Dawn Chorus Issue 133 (May 2023)

Cyclone chaos and further changes

When I wrote my column for the February magazine, no one could have foreseen the dramatic damaging weather events of Cyclone Gabrielle. Volunteers from Supporters helped to clean up the Island and reopened two guiding tracks quickly. Although the Kawerau Track suffered the most damage, it is also now open except for one section. Volunteers and DOC staff worked hard to make it safe for visitors to return.

Several changes in personnel have occurred since the start of 2023. Janet Petricevich has joined the main committee to fill a vacant seat, but we are still looking for a suitable guide and volunteer manager. Debbie Marshall has been filling the role of volunteer manager in the interim. We are also using more volunteers to help spread the workload.

Unfortunately, our editor, has a new job. Lyn has done an excellent job of filling the big boots of Jim Eagles. The magazine has continued to improve and grow under her leadership.

Gloria has announced her intention not to seek re-election this year, after serving as secretary for eight years. She has improved the professionalism of the position and is widely respected by all members of the committee. Neither will I be seeking re-election for 2024, after four years in the position. Although there have been enormous challenges during the past four years, I am confident that the years ahead look more settled. If anyone is interested in leading the Supporters next year, please contact me directly.

April was Takahē Awareness Month so DOC ranger Keith Townsend did daily feeds and talks about the takahē on the Island. The “lighthouse ” takahē are Anatori (female), Tussie (male) and their new chick which is yet to be named. The chick is about six months old; we should know its sex and name in a few weeks.

Cover photo: Malcolm de Raat

Chairchat

Photos: Martin Sanders

DOC ranger Talia Hochwimmer captured the photographs above after the devastation from Cyclone Gabrielle. Trees were uprooted, tracks covered in branches and leaf litter –and Hobbs Beach Track almost washed away.

Tiritiri Matangi guest guide: Neil Davies

The guides on Tiritiri Matangi come from all walks of life and all stages of life to share invaluable knowledge with visitors to the Island. Dawn Chorus thought you should meet some of these dedicated volunteers by asking a series of questions about their lives. In this issue we introduce 70-year-old Neil Davies who has been guiding for more than 20 years. Neil has also been involved since the restoration project began.

What did you do before you retired?

Secondary school teacher – science/biology.

Where did you grow up?

Birkenhead on Auckland’s North Shore.

What are your other hobbies/pastimes?

Photography, botanising, birding, walking/hiking, a volunteer at Shakespear Open Sanctuary.

Why guiding?

Guiding allows me to share my experiences and enthusiasm for this wonderful island with visitors, and is a great opportunity to increase their environmental awareness.

What is the quirkiest experience you have had on the Island?

Probably the time a group of us were watching two kiwi running around one night and one ran right over my foot. It probably thought it was a tree!

What is your favourite story you like to share about Tiritiri Matangi?

My introduction to the Island in 1984 when the restoration project began. We became part of the “spade brigade” and brought students over to the Island to help develop some of the tracks and to plant trees. The planting programme spanned 10 years, with many hundreds of

Preliminary Notice of Annual General Meeting

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi will be held at 7.30pm, Monday 18 September 2023, in the Fickling Convention Centre, 546 Mt Albert Rd, Three Kings. Further details will be in the August issue of Dawn Chorus

volunteers involved, and now visitors can see the result of the labour. What a difference almost 40 years makes! I enjoy showing visitors the “before” and “after” photos.

What is your favourite bird on the Island?

Hihi, probably (with kōkako a close second). Why? In 1995, while teaching at Glenfield College, staff and students were involved in the initial translocation of hihi to Tiritiri Matangi from Hauturu/Little Barrier. The hihi we see today are the descendants of those first birds, so I tend to have a soft spot for them. Also, they are lively, colourful little birds, and one of the more endangered species that need all the help we can give them.

What is your favourite plant/tree?

That’s a really difficult one to answer. Quite possibly, the pōhutukawa. Why? It is an iconic tree with wonderful adaptations to survival in the harsh coastal environment, and its flowers attract so many animal species. Plus, the Island has some magnificent, gnarly old specimens. If only these old trees could talk – the stories they could tell!

What is your greatest environmental concern?

Biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, with the natural environment not afforded the respect it deserves. Tiritiri Matangi is a shining example of what can be achieved by a group of passionate, dedicated, like-minded people with a vision for the future.

New volunteer editor needed

Putting together Dawn Chorus is a big job. It may not look it, but pulling together all the content for each issue, subbing it to style, then laying it out in InDesign, is like a huge jigsaw puzzle. I’ve done five issues and enjoyed the challenge but I’m an editor, not a designer! So, I’m saying farewell as I have taken on some parttime work related to my previous academic research. The plan now is to out-source the design – and find an experienced editor to do the editing. Basic skills with InDesign are required. I estimate it takes around 30 hours an issue. For a copy of the job description or more details, email: editor@tiritirimatangi.org.nz

Ka kite anō

Lyn Barnes

Above: Neil Davies. Right: Neil in 1984, planting out on the south-west slopes of Coronary Hill.

New kōkako chicks named

As we went to print, these new names were released (parents' names in brackets):

KOPAKOPA (YM-GJ), female (Pureora and Crown); HANAMICHI (YM-JG), female (Koto and Apato); AWHI (YM-GY), female (Koto and Apato); LUNA (YM-GG), female (Te Rae and Chatters); THEMBA (YM-GW), male (Honey and Rimu); KAIAKO (YM-GR), female (Discovery and Sarang); and MOANA (YM-JR), female (Shelly and Tama).

Family membership guidelines

Do you have a Family membership with the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi? And do you now have adult children who are still part of that Family membership?

If so, please be aware that the SoTM management committee recently approved some specific guidelines around who can be included in a Family membership:

• One or two adults who reside at the same address – usually one adult holds the membership and is known as “head of household”; while the other is a “household member”,

• Any number of children aged 18 or under, who usually reside at the same address (we understand there are some blended families out there).

If your children are now older than 18, perhaps it is time to consider another type of membership for them:

• Student membership for full-time students, $13 annually

• Individual/Family membership for adults over 18 years, $25 annually.

If your over-18 students and/or adult children still reside with you, there is no need to take out a separate membership. However, they cannot be included in

any SoTM specials and, when using your membership to visit the Island, both Explore (ferries) and DOC (accommodation) have different criteria.

