory and it’s thought to be an adaptation for pollination and seed dispersal by animals that cannot fly well or hang out near the ground.

“Kohekohe flowers are an important and favored source of floral nectar during winter for tūī, bellbird and hihi. The flowers produce green golf-ball-sized fruit capsules the following year.

Exotic beauty: Ann Evans emailed Forest & Bird this photo, providing the inspiration for this issue’s Focus on Flora page. It was taken at the end of May in Upper Bush, Whareroa Farm Reserve, Paekakariki, Kapiti Coast. “Whareroa has a number of small kohekohe remnant forest blocks.

This year the flowering has been magnificent – we think due to two years of intensive pest trapping by volunteers,” says Ann, who is secretary to Whareroa Guardians Community Trust.

Joakim Liman gets up close to his favourite tree, the Kohekohe. Photo: Henk Louw “A bright orange flesh covering the seed is then seen when the fruit capsule is ripe and breaks up. They make a great source of food for a range of birds, such as kererū and kōkako and seeds are also dispersed by these species.

However this important tree is, sadly, often overlooked when it comes to attracting birds to gardens.”

Kohekohe forest used to be common in damp coastal and lowland areas in the North Island, but these forests have mostly disappeared because the land was used for settlement and because of pest damage. Possums and rats love kohekohe, eating their fruit, seeds and leaves.

Mature trees can grow up to 15m in height, with a trunk up to a metre in diameter. It prefers a deep moist soil with plenty of humus and a reasonably sheltered position.

Māori boiled the bark in water and drank it as a tonic.

The wood was used for building canoes but is soft, not as durable as hardwoods and tends to rot quickly when wet.

However it is valued for carving.

What’s flowering now?

New Zealand clematis: Puawānanga is probably the best known and most showy of nine species of clematis endemic to New Zealand. A tall flowering vine, puawānanga starts deep in the cool soil of the forest floor and climbs 12 metres or higher to reach the light in the treetops. From late winter and through into spring, the splashes of large white flowers can be seen spread across the forest canopy. For Māori, puawānanga is an important signal that winter is at an end and spring is on the way – Information on the Puawānanga courtesy of Zealandia.

What flora would you like to see featured on this page? Please email your photos and ideas for our summer issue to Caroline Wood via editor@forest&bird.org.nz Forest & Bird

| 41

Our people

Welcome to...

Mélissa Irace

Jess Winchester

Emma Cronin

Mélissa Irace joined Forest & Bird’s Northern office this May in the newly created part-time role of Auckland Communications Officer. She’ll be helping all nine Auckland branches with their communications and marketing. This includes promoting local branch events and activities and writing stories for newsletters, magazines and digital channels.

Mélissa has worked in marketing and communications for 22 years in the UK and New Zealand. She previously held roles at Auckland Council and ATEED (Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development) and ran her own marketing consultancy in the Bay of Islands for many years, where she focused on projects and people that make a difference to communities, the environment and sustainability.

As a local Waitakere branch member she is keen to have some hands-on involvement in some of our local conservation projects. And as a mother to two young daughters, Isabella and Manurere, she’s looking forward to going along to our KCC events too.

If you have any local stories or would like some advice on marketing and communications, you can contact Mélissa on m.irace@forestandbird. org.nz

Jess Winchester is the Fundraising and Membership team’s new Bequests Manager. She grew up in the south-west of England close to the pretty landscape of Cheddar Gorge but says nothing prepared her for the beauty of New Zealand and she feels privileged to be able to work for an organisation advocating so hard to protect it.

Jess, who will be based in the national office, has over 15 years’ experience of raising funds for charities working for equine welfare, health, disability, organic food production and overseas development. She is looking forward to meeting supporters, finding out more about their passion for conservation and helping them further protect the future of our environment.

She said: “Many of the most meaningful, thoughtful and considerate donations have been given at the end of a supporter’s life, when they have chosen to include a gift to Forest & Bird in their will. This is a wonderful way to ensure that a life-long passion can continue to benefit future generations.” *If you are interested making a lasting legacy to the protection of New Zealand’s environment please call Jess on 04 8012219 or email j.winchester@forestandbird.org.nz

Emma is Forest & Bird’s new Seabird Liaison Officer, Recreational Fisheries, Auckland/Northland region. Her role involves working with recreational fishers to raise awareness of seabird bycatch and gain a better understanding of issues in the sector. She will also provide education and awareness to schools, fishing clubs, charter operators and conservation groups.

Work highlights for Emma include doing seahorse research in the Philippines, tramping the Kaimanawas searching for Powelliphanta (giant snails) and, more recently, working on Hirakimata (Great Barrier Island’s tallest peak) assisting with black petrel research.

