Chorus
Spring has sprung!
As many visitors and volunteers to the Island can attest, much of the flora has been, or is, flowering. New fruit is appearing on many of the trees, ready to support the next generation of wildlife eagerly arriving on their island paradise. It was a pleasure to see the pāteke / brown teal ducklings on the Wharf Dam at Labour Weekend.
A good in-person attendance at the AGM, along with many more attending by Zoom, led to a successful event. Thank you to Minter Ellison for the use of their facilities and provision of supper. It was much appreciated.
The election provided no new faces to the Committee, which was disappointing, so efforts are now underway to co-opt further members.
It was fantastic to see the Labour Weekend working party undertaking the various tasks needed to keep the Island operating. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.
With summer approaching, more visitors are scheduled to come to the Island, meaning a greater demand for guides. Thank you to all the guides stepping up to the task of ensuring our visitors have an amazing experience. Welcome also to new guides and those in training.
Our two fundraisers, Louise and Rashi, are making an incredible difference in the funding of our activities with their enthusiasm, successful grant applications, and more exciting connections with funders still to come.
Your committee is committed to ensuring the future of this conservation project and is confident that with good planning the legacy of past members can be continued well into the future. The contribution of all members and volunteers is valued.
I am pleased to announce that Rachel Goddard was appointed Deputy Chair at the Committee's October meeting. Congratulations Rachel.
Season’s greetings to you all. Please visit the Island and, over the summer, share with friends your passion for this island paradise.
Ian Alexander Chair
The morning after
Six long years in the tree, Living on wood and fungi, The time has come, for your day in the sun, A night on the town, looking for love, Your first love, and last, A love which will endure for the rest of your life, Or until morning, which is the same thing.
I hope you found moth love, on this cold, wet, winter's night.
Front cover: Jennifer Cuthbertson
Our regular feature, Flora Notes, is taking a break this issue but will return in February
Chair Chat
Photo: Jonathan Mower
Derek Tearne Ode to a pūriri moth
Guest Guides
It is a great pleasure to introduce this edition’s Guest Guides, Morag and Simon Fordham. Morag is originally from Scotland and Simon from England, but both have lived in NZ for many years. They became involved with Tiritiri in 1993 after calling at the Island on their way back from a Christmas / New Year sailing holiday. In about 1996, as demand for guiding grew, they were enlisted as guides numbers five and six (after Ray and Barbara Walter, Mel Galbraith, and Carl Hayson). They have shared some of their years of experience with Dawn Chorus...
How has guiding changed from when you started?
S: When we began guiding, all proceeds were returned to DOC. In 1998, after waiting for some time, SoTM was granted a concession, which allowed the funds to be reinvested in the Island. Further benefits were realized three years later when Fullers was granted the ferry concession and immediately offered to transport guides at no cost, as well as not charging a commission on the guiding fee. Of course, the popularity of guided walks has grown immensely. As demand grew, two new routes (the Kawerau and Moana Rua / Coast to Coast Tracks) were added to take pressure off the Wattle Track.
M: The groups are now much smaller. There is more support as there are now a guiding manual, guide training evenings, and guide days out.
What has been your favourite experience with guiding?
M: Seeing my group become enthusiastic through my passion and love for Tiritiri. Being able to show the group our rare and endangered wildlife, often up close and personal. This is a real privilege.
S: There have been many rewarding experiences, but one of the most memorable was in my earlier days when I guided a group of intellectually disabled youngsters. I was the one that learnt so much that day and found the experience quite uplifting.
What tip would you give to someone learning to guide?
S: Don’t stop learning and adapting your tour to suit. My early tours were mainly about facts and figures but as time went by I focussed more on the stories, as this is what visitors will remember. It is also the case that the most experienced guides can learn from newer ones. They may just have a piece of knowledge or way of presenting the Island that you can incorporate into your tour.
M: Always express your joy, passion, and enthusiasm at being on this special island. Make sure your group listens to the birdsong as well as looking for wildlife.
Most of your volunteering on Tiritiri is now centred around biodiversity work. How did you get involved with this?
M: Barbara Walter recognised my love for anything feathered or scaled and asked me to help her monitor our wonderful tīeke/saddleback.
S: In earlier days, we enjoyed the occasional interaction, thanks to Ray, Barbara, and others. Mel Galbraith introduced us to bird-banding by taking us to the ‘Petrel Station’ during the grey-faced petrel breeding season. In 2003, we were invited by DOC to learn mist-netting, which led to involvement in numerous translocations, both on Tiritiri and elsewhere. What is your favourite story you like to share about Tiritiri?
M: The close encounters I have been privileged enough to experience with some of the Island’s wildlife.
S: There are so many stories, but here is one from left field. I had just bought a new pair of boots and was wearing them on the Island over the summer break. One day, I was having trouble with these – my feet were really hurting as I negotiated the off-track valleys. It was not until I returned to the bunkhouse that I learnt that Mel Galbraith had just bought a pair of the same brand, but half a size smaller. You can guess what I had done!
What/who is your favourite bird on the Island, and why?
S: It probably comes as no surprise that it is the rifleman, having worked with these since managing the translocations from 2009-2011. Although they are our smallest species, they thrive when given the opportunity. I do, however, have a soft spot for so many other species, particularly the kōkako, saddleback, and pūkeko.
M: My favourite individual is a kōkako called Parininihi (Pari for short) because he is such a SNAK (sensitive new age kōkako). He is very caring of his lady and doesn’t seem to mind us being around him.
What is your quirkiest / most memorable Island experience?
M: Having a female kiwi run over the top of me when I was lying on my back trying to monitor the pair. Holding my first kiwi and seeing tīeke/saddleback and kōkako nestlings for the first time. Hearing our magical dawn chorus.
S: Many could be described as quirky, but one in particular was when I was photographing a young bellbird, and it flew towards me and landed on my beard.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
M: The wonderful friendships we have made over our long association with the Island. Tiritiri has been our second home for over 30 years and long may it continue to be so.
S: A glass of wine at Christmas! Seriously, though, Morag has mentioned the many friendships we have made through our involvement with Tiritiri. These mean everything.
photographer
Morag and Simon Fordham in the Galapagos Islands
Guide's Day Out
A major training initiative for our volunteer guides is what’s known as Guides’ Day Out. Held annually on consecutive weekends in September, these two one-day events are opportunities for guides to learn from specialists in various fields, through guided walks and workshops. This year we introduced a plenary session after the shared lunches where quick updates were shared, with the intention that we all received important information.