If your adult children now reside elsewhere, please encourage them to take out their own membership, or perhaps gift them a separate one. They may even have their own partner and/or family to include. This will help to grow our membership and would be greatly appreciated by our organisation of volunteers and supporters.

To check your current membership, visit the member portal using your email address and password at https://portal. tiritirimatangi.org.nz/.

To join up your over-18 Student or Individual members, each person should visit the SoTM website https://www. tiritirimatangi.org.nz/support-us/ and join independently.

If you have any questions, or need us to update your family membership details, please contact us at membership@ tiritirimatangi.org.nz. If you wish to add children to your family membership, please provide their full name and date of birth. Thank you, Membership team, SoTM

Correction: The photograph of Te Marino featured on p.13 of the February issue was incorrectly credited. That photo, shown below, was taken by Janet Petricevich.

Hihi highlights

Many overseas volunteers spend time on Tiritiri Matangi. Each leaves with their own treasured memories.

“Volunteering as a research assistant for the hihi recovery project has been an amazing experience. I will miss the landscape, the wildlife and the people, and I hope one day I will be back!”

That was how Alex Marshall felt after spending summer on the Island.

Alex (shown above holding a hihi chick) is on a working holiday from the UK, after having graduated with a BSc

in zoology and working as an ecology and community outreach officer for three years.

“After seeing the hihi research assistant role advertised on the DOC volunteering website, I applied and was successful. Tiritiri Matangi became my home away from home for three months and what an incredible place to call home it was.

“I spent every day walking in the bush monitoring the hihi, which beforehand I knew very little about, but by the end of the season I had learned all about them and their ecology, and I began to recognise their individual characters. I was also given the opportunity to learn how to band the chicks – and drive an LUV (light utility vehicle) which, although daunting at first, became my favourite thing to do.”

Alex looked forward to a swim in the sea after a day of walking in the heat –“when it wasn’t raining”, she adds.

“Everyone on the Island works incredibly hard, both volunteers and staff, behind the scenes and on the ground – they are all super knowledgeable and so dedicated to conservation, it was a privilege to share the space with them.”

Alex is now on a road trip around the rest of the country.

Call for nominations

Nominations are sought for Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and up to nine committee members for the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi to be elected at the Annual General Meeting. A new Chairperson and Secretary will be required as Carl Hayson is stepping down after four years and Gloria Nash after eight years in their respective roles.

If you are keen to become further involved in the management of our outstanding organisation, do consider a role on the committee. Meetings are held every six weeks at a central location. Nominations (including a nominator and seconder) must be received in writing by the Secretary on or before 31 July, 2023. Send to PO Box 90814, Victoria St West 1142, or secretary@tiritirimatangi.org.nz. Please include a photo and brief resumé for inclusion in the August issue of Dawn Chorus.

Native reptiles thriving on Tiritiri Matangi

While Tiritiri Matangi is a recognised conservation leader for a number of reasons, one of its lesser known, or less regularly observed, successes is in the area of its expanding reptile diversity complementing the Island’s broader biodiversity.

Tiritiri Matangi currently has seven species of reptiles, made up of three remnant (that is, already present, no translocation required) populations and four translocated under various DOC/ iwi-supported projects over the last 20 years. Each species occupies a unique niche, with indications that the populations are doing well and expanding.

Aotearoa/New Zealand’s native reptile species are unique for a number of reasons, including their range of colouration, breeding, being primarily live-bearing versus egg-laying, and therefore they are highly targeted by illegal smugglers, especially the various green geckos. Geckos usually give birth to only two young (neonates) a year, a slow replacement strategy increasing risks to their wellbeing and security.

Moko skinks (Oligosoma moco) and copper skinks (Oligosoma aeneum) are probably the most abundant species on Tiritiri Matangi with survey indications of 0.5-1.7 animals per square metre. These attractive, fast-moving skinks are often seen running across pathways, especially on warm, sunny days. As a remnant population, they are well established and spread across the Island. The easiest way to tell these species apart is that the copper skink, as the name suggests, is a speckled coppery colour whereas moko skinks are usually a bit larger and can be distinguished by stripes running the length of their bodies.

Raukawa gecko (Woodworthia maculata) are also a remnant population once thought to be absent from the Island. However, in 2003, around 10 years after the removal of the kiore rat population, they reappeared. First evidence was footprints identified in tracking tunnels. These geckos tend to hide in the rock crevices and, while initially found only on the eastern cliffs, they have recently been seen at the bunkhouse, the back of the Visitor Centre and down at Hobbs Beach.

An iconic New Zealand species, tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) was introduced to Tiritiri Matangi in 2003 when a population of 60 animals – 40 females and 20 males – was translocated into

four ideal bush locations. Tuatara are now regularly seen on the pathways and have spread out significantly.

Duvaucel’s geckos (Hoplodactylus duvaucelii) were first introduced to Tiritiri Matangi in 2006 (19 animals) and then a further 90 founders added in 2013. This is Aotearoa/New Zealand’s largest-remaining gecko species and can measure up to 320mm long. They’re primarily nocturnal and ground-dwelling, but can occasionally be seen basking during the day on flax plants. They are large, robust geckos that may be distinguished by a series of white spots down their backs. They often do not move when spotted, which allows a great opportunity to see one of the country’s very special reptiles.

Shore skinks (Oligosoma smithi) were introduced to the Island in 2006, with further individuals introduced in 2010, supplementing the population. These skinks are found on the shoreline in open habitats with driftwood, in rocky habitats, mat-forming vegetation or seaweed. They can reach up to 80mm long and can be speckled or occasionally black in colour.

The most recent project is the translocation of the Auckland green gecko (the elegant gecko, Naultinus elegans). These are very attractive and brightlycoloured green geckos, often with colour patches or stripes along the body. They can occasionally be found in a bright yellow colouration. They are diurnal or cathemeral, meaning they can be seen both at night and during the day. They’re difficult to spot but love to live in the mānuka or kānuka, where they feed on invertebrates and can often be seen licking nectar.

Tiritiri Matangi is fortunate to have such a diverse range of native fauna. Plans are under way to consider additional reptile species to complement those already on the Island, working in conjunction with iwi, DOC and other key stakeholders. Not only does this build on the richness and diversity of native life on the Island for future generations, but it also enables other future conservation options and habitats for our special and unique species.