Emma and her husband also manage a pest-controlled peninsula sanctuary on Great Barrier Island, and Emma says an enormous part of this job is communication and involving people with restoration work. She says she gets a real buzz when people visit and get inspired to take action to protect native species in their home place.

Emma says she is looking forward to working for Forest & Bird and helping to better inform people about seabirds and how to protect them.

42

| Forest & Bird

QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOUR WINNERS Brian and Chris Rance Chris and Brian Rance have worked together for more than 20 years as volunteers on conservation and education projects in Southland. They were both honoured with a Queen’s Service Medal for services to conservation in June’s Queen’s Birthday Honours. ‘’It was a surprise, but a thrill. It is reward for something we enjoy doing and are passionate about,’’ says Brian.

The awards also acknowledged the input of many others, he said. ‘’The work we do involves a whole band of people.

We see this as recognition for everyone taking part in conservation projects.’’

Brian works as an ecologist with the Department of Conservation and Chris runs the Southland Community Nursery and Education Centre, which they established at their property at Otatara near Invercargill.

They have been the voluntary managers of Forest & Bird’s Te Rere yellow eyed penguin reserve, in the Catlins, for over 20 years, organising and leading regular planting and maintenance days and coordinating the annual penguin counts.

They both serve on the Te Rere Reserve Advisory Committee, and Brian was one of the lead writers of the reserve’s management plan. Chris has sourced funds to keep the project running and has organised visits to the reserve for people and educated the public about conservation issues. Both have served on various conservation committees for many years, including Southland Forest & Bird branch for over 20 years.

At their property, the couple have protected native bush with a QEII covenant, are doing restoration work and have been growing native plants and giving advice at their Southland Community Nursery for over 15 years. Chris holds workshops at the new education centre, and more than 1,600 school children have visited since it opened at the end of 2013.

Brian and Chris Rance in their beloved Fiordland.

Photo: Alan Mark Brian and Chris also won the Loder Cup – New Zealand’s premier award for plant conservation – in 2002.

Their knowledge and passion for the environment and conservation is profound and they are highly regarded across Southland. n Jenny Campbell, Southland Forest & Bird branch secretary

Forest & Bird

| 43

Community conservation

Our little blue neighbours Spring is here and, if you live in the capital, you may be lucky enough to spot a baby penguin, thanks to the efforts of volunteers who maintain nesting boxes along Wellington Harbour’s rocky shorelines and islands. Sandy Winterton reports.

As dusk arrives in early winter, strange noises can be heard all along Wellington’s shorelines. In May or June, as darkness falls, little penguins (until recently known as little blue penguins) start coming ashore to find mates and look for nest sites. Their raucous calls from between rocks can surprise people out for a stroll round the harbour’s edge on a calm evening.

Places for Penguins is a project run by the Wellington branch of Forest & Bird, which supplies nest boxes to provide safe breeding sites for little penguins. The group has a partnership with Wellington Zoo and has obtained grant funding from Wellington City Council. With this assistance they have installed almost 100 nest boxes and have assisted others with providing nest boxes for Matiu/Somes Island, in Wellington Harbour. The group also undertakes native plant restoration and predator control in nesting areas.

The team at Places for Penguins upgraded their nest box stock last May and installed them in locations likely to attract penguins. Most of the mainland boxes are along the shoreline that stretches from Evans Bay right round the Miramar peninsula and along the south coast. Little

1

2 44

| Forest & Bird

penguins like to nest out of sight under vegetation or in rock crevices, so nest boxes are positioned with this in mind. It helps them feel safe, and prevents the nest boxes overheating on sunny days.

Places for Penguins has trained two dozen volunteers to monitor the nest boxes. Data collected from monitoring provides valuable information about their breeding success. Last year some keen kayakers, including Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, were assigned to monitor Tapu te Ranga island, just off Island Bay. Tapu te Ranga is a great place for penguins as it’s out of reach of dogs, and because pest control has been carried out for several years, there is little or no evidence of rodents such as rats. The island offers good nesting sites, with plenty of bushes and lots of flax. After the breeding season is complete and adult birds have put on weight, they return to shore to moult. Unable to swim for a couple of weeks until their new waterproof feathers have grown, they hole up in a safe place – and the nest boxes are ideal.

The monitoring crews kayak out to the island and work in pairs to check each box. They record information about the visit and the occupancy of the box that is later uploaded to a website for data analysis. The programme started in June 2014 and ran through the year following the penguins’ progress through nesting, incubation and rearing chicks.