We are especially grateful to Explore Group for providing up to 90 seats per day for guides and guest speakers.
This year's topics covered a wide range of engaging areas, including strategies for discussing climate change, maritime history talks during guided museum and watchtower tours, and a walking history of Tiritiri Matangi led by one of the project’s original planners. Sessions also delved into the practical aspects of nest box installation and their purposes, Tiritiri's key stakeholders, and a workshop for new guides focused on planning, group leadership, and visitor management. Additional topics included the use of wildlife radio-tracking on the motu/Island, nature journaling as a memory aid for guides, herpetofauna (reptile) translocation projects, a bird-feeding study on the Island, and a review of the original planting plan for the restoration project.
Our lunchtime short updates included information about avian flu and an overview of the defibrillators on the motu. The sessions' leaders included our own biodiversity volunteers and guides, as well as specialists who have had a long association with the restoration project. A great deal of planning and organising goes into these days to ensure we make the most of these opportunities to keep our guides' knowledge up-to-date.
Gail Reichert
Dawn Chorus
Our annual dawn chorus event on 28 September was fully booked weeks in advance. This demonstrates people's enthusiasm for experiencing the outbreak of birdsong at the start of a new day on the motu/Island. 'Hats off' to the crew of the Explore ferry. They departed Auckland at 4.00 am and Gulf Harbour at 4.55 am. Most visitors boarded the ferry at Gulf Harbour, along with the majority of the guides who volunteered to make the early start to support our visitors.
Experienced guides created a 'production line' on the trip across the Tiri Channel, helping visitors place red cellophane over their torches (including tricky cellphone torches) to ensure the birds were not disturbed by the light.
At the Tiritiri wharf, DOC ranger Keith Townsend came aboard the ferry to give a biodiversity briefing. Visitor groups were then allocated their guides and sent up the Wattle Track to await the dawn. Volunteer guides Stacey Balich, Jacqui Darvill, and Robyn Fond had stayed on the Island the previous night and set up seats along the track, with help from Keith, so that visitors could await the first calls in comfort. This year was quite windy, which meant the birdsong was not as prevalent as in previous years, but the korimako/bellbird and hihi/stitchbird didn’t disappoint and provided a lovely dawn chorus for our 70 visitors.
Gail Reichert
John Stewart presenting the bird-feeding study
Photo: Karin Gouldstone
The sun rising behind the lighthouse and mast
Photo: Gail Reichert
Working Weekend
This Labour Weekend, a hearty team of volunteers braved the wild, windy crossing over to the motu/Island for some hard work and unmatched camaraderie. We had a few big tasks lined up, with the East Coast Track in dire need of gravelling, the fenced area behind the Visitor Centre needing to be water-blasted, painted, and repaired, shade sails to be installed, track boards to be replaced, and gutters to be cleared, among others. We got into the mahi/work on Saturday hoping to finish a portion of the track over the weekend, but our stand-up 'gravel gang' surprised us all by completing the whole thing in just a day and a half!
One of my favourite parts of participating in the working weekends is learning new skills and trying out new tools which build my repertoire, moving me from the 'high enthusiasm, low skill' group, and earning me a nickname or two from Peter! With many seasoned volunteers being well-versed in the workings of the Island and its infrastructure needs, we newbies are lucky to have the mōhiotanga/knowledge passed on so we can continue this important kaitiakitanga/guardianship for generations to come.
Tiritiri Matangi is home to many taonga/treasured species, and this time of year is so special as we begin to see and hear the signs of new life across the motu. Our volunteers were enriched by a special experience this weekend, getting a brief visit from a tiny miracle — the first takahē chick of the season!
The tiny ball of black fluff was about seven days old when it was sighted, with doting mum and dad (Anatori and Wakapatu) keeping a close eye on their offspring. They made sure their little one didn't stray too far out of the long grass. Takahē are particularly vulnerable to predation when they are small.
We worked hard, got lots done, took advantage of our tools to support our break times (see photo), shared kai/food and laughter, and continued ngā tikanga / the customs created over generations of working weekends. I feel very lucky to be a part of this rōpū/group. Acting as kaitiakitanga for Tiritiri Matangi feels like a true privilege and sharing it with others who are passionate is the proverbial '[caramel] sauce on top' (thanks to Malcolm for always bringing the sauce!).
Introducing Anne Mouat
I'm Anne Mouat. Since June I've been assisting our Guiding and Operations Managers with volunteer bookings. I also regularly help with other administrative tasks. While I do most of my volunteer work from home, I love the opportunities I get to visit the Island. I enjoy watching the birds in my favourite spots along the Wattle Track and try to photograph those that I don't get opportunities to view in other parts of Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland.
I became hooked on the special nature of Tiritiri Matangi on my first visit when my family and I had to duck as a kererū raced along the track at head height. Tūī and korimako/bellbird sang so loudly in the background, we needed to hold our hands over our ears. A visit to the Island has always been a bittersweet experience, knowing that this was how the New Zealand bush used to be, how much we have lost, and how amazing it would be if we could replicate the experience across Aotearoa.
Meredith Blogg
The shade sail being installed
Some of the 'gravel gang' hard at work compacting gravel...
... while others take a well-earned break
Photo: Rhiannon Myers
Photo:
Meredith Blogg
The Brightest Light
The Davis Marine Light, a lens unique to the Tiritiri Matangi lighthouse, which has been stored in the lighthouse museum, was recently restored by volunteers Rob and Karin Gouldstone and then reassembled inside the second floor of the newly painted lighthouse for future display purposes. It has been somewhat of a mystery as to the origins of this unusual lens, why such a powerful light came to be installed in the Tiritiri Matangi lighthouse, and what was so different about it. Some recent research in Archives NZ Wellington and Maritime NZ has revealed some of the answers, shared here by Carl Hayson
The lighthouse's original 1865 lens was a second-order glass barrel lens fitted with a fixed light. It produced approximately one million candle power (cp) due to the magnification of its Fresnel lenses. This light served Tiritiri Matangi for nearly 100 years. In 1960, Sir Ernest Davis, a prominent wealthy businessman with a long-distinguished career in local politics and a former Auckland Mayor, decided Auckland needed to have a much stronger light to mark the entrance to the city he had supported over his lifetime. He donated a considerable sum towards a powerful marine light to be built for the Tiritiri Matangi lighthouse.