Remember, all New Zealand’s native fauna are absolutely protected so if you are fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of one of these special animals, cherish the opportunity, observe how the animals behave in their natural habitat, but never touch or attempt to capture them.

From top: Some of the reptiles that are doing well: shore skink, moko skink, Duvaucel’s gecko and the Auckland green gecko.

– Roger Wallace and Malcolm de Raat

Photo: Malcolm de Raat

Photo: Malcolm de Raat

Photo: Derek Tearne

Photo: Emma Dunning

Tuatara survey for 2023: plentiful reptiles become bigger, bolder and more colourful

Take a walk on Tiritiri Matangi at night and you’re likely to see a tuatara – or 10. Not only has the Island’s population begun to flourish, but the island-born tuatara are beginning to outgrow their parents.

The third survey of the reptiles has herpetologists excited. The largest male found this year weighed more than a kilogram – and he is still a youngster.

A short 20 years ago, October 2003, Dr Graham Ussher and a team of very enthusiastic volunteers translocated 60 tuatara (20 males and 40 females) on to Tiritiri Matangi and released them in four separate sites across the northern half of the Island – 5 males and 10 females at each.

These tuatara originated on Atiu Island (aka Middle Island, in the Mercury Island group). Most reptiles of this size live in very warm countries. Most New Zealand reptiles are either crepuscular (that is, appearing or active at twilight) or they are nocturnal. This, combined with our temperate climate, means our reptiles have to operate at much lower temperatures; for tuatara, this is as low as 12-15°C.

The originals, or founders, were all suitably weighed, measured and injected with a glass-encapsulated PIT (passive integrated transponder) tag. When a tuatara is caught as part of a survey on Tiritiri Matangi, a tag reader is used to scan the tuatara and display its tag number, if it has one. This allows us to identify the founder individuals.

both surveys and anecdotal evidence showed tuatara were healthy and doing well, there was insufficient scientific data to confirm the population was established.

The third survey was organised almost 20 years on from translocation. Over two weeks this March, a group of 22 dedicated volunteers, led by Graham Ussher, Roger Wallace and Malcolm de Raat, scuttled around the Island by night and day, searching for the reptiles. One bite and several scratches later they amassed 104 total tuatara captures, comprising 76 unique individuals in a range of sizes and colours, including some absolute whoppers. Of the 76, 10 were founder animals and the other 66 all born on the Island and, by definition, no more than 19.5 years old.

Tuatara are the sole survivors of a chain of dinosaurs known as “beak heads”, the rhynchocephalians, genus Sphenodon. Fossil records suggest they have had little anatomical change in 170 million years.

On release, founders were estimated to be between 20 and 40 years old, which means they are now between 40 and 60 years old. Living on Tiritiri Matangi has clearly been beneficial as all founders caught are now heavier and longer than their release statistics. The largest founder tuatara captured were a male at 815g, measuring 531mm long (SVL – or snout to vent length –280mm), and a female at 590g, 435mm long (SVL 260mm).

In 2009 and 2015, surveys were carried out to see how the post-release tuatara population was faring. The 2009 survey captured 30 individuals, including 24 founders. In 2015 the survey captured 31 individuals, including 22 founders. While

The real eye openers are the island-born tuatara who have had a great start to life on Tiritiri Matangi. Remembering they are no more than 19.5 years old, the largest Island-born tuatara captured were a male at 1100g, 642mm long (SVL 297mm), and a female at 495g, 430mm long (SVL 250mm).

The youngest and smallest tuatara captured was a juvenile, estimated to be one to two years and weighing in at 80g, 295mm long (SVL 140mm).

Photo: Malcolm de Raat

Malcolm de Raat and Roger Wallace told those attending their recent reptile presentation that tuatara are not lizards, but descendants of dinosaurs... and there are some robust specimens on the Island.

These tuatara have an amazing range of colours, from the expected olive-grey-green through to an unexpected very bright orange and very bright red.

Further analysis of the data is yet to be done, including estimating the overall Island population, but there are several observations that are already clearly evident:

• It is common for visitors staying overnight to see tuatara when out on night walks. One recent and very credible visitor reported seeing “45+ tuatara” on a single night walk. The survey data backs this up with plenty of evidence tuatara have spread out over most of the Island.

• All tuatara caught have been in good health and are very well fed.

• Island-born tuatara are outgrowing their parents.

• The team still needs to confirm it scientifically using the data gathered but, anecdotally, from the survey’s perspective, it is looking very likely the population is established.

• Our gratitude and thanks to Louis Vavasour, our sponsor from Booster Wine Group who so kindly covered all the expenses for our ecologist Dr Graham Ussher of RMA Ecology. Thanks, Louis, for the financial support and, more importantly, for taking time out of your very busy schedule to join in and be an integral part of our team. Our gratitude and thanks also to Marilyn Kelly and Auckland Council who so kindly covered our cultural induction expenses.

• Our gratitude and sincerest thanks to our amazing team of volunteers (Alison, Andrew, Annette, Beth, Dave J, Dave W, Diane, George, Gerhard, Graham, Hester, Jacqui, Jane, John P, John S, Keith, Louis, Mark, Rachel, Sarah, Talia, Zac) for your time, all your support, hard work, and willing help. You all rock.

Above: Dave Wilson, one of DOC’s supervising rangers, who helped out on one of the survey nights.

Photos: Malcolm de Raat

Moths and butterflies on Tiritiri Matangi impress expert

Jacqui Knight, aka Madame Butterfly, the founding trustee of the Moths and Butterflies NZ Trust, visited Tiritiri Matangi late last year and was impressed with what she found. This is a condensed version of Jacqui’s article which featured in the summer issue of Butterflies.

On my visit to the Island I was interested to see if the focus of the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi was purely on plants and birds – or whether it included our invertebrates as well. Walking along the Wattle Track to the lighthouse, listening to delightful bird song, I noticed a great deal of signage explaining the “damage” on various trees and bushes. For example, beside some of the flax, Phormium tenax, there were signs about the flax looper or windower, (Orthoclydon praefactata), which chews narrow strips on the underside of the leaves, exposing the fibre and leaving a thin window in the leaves. The caterpillars are green at first but change to a pale yellow with red stripes, eventually becoming a brown moth with a wingspan of about 3.5-4cm. The other moth caterpillar found on flax is a looper, Ichneutica steropastis, which chews the leaves in a distinctive triangleshaped notch or hole. This one turns into a brown moth with a wingspan of about 4cm. Both caterpillars eat at night and shelter during the day in rolled up, dead leaves or debris. Neither of these do great damage to the bush but might be a problem if you were harvesting flax for weaving.