The Tapu te Ranga monitoring team’s first trip was to set the boxes up and a fortnight later, one box was already occupied. Penguins moved into other boxes as the nesting season progressed. Visits were made every two weeks, and volunteers followed careful procedures to ensure they didn’t introduce any contamination to the nest boxes or disturb the nesting birds. As spring progressed, chicks hatched and were fed by their parents, and by Christmas most chicks had left the nest box and were fending for themselves.

There can’t be many capitals with penguins nesting among the rocks and under the bushes of the shoreline.

It’s great to have such amazing creatures nesting so close by. If you spot a box – don’t open it or do anything that could upset the penguins. If disturbed they could abandon the nest. Dogs should be kept on a leash in penguin nesting areas as they can kill chicks and even adult birds.

Places for Penguins also does beach clean-ups, weeding, planting penguin habitat, predator trapping as well as penguin nest monitoring. To find out more, or to volunteer, contact Forest & Bird, or email placesforpenguins@gmail.com

Amazing facts about...

THE OTAGO

SKINK

Photo: Carey Knox/EcoGecko

By Michelle Harnett

S 3

4 1 A penguin nest box tucked away under a bush. Photo: Sandy

Winterton.

2 View from Tapu te Ranga island looking back to shore with

Island Bay on the right. Photo: Sandy Winterton.

3 Little blue penguin. Photo: Craig McKenzie.

4 Wellington Mayor Celia Wade Brown and Nigel Roberts

monitoring on Tapu te Ranga island. Photo: Sandy Winterton.

unbathing surrounded by snow and ice doesn’t sound pleasant but it’s something the Otago skink (Oligsoma otagense) does at every opportunity. When you’re a reptile living in Central Otago in mid-winter, you need every degree of heat you can get.

Otago skinks/mokomoko grow up to 30cm long.

They have dark skins marked with grey, green or yellowish blotches. Their mottled appearance is perfect camouflage for living on lichen-covered schist outcrops, where they can sun themselves by day and hide away in deep crevices at night.

They eat a varied diet, including invertebrates like beetles and blow flies, vegetation and fruit. Most of their food is found close to home, but they do forage further afield, especially for fruit, which they rely on over summer. The orange fruit of patotara (Leucopogon fraseri) and the whitish, late summer fruits of Coprosma dumosa are favourites.

Summer is also when baby skinks are born. Two to six babies make up a ‘lizard litter’. Otago skinks emerge alive, head first, and hit the ground running. They grow slowly and take three to four years to reach maturity after which they have been known to live up to 12 more years in the wild.

Factors like slow growth, low reproduction rate and longevity may be adaptations that help the skinks survive in an extreme environment but they also make them vulnerable. Habitat loss – the skink is now only known in about eight percent of its former range – and the very real possibility of being eaten by introduced predators means they are endangered. The Department of Conservation estimates the population to be only about 2,000–5,000 animals.

Recovery programmes have concentrated on identifying the causes of decline, habitat protection and controlling predators. Otago skink numbers are increasing inside fenced, predator-free areas, and in areas where predator control has been carried out. *DOC welcomes reports of sightings of the Otago skink. Take a photo, note down a GPS location and contribute to recovery of an amazing animal.

Forest & Bird

| 45

Going places

Heart of the

high country

1

Discover rugged mountain country, beech forest and sparkling clear lakes, Jo Priestley soaks up some history in Hakatere Conservation Park

N

estled in a picture postcard high country setting along the Ashburton Gorge Road are the historic Hakatere buildings. A more perfect setting for a picnic, or cup of tea, surely couldn’t be found. The buildings at Hakatere Corner are a good place to start an exploration of this dramatic area. They include one of midCanterbury’s oldest dwellings, the Stone Cottage, which was built in 1862 to accommodate the manager of Hakatere Station.

Hakatere is the Māori word for the Ashburton River and the name that was given to this high country station less than two hours from Christchurch. Hill farming was the dominant activity in this area during the early days of European settlement. Owned by Thomas Henry Potts, Hakatere started out as a cattle station, but later became one of the largest sheep stations in Canterbury.

Hakatere Station provides an excellent example of rustic high country accommodation located in an isolated area. As well as the Stone Cottage, there is the Shearers Quarters, Cookshop and other later buildings. Together they provide an excellent architectural, archaeological and historical record of the people and operations of this station for the past 150+ years.

The buildings were purchased, along with the surrounding land, in 2008 by the Nature Heritage Fund.

They are managed by the Department of Conservation in

46

| Forest & Bird

partnership with the Hakatere Heritage Committee, a local volunteer group that aims to raise funds to restore the buildings for all to enjoy and use.