He commissioned Stone-Chance, a famous lighthouse lens manufacturer in the UK and makers of the original lens, to build a customised rotating lens apparatus. At that time, a Xenon lamp was being tested in the lighthouse in Dungeness, UK (under the watch of Trinity House UK). The Dungeness experiment was not successful, and it is not known whether this experiment influenced Stone-Chance’s design of Tiritiri’s new light.
In As Darker Grows the Night[1], Peter Taylor wrote ‘Their first attempt was not notably successful when tested in their workshops and so they went back to their drawing boards and designed what was to become one of the world’s most powerful marine lights, a dazzling, glittering masterpiece of technology which radiated eleven million candlepower from a Xenon lamp with a light source no bigger than a dried pea’.
A New Zealand company, Associated Electrical Industries (AEI), was tasked with sourcing the 2kW Xenon discharge lamp for the lens. Xenon lamps emit an intense luminosity in pencil-like beams. At the time, they were mainly used in searchlights and cinemas. The Marine Department in New Zealand was willing to use it, although they had no experience with this type of lamp.
In July 1962, the New Zealand Government Cabinet formally approved the plans for the new light, and arrangements were put in place for its installation. Regretfully Sir Ernest did not live to see the light in action, passing away in September 1962 at the age of 90.
Despite his death, the work continued, overseen by his daughter, and the Ernest Davis Marine Light was finally installed in 1965. It was officially switched on the night of 13 March 1965. At 8 pm, eight pencil-thin beams of light penetrated the darkness and could be seen at 56 nautical miles. It was the most powerful light in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the most powerful in the world. A brass plaque was unveiled by Sir Ernest’s daughter in the AEI NZ offices to commemorate the event. It is now on display in the Tiritiri Matangi lighthouse.
The Xenon lamp viewed though the lens
The original 1865 lens being lifted out. Note the filament lamp from this light nearby (bottom left of frame)
Eight pencil-thin beams of light: the Davis Marine Light
Photo: Peter Taylor
The lens did not need Fresnel lenses to magnify the light because the beams were so powerful. Such was the brightness of the light that the beams penetrated curtained rooms on the mainland and dazzled drivers of cars on the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The loom of the light was also detected on the horizon by pilots taking off from New Plymouth airport.
Operating the new light brought many problems for the keepers on the station. The lamp was protected by plates of armoured glass for good reason. In operation, the lamp burned at 4000°C and the gas in the bulb reached a pressure of 175 lbs per sq. in. in operation. Even when cold, the lamp pressure stood at 56 lbs per sq. in. and was described in the Stone-Chance manual as a safety hazard. Paul Trevethick, who worked on the Island as a relief keeper in 1980, recently remarked it was a very scary light to start. Ray Walter said that a welding mask and suit had to be worn when the lamp was switched on and he had to stay downstairs for about half an hour while an exhaust fan fitted to the apparatus extracted the large volume of ozone and heat that was released. To illustrate how dangerous these lamps were, there are two instances recorded in Marine Department files stating that the lamp exploded, shattering the lens.
In these instances, a battery-powered standby light kicked in until the Xenon lamps were reinstated. The standby light has been restored to working condition and is in the lighthouse museum.
An additional problem was that Xenon lamps required large amounts of power, 3.3kW to be exact, to run and the three old generators on the Island produced a maximum output of 5kW. With the installation of the new light, power to run the rest of the lighthouse station became severely limited. In 1967, the Marine Department solved this problem by installing a 3.2 km submarine power cable from Whangaparāoa to Tiritiri Matangi Island, which connected the Island to mains electrification. The cable was laid over the track now called Cable Road and along Cable Track to the current museum site. The additional available power enabled the establishment of an electric foghorn in 1984.
By 1984, after nearly 20 years in service, parts for the apparatus were becoming expensive and hard to source. The lighthouse keepers had been withdrawn as a result of automation and it was no longer practical to operate the Davis Marine Light. The Xenon lamps, apart from being hazardous, were also very expensive and it was decided to downgrade the light to a more reliable, safer but less bright quartz iodine (1.2M cp) which could operate automatically. This lamp configuration continued until 1989 when the underground cable was pulled up several times by boat anchors, thus severing the power supply to the Island. Technology had moved on by then and the Davis Marine Light was replaced by a solar-powered light, giving 1M cp at a fraction of the cost and power requirements, and providing independence from the mainland power supply.
So ended one of the most intriguing episodes in New Zealand lighthouse history. We are fortunate to have on display in the lighthouse and lighthouse museum items relating to this period.
Unless otherwise stated, all photographs are from Ray Walter's photograph albums – photographers unknown
[1] As Darker Grows the Night, Peter Taylor (1975) Hodder and Stoughton Ltd
The exhaust system under the Davis lens and standby light (top right of frame)
The standby light
The Xenon lamp inside the lens
Workmen putting the lamp in place (note the welding mask)
Activity on the Island has been keeping the bird-monitoring teams busy.
Sightings of birds with nesting material in their beaks have been plentiful this breeding season and the number of nests with eggs being incubated is growing. Some of the bird nest boxes continue to be used by wētāpunga
Hihi/stitchbird
Emma Gray has returned as the hihi contractor for her fourth season and is in charge of the programme on Tiritiri this year. Abbey, the hihi volunteer for the season, started in mid-October. You will see plenty of Emma and Abbey as they zoom around the Island checking nest boxes.
As usual, the season started with a prebreeding survey. This entailed spending 40 hours walking around the Island looking for hihi, with another six hours spent at the sugar-feeders. The feeder sessions were split into half-hour blocks, with morning and afternoon sessions on different days. This year, 147 birds were seen during the survey (104 male and 43 female). Dataloggers recorded an additional 12 birds at feeders during the survey, bringing the total to 159 birds (106 male and 53 female).
These numbers are particularly good considering some of the fledglings from last year's breeding season were translocated to Shakespear Regional Park in May for a second attempt at establishing a hihi population there. The first attempt was unsuccessful, likely due to a series of unfortunate environmental events (including an elusive stoat). However, we believe Shakespear to be a good candidate for a successful hihi translocation.