There was also excellent signage about other Lepidoptera species, including the pūriri moth. What I particularly liked was the fact that there was no mention of the word “pest”, or suggestions of ways in which the caterpillar(s) could be eliminated. Rather, in its wording visitors are encouraged to think of the bigger picture – the fact that the caterpillars could live in harmony with their host plant and those around them.

No doubt many of the caterpillars provide food for the birds that abound on Tiritiri Matangi – but there are still plenty to sustain the moth species and not enough to become a problem for any one plant species. And that’s what biodiversity is all about!

Looking at iNaturalist (left), I noticed that no monarchs or admirals had been recorded on Tiritiri Matangi. Their host plants are not on the Island, but I thought there might have been some “island-hopping”, or being blown on to the Island from the mainland. And I was right!

According to the biodiversity team, admirals –both the NZ red (Vanessa gonerilla) and yellow (V. itea) – have been seen on the Island. A lesser wanderer (Danaus chrysippus) has been recorded, as well as a male blue moon (Hypolimnas bolina). These Australian migrants are frequently blown across the Tasman on the cyclones of late summer. As well, long-tailed blues (Lampides boeticus) are evident on the Island, no doubt breeding on pasture weeds like lotus

I need to go back to the Island next summer to take a better look for butterflies!

(Lotus uliginosus).

Above, from left: Flax looper caterpillar, forest looper moth and long-tailed blue butterfly. Below: iNaturalist map of butterfly sightings on Tiritiri Matangi. Bottom, right: Australian blue moon, which frequently blow across the Tasman.

Photo: Jillian Potter

Photo: Donald Snook

Photo: Kai Skowronnek

Photo: Neil Davies

Above: The photograph on the cover of Butterflies is the native moth Dumbletonius unimaculatus, photographed on Tiritiri Matangi by Shaun Lee.

Disrupted breeding season comes to an end

With the breeding season having finished, Kathryn Jones assesses the status of the juvenile tīeke, hihi and kōkako on the Island, which have been closely monitored during that time.

The post-breeding survey undertaken in February entailed 40 hours of walking all over the Island and recording hihi seen at feeders: 160 were recorded, 108 of which had PIT tags. (Hihi with tags continue to be monitored closely to ensure the microchips inside their bands are still performing.)

In the quieter moments, sugar feeders were deep cleaned and 40 nest boxes replaced. Nest boxes are replaced every five years and the old nest boxes dismantled.

Kōkako

We can now confirm that Rēkohu and Yindi are together, which means the season finished with 23 pairs of kōkako.

After all the shocking weather there appear to be only eight surviving fledglings – six females, one male and one unknown (as once again we could not access Pūtōrino and Sapphire's nest). Te Rae and Chatters, Pureora and Crown, Shelly and Tama, plus Discovery and Sarang, had one female fledgling each. Koto and Apato had two female fledglings. Honey and Rimu produced another male this season; their son Haar hatched in the 2020/21 season.

Oran and Haar and Jenny and Slingshot had one fledgling each but neither has been

Tīeke

The tīeke breeding season started with a translocation of four eggs from nest boxes to Auckland Zoo. The zoo has a permit to take a small number of tīeke from the Island to supplement the captive population.

Taking eggs and raising chicks in captivity has several advantages over moving adult birds, not least the lack of stress to the birds.

The curator of birds at the zoo, Juan Cornejo, visited the Island in October and collected fertile eggs from three boxes. At least one fertile egg was left in each so the parent birds still had the opportunity to raise a chick.

At the zoo, one of the chicks had difficulty hatching and died shortly afterwards, but the other three, a female and two males, thrived under the care of zoo staff – 18 feeds per day at first! They are now healthy juveniles and will eventually be on display in the forest aviary.

On the Island, monitoring was disrupted by wild weather and consequent ferry cancellations, but it was clear that nest box use and rates of success and failure followed the pattern of the last few years (see table).

Nesting attempts were made in 22 of the 151 boxes, and 10 of these failed at egg stage (the eggs failed to hatch or were broken). As far as we can tell, none failed at chick stage and at least one chick fledged from each of the remaining 12 boxes, including two of those from which eggs had been translocated in October.

Hihi

This year, 75 females attempted to breed, raising 193 fledglings.

In January, 31 females attempted a second nest, but many of them failed early, resulting in only a handful of nests to monitor. The last chick fledged on 16 February.

seen since the cyclone. Waitangi and Lyric were feeding a chick or chicks but this nest also failed after the last bout of bad weather.

In early February, Wairua and Parininihi’s two chicks were found predated in their nest. Haeata and Hotu’s chick also failed to fledge. Aquarius and Rakataura’s nest failed yet again, possibly due to where it was located over a cliff, which leaves any nest more vulnerable to predation. Rehu and Noel, a very experienced pair, also had a nest fail this season. Phantom, who is now paired with her grandson Wakei, was also unsuccessful. Over the previous 12 years, when she was paired with Te Hari, she had a number of fledglings.

Photo: Juan Cornejo

Three tīeke chicks translocated from Tiritiri Matangi to Auckland Zoo were successfully hatched. Zoo staff had to feed the constantly hungry mouths 18 times a day initially!

Summary of tīeke nesting attempts in nest boxes for the past five seasons.

Pūtōrino and Sapphire’s unbanded fledgling from last season has finally been caught and banded GyM-JY. This kōkako’s behaviour was male-like and his sex has now been confirmed. As we have more females than males on the Island now, he is proving to be very popular with the unattached females. He has been named Aweawe.

Our oldest bird, Te Hari, who has been on his own for over a year, was recently seen near the wharf area.

Kororā/little penguin

This was their poorest breeding season since systematic monitoring began in 2019-20.

Nest boxes were occupied from mid-July, with eggs laid late in August. Nine pairs occupied boxes and all laid two eggs. Two of the nests failed at egg stage but the others all hatched, producing 14 chicks.

By late November, eight of the chicks had died and the remaining six had fledged. Such a low success rate is assumed to be caused by the inability of the parents to provide sufficient food, but there is no proof that this was the case (see p.14-17).