The station buildings are located within Hakatere Conservation Park, which covers nearly 60,000 hectares of rugged mountain country, tussock lands, beech forest and stunning blue lakes between the Rakaia and Rangitata braided rivers. Here you will find some of the best wetlands in the country. A national wetland restoration project was started in 1997 and involves three premier sites: Whangamarino in Waikato, Awarua/Waituna in Southland and the Ashburton Lakes area/Ō Tū Wharekai in Canterbury.

The rivers, lakes, tarns and swamps of Ō Tū Wharekai have their own special range of species, some of which are rare, and its kettle holes are home to 23 threatened plants.

Although each wetland habitat is unique, all waterways are interconnected, breathing life into the Hakatere basin.

The rivers, lakes and wetlands provide nationally important habitats for many bird species, including the endangered wrybill, black-fronted tern, Australasian crested grebe, Australasian bittern and marsh crake.

Lizards are also found, including one of New Zealand’s largest lizards, the scree skink. There is also the spectacular Mount Somers giant wētā, as well as native fish, and a diverse range of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates.

HAKATERE STATION BUILDINGS • METHVEN •

• TEKAPO

2 1

Seek out some heritage at Hakatere Corner.

2&3 Old Stone Cottage.

All photos: Jo Priestley

Getting there Directions:

The historic Hakatere Station buildings are found at the junction of Ashburton Gorge Road and Heron Road, 23 km west of Mt Somers village. Driving time from Christchurch to Hakatere takes about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Staying there:

No accommodation at Hakatere, the closest centres are Mt Somers, Ashburton and Methven. There some high country farms and holidy baches that offer accommodation in the Hakatere area.

There are basic camping facilities available next to Lake Clearwater.

More information:

Download a leaflet about Hakatere Conservation Park, including the historic Hakatere station, at www.doc.govt.nz.

3

Ten minutes drive past Hakatere Station lies Lake Emma, Lake Roundabout and, a bit further along, Lake Camp and Lake Clearwater. This is a perfect excursion for the entire family, with the lakes and surrounding area providing opportunities for wind surfing, sailing, bird watching, kayaking, fishing and swimming, as well as hunting, mountain biking and walking. There are day and multi-day walks and tramps to choose from, across a vista famous for its alpine majesty, and Mt Sunday (up the road a way) was the location for Edoras in the Lord of the Rings films.

The island on the northern side of Lake Clearwater is a protected sanctuary. Walking around the lake takes just over an hour.

An Eco-Retreat

Forest & Bird’s fabulous Ruapehu Lodge is a wonderful spot for a summer weekend.

The Tongariro Crossing is nearby, as well as many other spectacular day walks in Tongariro National Park.

Summer off-peak rates now apply. Check out www.forestandbird.org. nz/ruapehulodge for more information.

Forest & Bird

| 47

In the field ANN GRAEME

The ant’s story Ants have been on Earth for at least 60 million years; spare them a thought when they run across your bench, writes Ann Graeme.

T

he worker ant races across the kitchen bench. She is briefly baffled by a teaspoon but she climbs over it and runs on. Then she stops. Ants live in a world of smell and her scent trail has disappeared because I have wiped the bench. The ant casts this way and that way, sniffing the ground with her antennae. Then she picks up another trail, races along the window sill and out through the crack in the window frame to the ant motorway down the outside wall.

Worker ants are always busy, scouting for food, carrying it back to the colony or helping another ant with a heavy load. They never bask in the sun like a butterfly or ruminate upside down on the ceiling like a fly. Ants symbolise hard work, which is a virtue we admire.

“Go to the ant, thou sluggard. Consider her ways and be wise,” says Solomon in the Bible. But the worker ant doesn’t choose to be busy or virtuous. It is evolution that has hard-wired her to feed the ant colony and tend the eggs and larvae of her queen.

The queen ant is hard-wired too, to lay eggs in the earthen chamber of the colony. It was she who began the ant colony under our concrete path at home. A big ant, much bigger than a worker, she had been flying on her gauzy wings and mating in a swarm of tiny male ants. They too had emerged from the nursery of their ant colony in response to the warm spring weather. Their lives would be short, only a few days, but our queen ant may have 20 years ahead of her.

She had landed on the path and found a crack. Wings are no use underground so she had bitten them off and set about digging a tunnel into the dirt below. She had laid a few eggs, reared the young ants herself and then, tended by this first generation of daughter workers, settled down to lay more eggs – and more – and more, year after year after year.

The worker ant on the kitchen bench is one of her

48

| Forest & Bird

hundreds of daughters, determined by caste to work and not to reproduce. Only a few daughters are destined to become winged and potential queens.