While the Tiritiri Matangi birds haven’t started as early as last year, with the abundant flax flowering, the breeding season is now kicking off. Twenty-four nests have eggs in them at the time of writing (mid-October), which were all laid within a week and a half. There are another 19 nests that are primed and ready to go. Eggs will be starting to hatch at the end of October. There will be another 30 days in the nest for these babies before they venture out on their own in December. The hihi 'forecast' is looking good for this breeding season. Kōkako
Titipounamu/rifleman
After last season’s bumper crop, it is no surprise that so many nesting pairs have already been identified. Around fifty pairs are known to be using boxes, mainly purpose-built riflemen boxes but also quite a few intended for hihi, tīeke/ saddleback and kākāriki.
We started this season with 25 known pairs. Since the end of the last season, there have been four 'divorces'. Noel, who had been with Rehu since the 2010/11 season, is now with Kopakopa, who is two years old. Slingshot, who was with Jenny, is now with Atarau; Te Kōkī, who was with Hina, is now with Dianella; and Honey, who was with Rimu, is now with Hēnare. Rimu has been seen nearby.
Towards the end of last season, Bátor and Skye split up, and he paired up with Marihi. Skye is still on her own.
As of 18 October, at least six pairs were building or had a nest, and we knew that two of these pairs were incubating.
Last season there were 13 fledglings and, to date, ten of these have been sighted this season.
Takahē
The lighthouse pair of takahē, Anatori and Wakapatu, have a chick. If you see the family out and about, please give them plenty of space.
Atawhenua and Turutu, the pair at the northern end of the Island, have not nested so far this season. In winter, Atawhenua developed a limp and had to be taken off the Island to be checked by a veterinarian at the Zoo. She was returned to the Island after treatment.
A female hihi sitting on her nest
Anatori feeding her new chick
A female kōkako carrying nest-lining material
Photo: Alison Forbes
Photo: Meredith Blogg
Photo: Emma Gray
Tīeke/saddleback
Tīeke nest-box monitoring started in late September, and the first visits found only three active nests.
Two of those now (late October) have chicks who should have fledged by early November, but the other appears to have failed at the egg stage. The most recent visits show we have tīeke nesting in six boxes. In 2023-24, 21 nest boxes were used by tīeke and, although it is still early in the current season, our impression is that numbers are well down.
It is worth mentioning that box 7b, used by two apparently competing females in recent years, now has a nest with a chick. It looks like the competition is over, though whether the other female has died or moved elsewhere, we cannot say.
Wētāpunga
While the number of tīeke who nest in boxes appears to be dwindling, the number of wētāpunga using them as daytime roost sites has been increasing steadily in recent years.
We have been recording systematically the presence of wētāpunga in tīeke boxes since 2018-19. The results are shown in the chart below.
The blue line shows the approximate number of wētāpunga recorded, the red line shows the number of boxes in which they were recorded, and the green line shows the percentage of tīeke boxes used by them in each season.
The fluctuating pattern might have something to do with the wētāpunga breeding cycle but currently we are not sure how they are related. Nor can we tell whether the blue line reflects the overall number of wētāpunga on the Island or shows that a higher proportion of the population is roosting in boxes.
One thing is certain, far more tīeke nest boxes are being used by wētāpunga than by tīeke. In 2023-24, tīeke used 13.6% of the boxes provided, while wētāpunga used 46.7%. So far this season, tīeke have only used around 5%, while wētāpunga have already been found in around 37% of boxes. The boxes are rapidly becoming a more useful monitoring tool for wētāpunga than for tīeke.
Kororā / little penguin
Last season was a dismal one for our kororā / little penguin breeding population. All the first-clutch chicks in our study's nest boxes died during a short period in early October, probably due to starvation.
After this setback, one pair subsequently raised two chicks in a late nest, in one of the display boxes.
Such a loss of chicks is not necessarily a disaster for our kororā as they are long-lived and, as long as the adults survive, they may breed successfully in subsequent years. The penguin team was waiting anxiously, therefore, to see how many of our breeding birds had survived and would return to breed again.
So far, we have detected 14 tagged adult birds, and only three of last year’s tagged breeders have not returned. On average, kororā probably live between 10 and 20 years if they survive long enough to start breeding We would expect to lose one or two birds per year, so it seems that adult survival was close to average.
The season began with twelve active nests. One nest had a single egg, and the others all had two. One of the two-egg nests was abandoned before hatching.
Eight of our tagged birds were in the same pairs as last year, and three may have been with the same unmarked partner. One bird was with a new partner (previously with a tagged bird).
Three tagged pairs had changed boxes from the one they used last year. Two tagged birds had new partners and were in new boxes.
By late October, we had 19 chicks from ten pairs, with one pair still on eggs. When the chicks were weighed during tagging, we found them to have good weights, and we expect that most will fledge. This would be a dramatic and welcome turn-around from last year.
Compiled by Kathryn Jones, with contributions from Emma Gray, Morag Fordham, Simon Fordham, Kay Milton and John Stewart
A wētāpunga in a hihi nest box
Seagrass / Zostera muelleri: the cradle of astonishing biodiversity and an important marine modifier
The August issue of Dawn Chorus presented an outline of the biology of seagrass/rimurēhia and some of the benefits it brings to the marine environment at Tiritiri Matangi. In this issue, we take a closer look at some of the ways seagrass supports a thriving community of species in a hostile environment.
Marine animals trying to survive on, and in, the sandy seabed off the west coast of Tiritiri Matangi must solve several problems to survive. They must avoid predators, being carried off by strong currents and waves, and prevent themselves from being buried by the rapidly shifting sand. The picture on the right shows a swarm of tiny mysid shrimps sheltering at the edge of the seagrass, ready to dash to safety. Without the seagrass, they would have nowhere to hide from sharpeyed predators. If they resorted to burying themselves beneath the sand for protection, they would run the risk of suffocation due to lack of oxygen, and poisoning by toxic H 2 S gas (hydrogen sulphide) found a few centimetres below the surface.
In various ways, Zostera muelleri / rimurēhia provides solutions to all these problems. It is a ‘keystone species’ which means that it has a disproportionately large effect on its immediate environment. Keystone species play critical roles in maintaining the structure of ecological communities, directly affecting many other organisms in an ecosystem and helping to determine the types and numbers of various other species in the community. The term ‘keystone’ is a fitting one. In an architectural sense, a stone arch has a wedge-shaped keystone at its apex which prevents the other arch stones from collapsing inwards on themselves.
Similarly, without a keystone species, an ecosystem would be dramatically different or might collapse and cease to exist altogether. In the case of the seagrass / Zostera muelleri, it not only supplies a good deal of the food energy that powers this ecosystem, it also provides shelter and hides its inhabitants from predators. It modifies the immediate physical environment and changes the chemical environment at the leaf and root level in such a way as to allow many other species to live there which would otherwise be unable to do so.