This is the first year when none of the pairs attempted a second clutch. Seven boxes were occupied by moulting birds in early to late January. Of the 29 wooden nest boxes available, nine were used, either for breeding or moulting, and many others had been visited. This is an encouraging increase from three boxes used last season.

Positive indications from transect survey data

Early signs suggest most species have had a reasonable breeding season, with population numbers up from the eight-year lows recorded last year.

Data analysis has yet to be completed but one indication is that the total number of birds recorded in the survey, which was 7674, is up 623 from last year. These totals don’t indicate actual population size as they will include many birds counted multiple times over the 320 transect counts.

For most of the Island’s common species, tīeke, toutouwai/robin, korimako/ bellbird, hihi, kererū and blackbird, estimates all increased.

Pīwakawaka/fantail, mātātā/fernbird and kākāriki have hardly changed, while pōpokatea/whitehead and tūī were down. Tūī are very mobile and, at the time of the survey, may have moved elsewhere in search of nectar not available on the Island.

The annual transect survey was carried out a little later than usual in mid- to late-March. The aim of the survey is to obtain estimates of the population sizes of those birds which live in the bush areas on the Island. A more detailed article on the survey results will follow in a future edition of Dawn Chorus

Other seabirds

It’s been the best season so far for tarāpunga/ red-billed gulls, with 330 nesting pairs. This is up from just 80 last season. Monitoring began 10 years ago.

The tara/white-fronted tern breeding population varies dramatically from year to year and the majority of years have no or very few nests. This year we can report a reasonable 35 to 50 pairs.

We located only 22 nesting pairs of karoro/ black-backed gulls, which is well below the 10-year average of 35 pairs.

There were 10 kāruhiruhi/pied shag nests, though only five were active during the survey period.

Kuaka/diving petrels may have had reduced nesting success this year as only two chicks were banded from the 29 study burrows. The boxes usually have eight to 10 chicks. There was no other sign of any reduction in the number of adults visiting the colony.

• Compiled by Kathryn Jones, with contributions from Morag Fordham, Emma Gray, Kay Milton and John Stewart

This breeding season has been the poorest for kororā/little penguins since monitoring began four years ago.

Photo: Oscar Thomas

The much-maligned, multi-purpose mānuka

Whether it is called mānuka, tea tree or kahikātoa – as it’s known to some iwi – mānuka is a plant that causes some controversy, as Natalie Spyksma outlines.

Where some people see mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) simply as invasive scrub, others see it as an essential coloniser. Some see its commercial properties, be it honey, firewood, floristry or medicine, whereas others think of it merely as a pretty garden shrub.

As a guide on Tiritiri Matangi, mānuka honey is the most common association I hear mentioned. The second is “the black stuff” that grows on mānuka, but more about that later. Without a doubt though, it is one of our most floriferous and

recognisable native plants, so let’s delve a little bit deeper into its story.

Some background

Mānuka occupies a place in Aotearoa/ New Zealand’s ecosystem as a successional species. However, good sunlight is a prerequisite for the plant’s survival. Within 30-50 years, it is replaced by plants once nurtured in its undergrowth.

Its hardiness and indifference to soil types has given rise to a variety of forms, ranging from prostrate ground covers in

One of our most floriferous – or flowerbearing – native plants. The typically wild white or a white-flushed pink mānuka (left) is now available in a red cultivar (above, top). Once the seed pod opens (above), the wind can readily spread the seeds. Opposite page: Each flower has a distinctive circle of male stamens, surrounding the central female carpel.

the volcanic regions, to elegant trees

5-10m tall, to stunted, wind-blown shrubs on exposed sites. Competition is fierce.

As Aotearoa’s main pioneer shrub, it loves nothing more than colonising bare slopes, forest margins, pastures and open land, where often barely a thought is given to its magnificent displays of flowers.

However, no matter their shape, all possess small, aromatic and prickly leaves, singular white-flushed flowers with a distinctive circle of stamens and hard, woody seed capsules. When dry or burnt, these open to release thousands of fine, light seeds to the ground or for dispersal by the wind.

Photo: Geoff Beals

Photos: Natalie Spyksma

How mānuka got its name

To Māori, mānuka’s striking white flowers held a resemblance to the Polynesian nukānuka tree, Decaspermum fruticosum. Simply the prefix mā was added to the word root, nuka, to name this new plant.

Captain Cook brewed tea from the leaves, giving rise to the common name, tea tree.

Botanically, the Greek leptos (slender) and sperma (seed) reference slender seeds. Scoparium (broom-like) references twiggy branches which, in earlier days, served as brooms. Mānuka is a member of the Myrtaceae family.

The origins of the mānuka

Thousands of years ago, mānuka is thought to have self-introduced on the wind from Australia, where fire is a constant in Leptospermum’s life cycle. Seed pods that open with fire, and past evidence of lignotubers – a woody swelling at the root crown that protects against fire – are testament to this.

Mānuka is often mistaken for its lookalike, the endemic kānuka (Kunzea ericoides) but, in contrast, kānuka’s foliage is soft, often droopy and the white flowers are much smaller. Kānuka grows up to 20m tall.

On Tiritiri Matangi, there is a saying, “Mānuka is mean (prickly), kānuka is kind (soft)”. This helps to differentiate the two by touch. I always feel a bit sorry for mānuka with this description.

Human influence

When Māori first arrived, a damp, largely forested Aotearoa presented only small opportunities for mānuka to grow. It is thought that the clearing of bush by hand and fire, mainly for thoroughfare, allowed mānuka to spread.

Regular reburning to keep the thoroughfares open meant it could continually re-establish itself, eventually thriving from sea level to 1800m. Conflict, perhaps unrecognised as such, had begun between mānuka and humans.

With the arrival of Europeans, when land was cleared for animal farming, mānuka, of course, was quick to reestablish itself in pasture wherever it could. Stock didn’t find it palatable and, as mānuka can flower and reseed when only a few centimetres tall, a new battle began. Machinery, then herbicides, became the tools for compliance.

Multi-purpose mānuka

Aside from the shroud of unwitting conflict, mānuka’s uses were valued and many. Māori crafted all manner of things, including paddles, weapons, spades and bird spears, from the hard, red wood – and the bark was used for water containers and as a waterproofing agent.

Medicinal properties were recognised and resulting decoctions were used as mouth washes, antiseptics, medicine and wound dressings.