The family of ants is very successful. There are some 12,500 species world-wide. At any one time there are estimated to be several thousand, million, million ants purposefully scurrying about on Earth. Part of their success comes from the variety of foods that different species are adapted to eat. The workers of some species bring leaves and seeds to feed their colony, others kill tiny prey or scavenge corpses or even tend fungus gardens and milk aphids for honey dew.

But even more than a varied diet, it is the social nature of ants that is the ultimate secret of their success. All ants live in colonies and, like our own, members communicate and cooperate with one another and do different work.

People communicate by speaking. Ants communicate by smell and by sharing food.

That worker ant on my bench was probably roaming about scouting for food. She would be leaving a faint smell trail behind her so she could find her way home. If I had spilt some sugar on the bench and the ant had found it, she would have eaten her fill and then hurried back to the colony, re-laying her smell trail as she went.

Inside the colony she would have gone to other workers, feeding them some sugar from her mouth. The sugar would be laced with her smell – her message. The workers would have hurried out and retraced her path, smelling her trail back to the spilled sugar. Each ant would have laid a trail too, reinforcing the message until a column of ants stretched from the colony to the sugar. As they ran to and fro some would pause to sniff a passing ant to check that she belonged to the colony.

Ant images courtesy of Bryce McQuillan

If I interrupt this busy scene and wipe the benchtop, squashing some of the ants, those injured and dying will instantly put out an alarm smell so rank even we can smell it. That smell will draw more ants to the carnage and some might even try to nip me in a doomed defence. But if the ants are not disturbed until all the sugar is eaten, the rewards for the workers will dwindle. Fewer and fewer ants will refresh the trail and soon it will fade away.

Like an ant colony, human society requires communication and cooperation, but often there is coercion too. Ant colonies need no coercion. They don’t have bosses. Their societies are pure socialism – one for all and all for one. Karl Marx would have cheered. And this is the reason these tiny creatures are one of the most influential groups of organisms on the planet.

Ants rival earthworms in digging the soil. Their tunnels and chambers let air and water percolate down to the plant roots. By taking organic matter underground and eating it, ants hasten decay, creating compost and letting fungi and bacteria move in. They break down the cellulose and the woody lignin to release nutrients for growing plants.

Ants are particularly beneficial in dry grassland ecosystems, increasing crop yields and protecting plants from pest insects and fungal diseases. They play an important role in every food web on land. Ants have been around for a very long time and it seems likely they will prosper for many millions of years more.

Ants in New Zealand Of our 37 species, only 11 are considered endemic. The others have come by chance, mostly in ships from Australia.

Seven species have the derogatory designation of ‘tramps’, having hitch-hiked widely around the world. Immigrant ants are the ones we see in the kitchen and in our gardens whereas native ants live in native forests, particularly in the warmer parts of the North Island.

Biosecurity New Zealand is constantly on the lookout for such notorious species as the red imported fire ant, the yellow crazy ant and the crazy ant. When fire ants became established in Whirinaki, Biosecurity New Zealand spent millions of dollars eradicating them. Already Argentine and Darwin’s ants infest some urban areas. We don’t need any more of these tiny travellers.

Specialists in Nature Tours since 1986 W.A.’s Mid West Wildflowers

10 Day Accommodated Tour – Departs Perth 5th September 2015 See botanical hot-spots north of Perth during wildflower season.The trip covers a diverse array of landscapes with the farm lands of the wheat belt, the station country around Mt Magnet and Yalgoo before covering the highlights of the Kalbarri National Park and the northern sandplains around Eneabba, Badgingarra and the Mt Lesueur National Park.

Helena Aurora Ranges & Great Western Woodlands

15 Day Camping Tour – Departs Perth 19th September 2015 Join us and experience the wonders of the world’s largest temperate woodland, including the historic woodlines (where timber cutters operated from 1899 to 1964), The DPaW operated Credo Station and the ironstone Helena Aurora Ranges.

All at the time of the year when the wildflowers and birdlife will be at there best.

W.A.’s South West Birds & Botany

15 Day Accommodated Tour – Departs Perth 9th October 2015 Join our birding & botanist guides as we explore the biodiversity of this extraordinary region.

The South west offers great birdlife, spectacular wildflowers and a diverse array of habitat.

Costa Rica Wildlife Safari

12 Day Accommodated Tour – Starts San Jose 3rd November 2015 Tour this pristine wildlife paradise on one of the most exciting wildlife expeditions we have offered. Expect to see a diverse array of bird life, plants, mammals and reptiles.

New Zealand South Island Wildlife & Wilderness

15 Day Accommodated Expedition – Starts in Queenstown 13th February 2016 Highlights: The breathtakingly beautiful lower South Island and Stewart Island.

Three of the country’s national parks plus the unspoiled coast of the Catlins region and the Otago Peninsula.