Seagrass beds are famously biodiverse, supporting an astonishing variety of fish and invertebrate species. At the time of writing, 127 species (mostly small invertebrates, ideal food for shorebirds) have been identified living on and amongst Tiritiri's seagrass beds. The composite picture (left) represents fewer than 50 percent of the species found so far. If Caulerpa weed invades Tiritiri’s waters in the future, a species count like this will enable us to assess the damage this exotic species might do to marine biodiversity.
A large group of mysid shrimps using the seagrass as cover.
A composite picture of some of the species found within the Island's seagrass beds.
Seagrass ‘meadows’ are often compared to tropical rain forests in terms of their biodiversity and their ability to absorb and trap carbon dioxide (termed ‘blue carbon’), removing it from the environment.
The dense leaf sward slows down the speed of sediment-laden water flowing over it, allowing particles of sand and silt to drop out of suspension, building up the seabed and burying dead leaves and old rhizomes. The calmer conditions within the seagrass allow even weak swimmers to make it their home. Some of the dead leaves are eaten by the decomposers, usually snails, small worms and crustaceans, fuelling links in the seagrass food chain. As a nursery for fish larvae, seagrass is second to none. At this time of year, every sweep of the sampling net captures several tiny fish fry taking refuge there, safely hidden from other hungry fish.
Zostera roots have the extraordinary ability to transport oxygen deep into the sandy sediment (called the rhizosphere) to transform it from a suffocating toxic zone into a plant and animal haven.
In all sandy or muddy aquatic sediments, oxygen becomes scarcer with increasing depth. Decomposing organic matter feeds anaerobic bacteria, creating a black sulphide layer rich in toxic H 2 S. Not only is H 2 S one of the smelliest gases there is (think of rotten eggs), but it is also more toxic than hydrogen cyanide. H 2 S not only mimics cyanide as a respiratory poison, but it also acts as a potent nerve toxin paralysing any animal unfortunate enough to encounter it in high enough concentrations. Most of us will have seen this black layer as children when we built sandcastles on the beach!
Burrowing worms, shellfish and seagrass roots must contend with this harsh environment and find solutions if they are to live here. Burrowing animals normally do this by actively ventilating their sand tubes, bringing in fresh oxygen from the overlying seawater. The black sandworm casts in the picture on the right indicate that they have burrows well down into the anoxic sulphide layer.
Worms throw up black anoxic sand from below.
Many animals that live in these environments possess red haemoglobin-like pigments in their blood to improve their ability to deal with low oxygen levels. Zostera solves the problem of low oxygen levels using air-filled internal channels called lacunae in its leaves and roots (labelled 'A' in the diagram below) to transport oxygen down into these hostile regions where root respiration takes place. Excess oxygen diffuses out and oxidises the toxic sulphides, rendering them harmless.
The chemistry of aerobic respiration inside all cells relies on the transport of electrons along a chain of different molecules to generate energy for living processes. These electrons eventually must be 'dumped' when they reach the end of the chain and their energy is spent, usually using oxygen as an 'electron acceptor', producing H 2 O (water), in the process. No O 2 and respiration stops dead. In this sense, all living things, including ourselves, run on electricity, using O2 as a waste remover!
Recently discovered helper 'cable bacteria' have been found on the seagrass roots. These enhance local sulphide destruction, allowing the roots to grow deeper. These cable bacteria are unusual in that they can form chains to make extraordinary microscopic electronconducting 'wires' connecting the deep anoxic sulphide zone with oxygen-rich surface layers above, which may be several centimetres away. In this way, the Zostera roots can safely grow deeper into the anoxic layers. Where these roots go, other organisms can safely follow.
Of the 127 species living in the seagrass beds, approximately a quarter live in, or on, the sandy sediment.
The picture on the left shows an experimental column of sediment set up inside a glass tube with a black anoxic H 2 S section at the bottom and an oxic (O2 -rich) layer above. In the middle a gap has been created where thin ‘cables’ of bacteria are growing, forming a bridge transporting electrons upwards as H 2 S is oxidised and destroyed. These bacteria obtain their energy not from food, but directly from the electrons flowing through them. Their discovery caused quite a stir in the scientific community recently, earning them the nickname 'electric bacteria'. These extremely primitive life forms probably appeared early in the history of life on Earth when the only energy sources were chemical/geological.
Some clever experiments have made the generation of oxygen by the Zostera roots visible in the sediments as blue halos[1]. Individually the amount per root is insignificant but when dozens of roots crowd each cm3 of sediment the effect is transformative.
I discovered that when a ‘plug’ of Zostera with roots was placed in a tank under continuous light for 48 hours, some of the broken root ends shed bubbles of oxygen into the root zone. In the natural environment where the roots are intact, the oxygen diffuses out radially from the root tips and probably does not form bubbles.
Zostera roots are particularly sensitive to sulphides in the sediment, but the internal transport of oxygen to the growing root tips, plus the assistance of cable bacteria, overcome this.
The black sulphide layer in the sediment profile is called the Redox Potential Discontinuity (RPD). It is a little like a battery in that it generates electrical potential. The finer the sediment, the shallower it forms. It simply refers to the voltage (potential difference) between these layers generated by the slow oxidation of the black sulphide layer. I set up a sediment column using sand of a similar grain size to Tiritiri's and after three months an RPD (lower black layer) formed. Placing inert electrodes at the top and bottom allowed the RPD voltage to be measured. The reading of 710 millivolts was slightly higher than average for many sediments, but this was probably due to the static nature of the water in this system rather than indicating anything special about the physical nature of the sediments sampled. The blue wire visible in the photo below fulfils the same role as that of the cable bacteria mentioned above. It nicely demonstrates the chemistry and physics going on that has such a profound effect on life found in and around our seagrass meadows at Tiritiri Matangi.
A typical resident beneath the sand, and often present in great numbers amongst the seagrass roots, is the spionid polychaete (below). Its pallid semi-transparent body indicates that it lacks haemoglobin to transport oxygen around its body. This means that, like many species living in the sediments, it is dependent upon the ability of seagrass to provide enhanced levels of oxygen. This species is one of several important food items for shorebirds and is sure to increase in numbers as the seagrass beds continue to expand.