Settlers used the wood to build shelters and fences, and the slow, hot-burning

wood for cooking and heating. Even today, mānuka firewood is considered the best. However, the clearing of land for this purpose is now discouraged.

Popularity spreads to gardens and floristry – but also attracts bugs

Plant breeders and nurserymen certainly noticed the virtues of mānuka’s floriferous ways, and now the home gardener and floristry industry have an array of white, pink or red varieties from which to choose. Flowering times vary throughout the country, ranging from autumn through winter to spring.

Unfortunately, sooty mould – the black fungus that grows on the plants as a result of the sticky secretions (honeydew) from scale insects – can be a troublesome pest on mānuka. The mould itself doesn’t feed on the plant but, as it covers the leaf surface, it blocks light and reduces photosynthesis, essential for plant life. If the insect is removed, the sooty mould eventually dries up or washes off. Organic Neem Oil is useful for this.

Mānuka becomes a medicine

Prior to the introduction of honeybees in 1839, solitary native bees, hover flies, moths, beetles and geckos were the main pollinators of mānuka’s sweet-smelling flowers. The balance has no doubt changed as apiculture has grown.

Interestingly, honeybees are now the world’s most widely farmed insect and entomologists are raising concerns.

Since the 1990s, research has catapulted mānuka honey’s unique antibacterial, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiinflammatory properties on to the world stage. A huge increase in honey production and consumption has followed, along with the development of a burgeoning medicinal, health and wellbeing industry worth billions of dollars.

Controversy recently erupted between Australia and New Zealand’s honey industries over Australia’s desire to trademark the words “mānuka honey” to market honey from their own native Leptospermum scoparium trees. Early in 2023, the UK High Court ruled in Australia’s favour.

The tables have turned and now many hectares of mānuka are being planted throughout Aotearoa, not only for honey production but also for restoration projects. A new chapter of respect and association has emerged.

Naturally, mānuka was widely used in Tiritiri Matangi’s replanting programme and is easily viewed along existing tracks and road margins.

Photo: Arie Spyksma

La Niña weather events: how do they impact Tiritiri Matangi?

NIWA, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, forecast the La Niña weather event for the 2022/3 season almost a year ago, making four in a row for us here in the south-west Pacific region. However, no one predicted the destructive strength of the cyclones that were to hit earlier this year. So what is La Niña and what effect does it have on our wildlife on Tiritiri Matangi? John Sibley explains.

Broadly speaking, in a La Niña year, our weather systems here in the North Island tend to arrive predominantly from a northeasterly direction, bringing warm, moist weather. Conversely, the south-western end of the South Island experiences cooler, drier conditions on average.

La Niña weather events are generated far away in the eastern Pacific region, when easterly equatorial trade winds move warm surface water across to the western Pacific, causing an upwelling of cold water off South America. The warm water pushed ahead of it generally brings rain-laden north-easterlies down to Aotearoa/ New Zealand.

In this article, the term “weather” refers to short-term atmospheric conditions, whereas “climate” is the weather of a specific region averaged over a long period of time, 30 years or more. “Climate change” refers to the average of long-term changes.

Last winter, NIWA reported the trade winds had been up to 60% stronger than normal, which did not bode well for the coming summer season.

El Niño is essentially the opposite situation, where the equatorial easterly trade winds weaken and can even reverse direction, resulting in cooler sea temperatures here in the western Pacific region. Broadly speaking, the westerlies prevail and cold southerlies bring cooler winters.

These two conditions can alternate in different years, giving the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). It is extremely likely that climate change has made them more extreme in recent years.

The words “broadly” and “generally” have been chosen carefully here, because La Niña events usually influence the overall weather in Aotearoa by less than 25%, the rest being down to the interaction of other factors, so any future outcome is particularly hard to predict with any precision.

An important indicator of climate change is the increased frequency of marine heat waves detected off the country in recent years, with sea surface temperatures averaging 2°C to 3°C above normal. These affect the distribution of plankton and small bait fish, which sustain the seven species of seabirds with breeding populations on Tiritiri Matangi. Kororā/little penguins and kuaka/ common diving petrels are a particular concern at this time.

The effect of warmer seas on global climate change is crucial. Ocean currents convey vast quantities of heat energy around the planet and for millennia have created stable temperate climates in higher latitudes that would otherwise experience Arctic conditions.

This astonishing ability of water to absorb and store heat energy is one of the reasons why conditions on our planet are stable enough to support life. Water can store over 4500 times more heat energy than an equivalent volume of air, which is why it has such a powerful influence on world climate.

Although the heat energy carried by ocean currents brings benefits to some, the warmer they get, the more energy they impart to fuel extreme weather events, which are becoming much more

Source: NASA (Public domain)

Image courtesy of NIWA

Above, left: La Niña sea surface temperatures. Above: Worsening marine heat waves in recent years.

frequent and damaging. Worryingly, several key deep ocean currents transporting heat around the globe are now faltering and slowing down as climate tipping points are reached.

Tiritiri Matangi has always had a dryish climate by virtue of its position in the Gulf. The diagram at left shows how the prevailing westerly airstream over Aotearoa causes rainfall to diminish from west to east. Eastern Whangapāraoa and Tiritiri Matangi receive about 75% (or less) of the rain falling to the west. (Figures are in 100’s of mm per year).

The table below shows monthly rainfall figures on the Island over seven years. Colours indicate rainfall deficits or excesses relative to the MetService monthly rainfall data, averaged over a 30-year period for the Auckland region.

quite noticeable extremes from month to month, with some very dry months followed by periods of heavy rain.

These wet and dry extremes over several years seem to have badly affected many mature trees on Tiritiri Matangi. For example, the mature tawa tree on the Kawerau Track is slowly dying, and many good-sized kōwhai, māhoe and karo have succumbed recently.

Above: Tiritiri Matangi weather data (modified). White: little difference (figures +/- 20% of Auckland regional average).

Orange: moderate drought (between 20-40% less than regional average).

Pink: severe drought (more than 40% less than regional average).

Green: moderate rainfall (between 20-40% more than regional average).

Blue: extreme rainfall (more than 40% more than regional average).

From these figures, 50% of the time there is either drought (14%), or extreme drought conditions (36%) prevailing on Tiritiri Matangi. For 19% of the year, there is either moderately high rainfall (5%), or extremely high rainfall (14%). Extreme rainfall is about three times more likely than steady moderate rainfall. For 31% of the year the Island has rainfall conditions comparable to the rest of the Auckland region.