Sri Lanka Wildlife, History & Culture

18 Day Accommodated Tour – Starts in Colombo 14th March 2016 Highlights: Yala and Bundala National Parks. Kitulgala and Sinharaja Rainforests, historic Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa.

Whale watching at Mirissa. This trip has it all, Mammals - Elephants, Leopard, Monkeys, Deer, Mongoose just to name a few plus each year we have recorded sightings of over 200 species of birdlife including. All this plus local culture and wonderful historic sites.

If you want a great naturalist guide to make sure you see the best of Sri Lanka then this is the tour for you.

Visit our website and sign up for our email newsletter for the details of our full 2015 tour program.

Phone: (61 8) 9330 6066 Web: www.coateswildlifetours.com.au Email: coates@iinet.net.au GSA Coates Tours Licence no 9ta1135/36

Kererū counting on us It’s full steam ahead for this year’s Great Kererū Count, as Melanie Dash reports.

Whatever bird you may choose to support in our Bird of the Year competition, the generously girthed kererū/New Zealand wood pigeon is definitely a worthy contender. Its ability to gorge on seeds the equivalent of humans stuffing whole grapefruits into their mouths is a feat in itself. In fact if it weren’t for these birds being able to swallow and disperse large seeds from our mighty broadleaf trees like the taraire (Beilschmiedia tarairi) and karaka (Corynocarpus laevigatus) there would be much less broadleaf forest to speak of.

Kererū, kuku or kukupa (depending on where you are) are now being seen in our parks and gardens as well as our native lowland forests, as their population continues to grow. But we mustn’t get complacent. As of 2008, kererū have been classed as ‘not threatened’ but they are still fully protected and cannot be taken or held without authorisation under the Wildlife Act. So what are we doing to keep an eye on their numbers?

Since 2011 Forest and Bird’s Kiwi Conservation Club (KCC) has run the Kererū Count, an annual event which gets Kiwi kids and their families out counting kererū. The count was born out of a concern that scientists had over the kererū’s future and the need to monitor their population and distribution. Over the years KCC has joined forces with other organisations, including the Kererū Awhina Project and Project Kererū, to organise the count.

Woman holding kererū circa 1910, Hawke’s Bay, by Herbert Guthrie-Smith. Photo: Te Papa (B.003954)

This year's kererū count takes place from September 19-27.

Photo: Luc Hoogenstein In 2013 the World Wildlife Fund (WWF-New Zealand) came on board and last year we had the most successful count to date with over 7,000 reports being logged, and over 14,000 kererū spotted nationwide. The ‘Great Kererū Count’ as it is now called produced some highly valuable data. So much so that Anni Brumbi, under the guidance of Dr Rhian Salmon and Dr Stephen Hartley from Victoria University Wellington, carried out an evaluation of the Great Kererū Count’s results and put recommendations forward for future citizen science projects.

One of the things the report highlighted was the need to be more specific in its questioning whilst keeping it as engaging for the public as possible. The report provided a framework for future counts and some real evidence of kererū distribution across New Zealand.

This year WWF-New Zealand’s Kererū Discovery is leading the charge with Forest & Bird and KCC in support along with other partners including Nature Watch NZ. Victoria University is providing more data analysis with support from Wellington City Council. It is exciting news for kererū conservation, but it won’t happen without as many Forest & Bird supporters becoming citizen scientists and taking part by observing kererū and reporting their findings.

This year’s count takes place between 19th and 27th September. Go to www.greatkererucount.nz for more information about how you can take part.

Join a child up to Kiwi Conservation Club for just $24 a year. Each KCC kid gets four Wild Things magazines and access to KCC branch adventures. See www.kcc.org.nz

50

| Forest & Bird

Classifieds PHILPROOF

PEST CONTROL PRODUCTS

WIPEOUT: Possums, Rodents,

PH/FAX

Standard & Mini Philproof Bait Stations & Timms Traps • Rodent Bait Stations and Block Baits • Rodent Snap Traps • Fenn Traps (MK4 & 6) • Trap Covers – Double or Single • Light-weight DOC 250 trap cover.

Also available: Monitoring Tunnels & Bird Nesting Chambers

MOBILE

07 859 2943

Mustelids, Rabbits

“The Beeches” Nelson QEII Covenant For Sale

A “magnificent” QEII covenant of mature & regenerating native forest that supports a large diverse population of native birds & vegetation.

A private & peaceful 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom home with extensive gardens nestles up to native bush melodious with birdsong.

Situated in scenic Aniseed Valley only 15/25 mins from Richmond/ Nelson.