As you have your next welldeserved afternoon swim on the Island, spare a thought about what is going on in the sand around your toes and the very real struggle for survival that is going on out of sight beneath the seagrass, and appreciate the complicated chemistry and physics going on below those serene meadows.
John Sibley
The sediment column set up by the author
Martin, B.C., Bougoure, J., Ryan, M.H. et al. Oxygen loss from seagrass roots coincides with colonisation of sulphide-oxidising cable bacteria and reduces sulphide stress. ISME J 13, 707–719 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-018-0308-5
All photos author's own unless otherwise noted
[1]
[1] Martin, B.C., Bougoure, J., Ryan, M.H. et al.
O 2 escaping from roots illuminated 48 hours
This marine worm is one of many species benefitting from the presence of the seagrass meadows
Who’s Giving A Dam?
We are! A new and growing team of volunteers creating micro dams on Tiritiri Matangi.
At its highest point, Tiritiri Matangi is 82 metres above sea level, which means that most available moisture is blown over the top of the Island. Any moisture that does reach the ground quickly runs off into the surrounding sea. Human influences, such as past forest clearing, have accelerated water runoff.
While forest replanting has been successful on Tiritiri, the forest floor is still recovering, slowly rebuilding the decomposing biomass of plant material, invertebrates, mosses, moulds and bacteria that slow, trap, and retain moisture.
A couple of years ago, while considering the freshwater ecosystem components of our biodiversity plan alongside potential global warming drought risks, a scheme to enhance the freshwater ecosystem was developed. We trialled building a series of micro dams down the valley of Bush 3 (mid-way up the Island on the western side).
Our dam-building team cuts limbs from nearby fallen trees and strategically wedges them into the valley walls and floor. These blockages create puddles approximately 100mm deep and typically 1-2 metres long by 0.5-1 metre wide. The concept is simple but very effective. Within two days of the first micro dams being built, we had our first photographic evidence of hihi, toutouwai, tīeke and kōkako drinking and bathing in the dams.
Micro dams provide new habitat for freshwater species beneath overhanging banks and branches. Creating a series of micro dams from the coast up the valleys offers opportunities for species like kōkopu and tuna/eels to populate them. Both species can, and do, leave water and move overland to the next water body.
It is envisaged that micro dams can offer a level of resilience and support to the Island’s restoration. Anticipating success, last year SoTM engaged an historian/ archaeologist to survey more valleys to ensure our micro dam building activities respect areas of cultural significance.
While micro dams can be washed out by extreme weather events like cyclones, it does not take a huge effort to restore them and we get the fun of playing in the mud again.
As with all biodiversity projects, opportunities to volunteer to join in dam building and other activities arise from time to time.
If you would like to join in, the first step is to ensure your SoTM membership is current and the second is to send a registration of interest email to biodiversity_vol@tiritirimatangi.org.nz, letting Margi Luby know the types of projects which interest you.
Malcolm de Raat
A micro dam about to overflow for the first time
A series of pools created by micro dams
Photos: Malcolm de Raat
From Tiritiri Matangi to Ōtāhuhu: Inspiring environmental action in our school
Via SoTM’s Growing Minds programme, Ōtāhuhu Primary School brought the entire senior school to Tiritiri Matangi during 2024. Josh Burrowes, Associate Principal at Ōtāhuhu Primary, shares the school's journey of environmental learning with Dawn Chorus
Ō tāhuhu Primary School has been undergoing a shift in our approach to inquiry learning over the past two years.
Last year we decided to investigate the ‘three Bs’ in our school environment – birds, bugs, and bees – to understand biodiversity and the relationship between our physical environment and its impact on how the ‘three Bs’ survive. Given the industrial nature of our school’s surrounding neighbourhood, we wanted to ensure that our students are exposed to a rich and biodiverse ecosystem so that they can better understand these concepts.
We connected with Tiritiri Matangi and applied for the Growing Minds programme, which has allowed us to see our vision come to life. Throughout 2024, with the support of the funding we received through Growing Minds, we have taken almost all of our Year 4-6 students across to Tiritiri Matangi Island (almost 300 students) to experience this once-in-alifetime opportunity.
The journey began during the Term 1 school break when we took our teachers across to Tiritiri Matangi to get first-hand experience on the Island, with guided walks from some of the Island’s educators. This was an amazing opportunity for our teachers to find their feet and understand all the learning that can take place on the Island, as well as the demands of taking
large groups of students across. Growing Minds provided us with additional resources to make this trip achievable, which we were very thankful for. This pre-visit was incredibly important for our teachers to gain the confidence they needed to undertake this experience. We highly recommend any new schools looking at going to Tiritiri Matangi take this step as well.
Students reflect on the outcomes of community action and enjoy the view from Coronary Hill
Photo: Sara Dean
Photo: Sara Dean
Students exploring biodiversity aided by magnifying glasses
Over Term 2 we had planned to take 13 classes to the Island in all. Most made it without trouble, some trips were postponed due to high winds and storms, and one trip got as far as Gulf Harbour before having to turn back due to much worse than anticipated sea conditions. This was an unfortunate experience for those two classes as they battled large waves, a rocky boat, and a lot of upset stomachs. Their trip has been rescheduled, but a nervous wait looms for those children and their parents.
For the trips that have gone ahead, all we can say is that we are so glad we took the risk and put months of planning into making them happen. These experiences have been invaluable, not only for our students, who have made incredible connections to their learning experiences in school, but for the whānau that have come along as well. As you can imagine, this has been a very popular experience for our community, and we have done what we can as a school to get as many people to the Island as possible. Our principal has shown great leadership and commitment to the programme, ensuring that no one misses out, despite the costs involved. We know that we are fortunate to be able to visit Tiritiri Matangi Island, and many of our students and their families will not get this opportunity again. It is worth it!
Our teachers and students have been inspired by what they have seen. Tiritiri Matangi is so full of life, and to know that within our lifetimes (at least for many of our teaching staff) it was farmland inhabited by kiore / Pacific rats, which has been transformed into this brilliant sanctuary, gives us hope as to how we can impact our local environment. Our students now have the challenge of taking some of the magic they experienced on Tiritiri Matangi and putting it into practice as they apply their new knowledge back in Ō tāhuhu. Gardens, tree planting, constructing bee sanctuaries, and bug hotels, are all ideas coming to life as we take action this term at school.
We are so grateful for the support we have received from Growing Minds. The educators and volunteers on Tiritiri Matangi have also been incredible on every trip. This is an experience that every Auckland student should get to experience at some point in their lives, particularly with all that we face in our changing climate, and we hope that more opportunities will be created in the future.