The summers of 2019/20 were particularly dry on the Island and, although the total for 2021/22 was back on track, there were still

Māhoe, in particular, seems to be vulnerable to both extreme drought and excessively wet soil. The pikirangi/New Zealand mistletoe plants on the Wattle Track and on Graham’s Road have also died, and nearly all the ancient Psilotum or whisk ferns on the Island have disappeared in the past four years.

The 2019 and 2020 summers were drier than usual for La Niña years. The wet northeasters in 2020/21 missed us, but hit Eastern Australia instead, causing record flooding. The rainfall total in 2021 looked normal, but had several sharply fluctuating wet and dry monthly variations. The summer cyclone season in 2022/23 saw the arrival of two tropical cyclones, Hale and Gabrielle in January and February, between them giving a combined rainfall of just under half the average for the entire year.

The intense low-pressure systems associated with these cyclones caused the sea level to rise half a metre above normal high-tide levels. Plus, 130-140km/h winds created waves over 10m-high along the Northland coast. Later the wind swung round to the southwest, causing the Hobbs Beach Track to be badly eroded.

Ray Walter reported that the extremely destructive surge caused by tropical cyclone Gabrielle was higher than anything he has ever

Photo: John Sibley

Left: Annual rainfall in the western Gulf from 1988. Above: Fungi invade the dying tawa on the Kawerau Track.

Hessel, 1988

Diagram: John Sibley

seen in all the years he has been on the Island. As climate change progresses we are more and more likely to see these “100-year events” happening with much greater frequency.

Climate change is not new, and over the millennia it has been the driver of many an ecological upheaval. Humans are also part of the ecological web of life on Earth and are just as vulnerable as the rest of the living world. Evidence suggests the past 5000 years or so of human history have been unusually stable climatically, compared to earlier pre-historic times. This has allowed human civilisations to rise and flourish. When cultures did decline and disappear, as in Central America and parts of the Middle East, the cause is thought to have been largely due to shifting rainfall patterns causing crop failure, famine and mass migrations of people.

What lessons can be applied to Tiritiri Matangi? Change is in the air, so to speak; if the plant species making up our distinctive coastal broadleaf forest biome become stressed, then the birds and other animals that live there will be affected too. As with any ecosystem, breeding success for many animals might falter. Over time the species composition of the ecosystem is therefore likely to subtly change as it adapts and morphs to reach a new equilibrium in the changed climatic conditions. Species that cannot adapt will move away or die and other species may take their place.

In the sea around Tiritiri Matangi the recent marine heat waves seem to be causing phytoplankton and zooplankton populations to change. Small bait fish that feed on this plankton are highly mobile and will follow their food supply to the cooler distant waters of the outer Gulf.

Kororā/little penguins are known to hunt within a 20km radius of the Island and, if their fish prey moves away, they will starve as we have seen recently in Northland regions where kororā in their hundreds have died of starvation.

After little penguins finish breeding, they need to put on weight again before beginning their annual moult, which requires them to stay ashore in burrows for around three weeks without feeding. This begins as early as January, and starvation is a real possibility if the birds cannot put on sufficient weight beforehand. Kuaka/diving petrels similarly rely on being able to catch their food within 20km of shore, in order to raise their chicks during the breeding season.

Recent sea surface temperatures measured off Tiritiri Matangi would seem to indicate the biggest temperature changes are happening in winter, when minimum temperatures are presently around 1.5-2°C higher now than 60 years ago. Present summer maximum temperatures seem to be relatively unchanged, and further monitoring is needed to confirm this trend.

The diagram (opposite page, top left) shows two populations of kuaka in the Gulf with their respective foraging ranges. In the outer Gulf they feed mainly on krill, which is abundant there. Krill is a shrimp-like oceanic crustacean, and is much less abundant in the coastal waters of the inner Gulf, so the diving petrels breeding on Tiritiri Matangi feed mainly on small bait fish, such as mohimohi/ pilchards, korowhāwhā/anchovies and hautere/jack mackerel. Likewise, the kororā on the Island also feed on these small fish and squid. If the fish leave the inner Gulf due to marine heat waves then these birds will be forced to move away or starve.

Above: Sea surface temperatures recorded over three summers off Tiritiri Matangi wharf.

Photos: John Sibley

Above: Hautere/jack mackerel shoaling near the wharf. Above, right: This kororā/little penguin died of starvation.

Diagram: John Sibley

Left: Foraging effort of kuaka/ common diving petrel is relative to prey abundance. Above: Penilia – a key plankton species off Tiritiri Matangi. Below, right: A kākāriki chick that failed to thrive.

More than 30 plankton species have been sampled and analysed regularly off the wharf for over two years now. Findings indicate the main prey species that supports the bait fish population around Tiritiri Matangi is the crustacean Penilia avirostris.

Anecdotally, P. avirostris was much more abundant prior to 2017. At that time they occurred in numbers that would on occasions completely clog a plankton sampling net. Plankton was not systematically counted and recorded until late 2019, by which

time the numbers of P. avirostris had dropped dramatically.

Encouragingly, the summer of 2022/23 delivered a significant improvement in the numbers of P. avirostris present (see spring/summer results on graph, below left), so perhaps we are looking at a short-term population fluctuation after all – time will tell. The abundance scale on the graphs is logarithmic, so a score of five represents 10,000 individuals per m3 of seawater and a six would be 100,000.

Other major food sources for small fish and birds around Tiritiri Matangi are collectively known as “jellies”. This group is composed of the many and varied cnidarian “jellyfish” species, plus the jelly-bodied salps (see graph).

P. avirostris is a seasonal species, as can be seen in the graph, dying back in winter, leaving resistant eggs which hatch in spring. Fish must find an alternative food source when numbers drop. Copepod crustaceans seldom reach these numbers, and cnidarians and salps seem to form the next most important stable food source for small bait fish during winter.

Like the P. avirostris, the 2022/23 statistics for the cnidarians/ salps also show a recent marked improvement (see graph for March 2023). It would also be a mistake to underestimate the resilience of the bird populations. “Boom and bust” trends are features of many wild animal populations, and past experience shows us the Island's birds are capable of bouncing back after periods of environmental stress.

Above all, we can see that Tiritiri Matangi is not just an island cut off from the rest of the world, but is part of a bigger marine and global environment which is presently undergoing rapid and profound changes.