More details & photos on TradeMe ID EGZ733, email: marsufisher@xtra.co.nz or tel. 03-544-3924

South America Small Groups + Independent travellers CALL NOW FOR BROCHURE Latin Link Adventure The South American Specialists 0800 528 465 / info@latinlink.co.nz

www.latinlink.co.nz

021 270 5896 PO Box 4385 Hamilton 3247 WEB:

Kayak tours on the Wairau Lagoon, Marlborough.

Phone 0274 483 133

www.philproof.co.nz EMAIL:

philproof@gmail.com

driftwoodecotours.co.nz Pohatu Penguins & Marine Reserve Banks Peninsula Scenic nature tours with local volunteers conserving Banks Peninsula’s biodiversity.

• Coastal Retreat • Sea Kayaking www.pohatu.co.nz email: tours@pohatu.co.nz phone: 03 304 8600

BIRDING NORTH PERU 2016–17

Top birding, wildlife & culture.

Small groups. Realistic prices.

Aug–Sept 2016 & 2017 Lowland forest – Andes – Coast DETLEF and CAROL DAVIES KERIKERI - NEW ZEALAND 09 407 3874 or 0211464237 detlefdavies@yahoo.com www.birdersrest.com www.birdingnorthperu.com

White Heron Sanctuary Tours Come with us, RAINFOREST, NATURE and JETBOATING TOURS, all year round. Viewing of nesting colony from September to March. Ph. 0800 52 34 56

www.whiteherontours.co.nz

MATAIA WALKS

River’s Edge Cottage Kaipara Situated right on the riverbank at Pahi, a quiet retreat ideal for relaxing and enjoying the aquatic birdlife.

Reasonable rates, see www.pahicottage.accomnz.co.nz or email pahicottage@gmail.com

BIORESEARCHES CONSULTING BIOLOGISTS ESTABLISHED 1972

Discover the southern Kaipara with our unguided multi-day catered walks through a unique private farm and intensive conservation project featuring native bush, salt-marsh wetlands, coastal forest and rolling farmland.

www.mataia.co.nz Ph: 09 420 5312

Environmental Impact Studies Surveys of Marine, Freshwater & Terrestrial Habitats Pollution Investigations Resource Consent procedures Archaeological; Historic Places Appraisal bioresearches@bioresearches.co.nz www.bioresearches.co.nz P.O Box 2828 Auckland PH: AUCKLAND 379 9417 Fax (09) 307 6409

BIRDING INDONESIA

An online gallery of original and reproduction antique maps and prints, featuring scenes of New Zealand, birds and botanical prints, perfect as gifts. We ship worldwide.

NEW FOR

2016

Got R ats?

SAFE – Bait is safely contained and enclosed ECONOMIC – Grate system stops bait being carried away for storage

We’ve got a new solution for you.

FILL AND FORGET – requires minimal attention

PIED PIPER

™

BAIT STATIONS

USE ANYWHERE – Sheds, Homes, Forrest, Gardens, factories, Town or Country

Do it now before winter!

For more information contact 0800 665 337 or sales@molder.co.nz or for more detail visit our website www.ratcontrol.co.nz

Ron and Edna Greenwood Environmental Trust The trust provides financial support for projects advancing the conservation and protection of New Zealand’s natural resources, particularly flora and fauna, marine life, geology, atmosphere and waters.

More information is available from the Trust, at: PO Box 10-359, Wellington

Advertise to Forest & Bird readers here Please contact Karen Condon PHONE 0275 420 338

EMAIL mack.cons@xtra.co.nz

Forest & Bird

| 51

Book reviews The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand (4th edition) by Barrie Heather & Hugh Robertson Penguin Random House New Zealand, $55.00 Reviewed by Nikki McArthur It’s not often that a book becomes so valued that the authors’ own names become part of their readers’ vocabulary. But this is exactly what has happened to the authors of The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand.

Since the first edition of this landmark book appeared in 1996, birdwatchers and professional ornithologists alike have considered their ‘Heather & Robertson’ to be as indispensable to them as their binoculars and notebook.

This fourth edition represents the most comprehensive revision since its first publication. Hugh Robertson has done a superb job at reviewing almost a decade of new ornithological research to fully update the text. Meanwhile, illustrator Derek Onley has once again successfully combined accuracy and artistry to create over 90 new and revised colour paintings illustrating 35 new bird species added to the New Zealand list since 1996.

The first section of this book is a field guide in the truest sense, giving the reader all the information they need to identify every New Zealand bird species, but no more. The second (and larger) section of the book goes much further, taking the reader on a ‘grand tour’ of the natural and conservation history of each species. Hidden within this section are superb examples of author Barrie Heather’s genius for combining accurate observation with clever word-play.