From everyone at Ōtāhuhu Primary, we say thank you to everyone who contributes their time, knowledge, and resources to these programmes.
Ō tāhuhu Primary visit 5 June 2024 – Feedback from the teachers:
‘No one thing stood out, every second was so beautiful. It was absolutely inspiring.’
‘The kids were saying to us, we don't want to go back, they enjoyed it so much. The children were really engaged and asking lots of questions, lots of learning.’
‘The passion of the guides was great. And the faces of the children told the whole story - they were absolutely engaged. I liked the way that they were looking at the little things in nature.’
Ōtāhuhu Primary visit 7 August 2024– Feedback from a parent:
‘I learnt a lot about native birds today - I never knew how many there were. I love how it is away from the traffic and the bustle. I am going to come and stay in the bunkhouse and look for nature. I didn't know a place like this existed’.
Photo: supplied by the school
Photo: Sara Dean
Educator Sara Dean plays 'Poos Clues' with students
The education programme inspired adults and students alike
Tuatara and its creator, Brian Moore
When permission was received for the replanting project on Tiritiri Matangi, it was clear it would be a costly business. Around the same time, artist Brian Moore, whose particular interest was the coastal environment and unique wildlife of New Zealand, had been inspired to create a sculpture of a tuatara as his first work in bronze and was pondering how to market it.
In 1982, the New Zealand arm of the World Wildlife Fund was looking for a project to become involved in. Brian’s wife, Judith, was friends with the then Auckland-branch Secretary of the WWF, Peter Dormon. He approached Steve Fisher of the Spirit of Adventure Trust (and WWF Board Member), who took the half-completed wax model (in his lap on a plane) to a WWF board meeting, where it was agreed to use it as a fundraising project. It was promoted to WWF members, and 60 were sold, raising around $40,000 to add to Tiritiri's funding.
The government of that time matched grants two for one, giving the Tiritiri Matangi replanting a starter fund of $120,000, a considerable sum in 1982!
The sculpture's final production numbers were limited to just over 250. The World Wildlife Fund presented the first figure produced to HRH Prince Philip. It has been seen on display in Windsor Castle.
Brian Moore
(2/12/1953 – 15/7/2024)
Brian was an acclaimed fine artist whose works included bronze sculpture, oil painting, gouache watercolour, and pen and ink works, many released as limited editions. He was an artist all his working life.
He was born in Timaru, grew up in Christchurch, and moved to Auckland as an adult.
As well as Tiritiri Matangi, he was proud to have contributed artworks to the Antarctic Heritage Trust, the NZ Marine Research Foundation, and Peter Blake’s 1995 America’s Cup campaign.
Tiritiri Matangi is regarded as a special place by Brian’s wife and family. To see more of his artwork, visit his Facebook page: Brian Moore - Artist.
Another of this edition was purchased by Vicky Young and Peter Dormon (below).
Vicky and Peter have recently donated their sculpture to SoTM, and it is intended to be displayed on the Island in the Ray and Barbara Walter Visitor Centre. We would like to thank Vicky and Peter and acknowledge this generous donation. (In recent times, the Tuatara sculptures have been priced at $5,200.)
The couple named their sculpture, 'Gary' – after a much loved and very handsome resident tuatara on the Island (named by Tiritiri Matangi volunteers).
The delivery of 'Gary' was acknowledged at the recent Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi Annual General Meeting.
Brian Moore working on a Tuatara sculpture, 1984
Photo from Judith Moore archives
Committee Secretary, Val Lee, Chair Ian Alexander and Treasurer, Peter Lee accepting 'Gary' on behalf of SoTM at the 2024 AGM
Vicky Young and Peter Dormon with their bronze Tuatara, 'Gary'
Photo: Val Lee
Photo: Janet Petricevich
Alive and thriving!
The captive breeding programme of moko kākāriki / elegant geckos (Naultinus elegans) on Tiritiri Matangi halted abruptly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Not being able to get members of the gecko team to the Island caused massive disruption to the project, and, in the best interests of the animals’ welfare, the decision was made to release the caged population into the already prepared soft-release site on the Island.
The soft-release site was a 1,100m2 area surrounded by a temporary gecko-resistant fence. Its purpose was to allow the geckos released inside to form an affinity with the area, aiding the monitoring process and, more importantly, helping the geckos stay in touch with each other, promoting breeding opportunities.
We are monitoring the released geckos regularly. Our observation rate is low, which was anticipated and completely expected. They are a cryptic species, clever at hiding, and have been released into a large area of near-perfect territory that is difficult for humans to navigate.
In early August, two members of our gecko team made a sighting of the gecko pictured below. From birth, elegant geckos have unique markings allowing positive identification of the ones we raised and released.
Every sighting is a thrill for the team, but this one is special as our records show this individual (her name, at the time, C1902N) was born in September 2019. The naming convention we use details some of her history. ‘C’ means she was captive
bred (conceived and born), ‘19’ is the year she was born, ‘02’ means she was the second gecko born that season, and ‘N’ stands for neonate. Her gender had not been identified at the time of her release (it can take up to two years to be certain of gender). Lastly, our records show she was released into the soft-release site on 16 May 2020 when she was eight months old. Her parents were both wild-caught geckos. We’ve included a couple of earlier photos of her to give a clearer view of her unique patterns.
From the picture we can see she has matured into a beautiful, healthy female and is currently gravid (pregnant), which means she is not alone – she has found a partner and will most likely give birth in March/April 2025. We have now adjusted her name to C1902F, ‘F’ because we now know she is female.
This sighting reinforces that, although we’re not seeing animals frequently, they’re doing well and breeding. However, in this species, where they have a maximum of two offspring per year, it will be many years before the population on Tiritiri can reach a point where sightings become a common occurrence.
There is always a celebration when we see, photograph, and identify one of our little green friends, as these events are scarce (one or two per year for the moment). The big celebration will be when we photograph our first elegant gecko which we don’t have records for; it is just a matter of time and patience.