This young kākāriki is a poignant reminder of the struggle that all of the birds on the

Island face – the role that climate change plays in their quest for food, which dominates their lives and dictates their breeding success. This young bird came so close to fledging, but died at the last moment, probably due to lack of food as the dry weather in January 2022 took its toll. Despite the recent destructive cyclones, the latest breeding season has seen modest improvements in breeding success for many bird species on Tiritiri Matangi, probably due to increased rainfall boosting food supply (see p. 11). Early MetService predictions are favouring an El Niño weather pattern emerging later in the year, which could cause a colder winter and a more south-westerly influence on the weather ahead. It remains to be seen what effect this has on the bird life on Tiritiri Matangi.

Diagram courtesy of Edin Whitehead and Chris Gaskin

Photos: John Sibley

Penilia avirostris populations have been found to rise and fall seasonally off the Island.

Cnidarian and salp populations fluctuate less during the winter months.

Diagrams: John Sibley

Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi

The Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi (SoTM) is a volunteer Incorporated Society that works closely with the Department of Conservation to make the most of the wonderful conservation restoration project that is Tiritiri Matangi. Every year volunteers put thousands of hours into the project and raise funds through donations, guiding and our island-based gift shop. If you’d like to share in this exciting project, membership is just $25 for a single adult, family or corporate; $30 if you are overseas; and $13 for children or students. Dawn Chorus, our magazine, is sent out to members every quarter. See www.tiritirimatangi. org.nz or contact PO Box 90-814 Victoria St West, Auckland.

SoTM Committee

Chairperson: Carl Hayson chairperson@tiritirimatangi.org.nz, 027 3397105

Secretary: Gloria Nash secretary@tiritirimatangi.org.nz

Treasurer: Peter Lee treasurer@tiritirimatangi.org.nz

Committee: Stacey Balich, Hester Cooper, Barry Fraser, Rachel Goddard, Val Lee, Jane Thompson, Ray Walter, Michael Watson, Janet Petricevich

Operations manager: Debbie Chapman opsmanager@tiritirimatangi.org.nz

Acting guiding and shop manager: Debbie Chapman guiding@tiritirimatangi.org.nz, 09 476 0010

Membership: Rose Coveny membership@tiritirimatangi.org.nz

Educator: Barbara Hughes

Assistant educator: Liz Maire educator@tiritirimatangi.org.nz

Fundraiser: Juliet Hawkeswood fundraiser@tiritirimatangi.org.nz

Social Media: Stacey Balich socialmedia@tiritirimatangi.org.nz

Dawn Chorus editor: Lyn Barnes editor@tiritirimatangi.org.nz, 021 407 820

Island ranger: Talia Hochwimmer tiritirimatangi@doc.govt.nz, 09 476 0920

Coming Events

King’s Birthday: Working Weekend Saturday 3 –Monday 5 June

Tiritiri Matangi Talk Monday 12 June (see p.5 for details)

“Secrets and surprises from our island ecosystems”

Guest speaker: David Towns

7.30pm Unitec, Carrington Rd

Matariki: Friday 14 July

Supporters’ Weekend: Saturday 15 July-Sunday 16 July

Supporters’ Weekend: Saturday 2 Sept-Sunday 3 Sept

Supporters’ AGM: Monday 18 Sept

Guides’ Day Out: Sunday 17 Sept and Saturday 23 Sept

For the latest information on events on the Island, visit the SoTM website www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz

Visiting Tiritiri Matangi Island for education or recreation

Day trips: Weather permitting, Explore runs a return ferry service Wednesday to Sunday from Auckland Viaduct and the Gulf Harbour Marina. Bookings essential. Phone 0800 397 567 or visit https://www.exploregroup.co.nz/tiritiri-matangi-island/tiritirimatangi-island-ferry/. Call 09 916 2241 after 7am on the day to confirm the vessel is running.

School and tertiary institution visits: The Tiritiri education programme covers from pre-school (3-4 year-olds), to Year 13 (17-18-year-olds), along with tertiary students. The focus in primary and secondary areas is on delivering the required Nature of Science and Living World objectives from the NZ Science Curriculum. At the senior biology level there are a number of NCEA Achievement Standards where support material and presentations are available. For senior students the Sustainability (EFS) Achievement Standards are available on the NZQA website. There is huge potential in that these standards relate directly to Tiritiri in various subject areas: science, economics, tourism, geography, religious education, marketing, health and physical education. The Island also provides a superb environment for creative writing, photography and art workshops.

Tertiary students have the opportunity to learn about the history of Tiritiri and tools of conservation as well as to familiarise themselves with population genetics, evolution and speciation. Groups wishing to visit should go to www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz/schoolvisits.htm or contact schoolbooking@tiritirimatangi.org.nz. Bookings are essential.

Overnight visits: Camping is not permitted and there is limited bunkhouse accommodation at $20 a night for members ($40 for non-members). Bookings essential. For further information: www.doc.govt.nz/tiritiribunkhouse or ph: 09 379 6476.

Supporters’ discount: Volunteers doing official SoTM work get free accommodation but this must be booked through the Guiding and Shop Manager at guiding@tiritirimatangi.org.nz or 09 476 0010. SoTM members visiting privately can get a 50% discount but must first book and pay online. Then email aucklandvc@doc. govt.nz giving the booking number and SoTM membership number (which is found on the address label of Dawn Chorus or on the email for your digital copy). DOC will then refund the discount to your credit card.

Photo: Donald Snook

Jewellery range inspired by treasures

Taonga in Maori culture are objects or natural resources that are highly prized.

In Aotearoa/New Zealand, native species are taonga. Examples of taonga works include the haka, carvings, weavings, tā moko and designs. And nature creates many designs to inspire.

Now, a Kaikoura-based company is creating a range of jewellery called Little Taonga – and the shop on the Island is selling a selection of their gems.

The company has a focus on sustainability, so each item is carefully packed in beautiful ecofriendly glass containers with a cork lid.

All the earrings are hypoallergenic and made with surgical steel posts.

Reasonably priced, these items make wonderful gifts for friends and family – or as a treat for yourself.

Online

Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi wishes to acknowledge the generous support of its sponsors

Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi welcomes all types of donations, including bequests, which are used to further our work on the Island. If you are considering making a bequest and would like to find out more, please contact a member of the Committee.