This edition, like its predecessors, will surely rank as one of New Zealand’s most widely-travelled books as a new generation of birdwatchers and ornithologists carry their “Heather and Robertson” with them on expeditions to far-flung islands, remote wilderness areas or when mucking about in the garden.

Vanishing Nature by Marie A Brown, RT Theo Stephens, Raewyn Peart and Bevis Fedder Touchwood Books $45 Reviewed by Amelia Geary I have to admit that it was with some trepidation that I picked up Vanishing Nature, the title didn’t exactly extoll optimism about the state of New Zealand’s biodiversity.

Sure enough, the picture is bleak, yet the exhaustive work of Dr Marie Brown and her colleagues is outstanding.

The book is a thorough analysis of the exact issues that organisations like Forest & Bird grapple with on a daily 52

| Forest & Bird

basis – the plight of freshwater, the chronic underfunding of the Department of Conservation, the destruction of the public common for private gain, agency capture, absence of adequate marine protection, the list goes on. What I appreciated most was the connecting of the dots on many issues and the presentation of a number of solutions to the issues identified. This book is right on the mark in terms of identifying the drivers of biodiversity loss in this country.

The key challenge now is to address those drivers and fight for change if we are serious about having any biodiversity left for future generations.

The Smallest Continent by Derek Grzelewski Bateman $34.99 Reviewed by Geoff Keey Sometimes a book comes along with an idea that opens the mind to a new way of seeing our relationship with the land. In 1981 Kenneth Cumberland’s TV series and book Landmarks opened my eyes as a 10 year old to the idea that we both shaped the landscape and were shaped by it.

Derek Grzelewski’s description of New Zealand as the smallest continent where people are shaped by the diversity of its landscapes had the potential to offer a similar reshaping of how we see ourselves but somehow doesn’t quite get there.

The Smallest Continent: Journeys Through New Zealand’s Landscapes is a well-written collection of essays, engaging and insightful. It is the writing of someone who has a deep affection for people and places. The Smallest Continent deserves a place on the book case and has a satisfying collection of stories, observation and anecdote to dip into on a rainy day.

However when reading The Smallest Continent it felt like there was a deeper, thematic and more coherent story in Derek’s mind that deserves to be told, and I look forward to the day he decides to write it.

Parting shot I recently rejoined Forest & Bird and have greatly enjoyed the magazines again. I noticed your request for interesting photos and decided to submit one that I took last year on a road trip around the South Island celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary.

This photo is of a bellbird with the bright blue pollen of a tree fuchsia sprinkled across its head. It was taken at Bushy Point, on the Otatara peninsula near Invercargill. I spotted it on an early morning walk in the gardens of Bushy Point Fernbirds B&B. The owners have a private reserve next to the New River Estuary, which is part of a larger public reserve. All of the area is intensively trapped for pest control by volunteers.

I have been taking bird pics as a hobby for 15 years or so and greatly enjoy the amazing images that they provide. The shot was captured with a Nikon D300S with a Nikon 70–300mm zoom lens. I now shoot all my images in Raw. I find that getting great images of birds is as tricky as capturing great images of our nine grandchildren! Raw is a file format that, unlike a jpeg, captures all the image’s data recorded by the sensor when you take a photo.

Anne-Marie Cervin Auckland

PARTING SHOT PRIZE Send us a stunning photo of one of New Zealand’s special native plants or animals. Each published Parting Shot image will receive a pair of Vanguard FR-7500 7x50 Binoculars RRP $99.95.

The Vanguard FR-7500 7x50 Binocular has a full-size Porro prism unit with a relaxed 7x magnification and 7.0° angle of view. The Vanguard FR is fully rubber armoured and presents a bright image with nice depth, thanks to the more pronounced distance between the objective lenses. The binocular features coated lenses, ridged rubber armouring, aluminium housing, Bk7 Porro prisms and peeldown eyecups. This prize is courtesy of CR Kennedy, see www.crkennedy.co.nz.

Please send a high-res (max 9mb) digital file and brief details about your photo to Caroline Wood at c.wood@forestandbird.org.nz

we ARE climbing

Takeshi Tani on ‘Cyber Pasty Memorial’ WI5+ / M7, Alberta, Canada Photo: ex-Bivouac Staffmember John Price johnpricephotographic.com

PROUDLY

For twenty five years Bivouac Outdoor has been proudly 100% New Zealand owned and

25

It is the same gear we literally stake our lives on, because we are committed to adventure and

NZ OWNED for

YEARS

committed to providing you with the best outdoor clothing and equipment available in the world. we ARE climbing.

10 STORES NATIONWIDE OFFICIAL GEAR SUPPLIER

www.bivouac.co.nz