Hester Cooper and Malcolm de Raat
C1902F browsing mānuka flowers for nectar
C1902N - Health check 16/01/2020 1.41g, SVL 37mm
C1902N - Release day 16/05/2020, 2.27g, SVL 44mm
Tiritiri Matangi Kids,
by Stacey
As night falls on Tiritiri Matangi Island, the landscape transforms into a world of enchantment. The fading light of day gives way to the soft glow from the moon and the nocturnal symphony begins. It's really important to use a red torch during a night walk, as red light is less likely to disturb the wildlife. The photos featured on this page were captured with a camera on night binoculars. Read the text and see if you can figure out whether the facts are true or false. Challenge yourself to come up with as many words as possible from 'adaptations'. Enjoy.
The kiwi pukupuku/ little spotted kiwi ventures from its burrow to search for dinner in the cool, damp earth, with its diet mostly consisting of insects. While the kiwi’s small eyes are not well-adapted to low light, it overcomes this challenge by feeling, smelling, and hearing its way around. It forages at night, using its beak to probe the ground up to 12 cm deep. Its large ear openings enhance its sense of hearing, and its long, sensitive whiskers and beak help it detect food hidden in the soil and leaf litter.
1. True or false? The area of the kiwi's brain responsible for their sense of smell is notably larger than in other birds and more similar to that in mammals.
The tuatara, New Zealand's largest reptile, is mainly active at night when their food is more abundant, though they also come out during the day to bask in the sun.
At night, tuatara roam around their burrow entrances to hunt for prey.
As carnivorous reptiles, they catch a variety of animals, including wētā, worms, lizards, millipedes, and occasionally small seabirds.They often share their burrows with seabirds. The tuatara’s closest relatives are an extinct group of reptiles from the dinosaur era. While adult tuatara hunt at night, young ones are more active during the day to avoid being preyed upon by the adults.
2. True or false? Tuatara grow fast and can live for over 50 years.
During the day, wētāpunga often hide among dead leaves and fronds from tree ferns, nīkau palms, or cabbage trees. At night, they emerge from their hiding spots to explore the trees or scuttle across the ground. Being active at night helps them avoid predators, such as birds and other animals that hunt during the day. It is also cooler and damp, which helps them stay healthy. During the hot day, they can lose water and get too dry, so being active at night is better for them. Many of the plants wētāpunga eat are more accessible or have higher moisture content at night, making it easier for them to find food. The wētāpunga is one of the largest insects in the world, with some species weighing up to 70 grams (a medium-sized apple) and measuring up to 10 cm long.
3. True or false? Wētāpunga are endemic to New Zealand.
Nocturnal animals help keep nature in balance. They play important roles, like spreading seeds and helping plants grow, which is essential for a healthy environment. The animals often have special adaptations, like enhanced night vision or heightened senses, to help them find food in the dark.
How many words can you make using this word?
0-10 great start, 11-20 fantastic, 21+ you're a word genius
Photos: Darren Markin
Answers:1, True. 2, Tuatara grow slowly and can live for over
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 $30 for a single adult or family; $35 if you are overseas; and $15 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 Contacts:
Chairperson: Ian Alexander chairperson@tiritirimatangi.org.nz
Secretary: Val Lee secretary@tiritirimatangi.org.nz
Treasurer: Peter Lee-Grey treasurer@tiritirimatangi.org.nz
Committee: Hester Cooper, Rachel Goddard, Carl Hayson, Janet Petricevich
Operations Manager: Debbie Marshall opsmanager@tiritirimatangi.org.nz
Guiding and Volunteer Manager: Gail Reichert guidemanager@tiritirimatangi.org.nz, 09 476 0010
Retail Manager: Ashlea Lawson retail@tiritirimatangi.org.nz
Membership: Rose Coveny membership@tiritirimatangi.org.nz
Educator: Sara Dean
Assistant Educator: Liz Maire educator@tiritirimatangi.org.nz
Fundraisers: Rashi Parker and Louise Delamare fundraiser@tiritirimatangi.org.nz
Social Media: Bethny Uptegrove socialmedia@tiritirimatangi.org.nz
Dawn Chorus co-editors: Janet Petricevich and Stacey Balich editor@tiritirimatangi.org.nz
Island Ranger: Talia Hochwimmer tiritirimatangi@doc.govt.nz, 027 536 1067
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Visiting Tiritiri Matangi Island for
Day trips:
Weather permitting, Explore runs a return ferry service from Wednesday to Sunday from Auckland Viaduct and the Gulf Harbour Marina. Bookings are essential.
Phone 0800 397 567 or visit the Explore website: www.exploregroup.co.nz/
Overnight visits:
Camping is not permitted and there is limited bunkhouse accommodation. Bookings are essential. For further information: www.doc.govt.nz/tiritiribunkhouse
School Education Programme
Tiritiri Matangi Talk - Exploring the Legacy of Dr. Geoffrey Orbell
Monday 2nd December 2024
Speaker - Ian Alexander
7:30pm at Unitec, Building 115, Mount Albert
Working Weekends 2025
Auckland Anniversary - 25th-27th January
Easter Weekend - 18th-20th April
King's Birthday Weekend - 31st May-2nd June
Supporters' Weekends 2025
8th-9th March
May TBC
5th-6th July
6th-7th September
4th-5th October
Tiritiri Matangi Talks - After Dark
Monday 31st March 2025
Speaker Annette Lees
7:30pm at Unitec, Building 115, Mount Albert
Tiritiri Matangi Talks - Save these dates
Monday 9th June 2025
Monday 1st December 2025
education or recreation
We offer a full-day learning experience in a pest-free environment for years 1 to 13. Tamariki and rangatahi can get up close to endangered taonga species where they learn about community conservation and how people can work together to provide protected habitat. This then inspires students to take action in their own neighbourhoods.
Our educators offer a range of education experiences on the Island, which are closely tied to the NZ curriculum. At the senior biology level, there is support material available for a number of NCEA achievement standards. Tertiary students have the opportunity to learn about the history of the Island and tools of conservation as well as to familiarise themselves with population genetics, evolution and speciation.
Subsidies are available for schools with an EQI 430 or more via our Growing Minds programme. Information on the education programme is at: https://www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz/education-programmes/ Bookings are essential.
A flock of new stock has arrived at the Island's shop. We have a great selection of products from NZ creatives including books, jewellery, bags, toys, puzzles, hats, t-shirts, and tea towels. There are also plenty of lightweight items suitable for posting or taking overseas. Browse new and old favourites in-store, online, or contact us directly via phone or email.
All profits go towards SoTM's conservation and education projects - thank you for your support! www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz/shop 09 476 0010 retail@tiritirimatangi.org.nz
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 secretary@tiritirimatangi.org.nz