Open Space 109 - November 2025

Open Space

HARD WORK BEARS FRUIT

The people giving nature a chance to bounce back

Pg 6

From eight to 150 burrowsŌi at Rapanui

Pg 8

The deer situation in 2025

Pg 20

Kids’ sectionpekapeka /bats

IN THIS ISSUE

OPEN SPACE MAGAZINE :

COVER IMAGE Now that deer and goats have been removed at the Tautane coast, tātaraheke/sand coprosma is thriving and bursting with berries in the Autumn, which moko pāpā/Raukawa geckos love to eat! Photo credit: Lou Hagger

QUEEN ELIZABETH II NATIONAL TRUST is a statutory organisation independent from government and managed by a Board of Directors. We are a registered charitable entity under the Charities Act 2005. Registration number CC28488.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Alan Livingston, Debbie Hyland, Philip Hulme, Richard McDowell, Marie Taylor, Graham Mourie

CHIEF EXECUTIVE Dan Coup T 04 472 6626 E dcoup@qeii.org.nz

VICE REGAL PATRON Her Excellency, The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO, Governor-General of New Zealand

OPEN SPACE™ is published by the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust, PO Box 3341, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.

Level 4, 138 The Terrace, Wellington ISSN 1179-3880 (Print) ISSN 1179-3899 (Online) T 04 472 6626 E info@qeii.org.nz

Design Pogo Design www.pogodesign.co.nz

Editor Laura Dalby E editor@qeii.org.nz W qeiinationaltrust.org.nz

Word from the Chair

It is always an honour to introduce each issue of our Open Space magazine. In a way, this is my little opportunity to reach out to our QEII members and supporters. In lieu of sitting down with you over a cup of tea, I get to share the stories of the incredible difference our covenantors are making in the protection of our natural and cultural heritage – and there’s no shortage of good news to share.

One thing that always impresses me is the way that land protected with a QEII covenant can inspire or provide an opportunity for communities to band together for nature. While some covenants require little in the way of management or upkeep, most need a helping hand. When it comes to protecting a particular species or habitat, a significant investment of time and resources is needed – and that’s when having a network of supporters and helpers can be the key to success.

QEII covenants host not only some of our most threatened species, but dedicated communities of people helping them to thrive. Many covenantors host local school children, providing a chance for them to get handson experience in conservation; groups of neighbours get together for weeding bees or joint predator control operations, jobs where often – many hands make light work. Some covenantors even work with universities or ecological researchers to understand more about their covenants and contribute to the scientific community and our knowledge of certain aspects of conservation.

The Rapanui ōi/grey-faced petrel colony in Taranaki featured on page 6 is a great example of collaboration in action. The landowner, inspired by committed local conservationists, took the first step –erecting a predator proof fence. From there, the Rapanui Grey-Faced Petrel Trust was established to guide the ongoing management of the area and a QEII covenant was placed on the site to ensure its ongoing protection. Establishing the Trust spread the word and provided opportunities for others to get involved. Since then, the Trust’s conservation activities have expanded, they have the support of Taranaki Regional Council, and the petrel colony is thriving.

In times of considerable financial pressures and when many of us are time-poor, developing a wider group with a particular connection to a covenant can sometimes enable additional work to be done and often provides an added bonus of being able to share your special place with others. Not all covenants will be suitable for such arrangements, but I urge you to consider whether your covenant could benefit from having a wider group of people enjoying it and invested in its success.

Turning attention back to QEII as an organisation, in the last magazine I mentioned the Minister of Conservation’s announcement of a temporary funding increase for QEII ($1.5m p.a. for three years). You’ll remember that we had been looking at having to significantly scale back our new protection work. The announcement provides a very welcome lifeline, however the number of new covenants we can approve this year is still limited. This is disappointing for us and the many landowners hoping to partner with us to protect special areas on their properties. We’re working hard to ensure that our new process for this year will enable us to protect the highest quality areas, while also providing an avenue to protect important areas where landowner/external funding can cover the cost of covenanting. You can read more about this and how you can help on page 16.

In this time of change, I’m incredibly honoured to have been re-appointed by the Minister of Conservation as QEII chair for a further threeyear term. It is a privilege to be re-appointed and I’m looking forward to continuing in the role of chair alongside our experienced and committed board at an especially critical time. We also welcome a new member, Debbie Hyland, to the board for a three-year term. I’m

looking forward to working with Debbie and we’ll include a proper introduction to her in the next edition of Open Space. I would like to thank outgoing director Karen Schumacher for her input over the last five years. I will miss her financial acumen, keen eye for detail and her commitment to the betterment of QEII.

Every edition of Open Space aims to provide a varied mix of news and features to educate, entertain and inspire our covenantor community – this issue is no different. Our reps have heard that the developing area of biodiversity credits is of interest to many of our covenantors, so we’ve done our best to provide a simple overview of where things are at (page 31). Recognising those who have made a contribution to conservation and the legacy of QEII through their work is important – we acknowledge the passing of former rep Nick Matich (page 32) and committed covenantor Eve Harrison (page 33).

In our Kid’s Section (page 20), we’re highlighting the wonderfully weird pekapeka –NZ’s only native land mammals. Find out what our two species of pekapeka get up to at night, their place in Aotearoa’s ecosystems and meet the people who are looking out for them in their own backyard.

As the impact of feral browsing animals is increasingly being felt, having an effective deer fence is one of the most useful things you can do to ensure the ongoing health of your covenant. On page 8, we talk about the impact of feral deer roaming Aotearoa’s landscapes and the deer exclusion strategies landowners are implementing.

I hope you enjoy this 109th edition of Open Space and please let us know if there’s something you’d like to see in upcoming editions.

Alan Livingston Chair

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COMING TO LAND AT RAPANUI

North of New Plymouth, near the mouth of the Rapanui stream, is a very special cliff. Protected by a predator exclusion fence since 2002, Rapanui’s coastal shrub is home to one of the Aotearoa mainland’s few remaining burrowing species of petrel. The grey-faced petrel/ōi is a dark-feathered seabird that, while native to Aotearoa, can be found soaring as far away as the coast of Australia in search of food. They spend most of their time at sea but return to land during the winter breeding season, where they burrow a metre or so into the earth to lay their eggs.

Auckland

New Plymouth

Rapanui

Ōi are particularly vulnerable to predation by invasive mammals during their breeding season, while they’re bumbling about on land and easily sniffed out by rats, stoats, ferrets, possums and cats. This has led to the confinement of the species mainly to offshore predator-free islands. Along with an extensive trapping network, the fence at Rapanui gives the petrels respite from predation and has allowed them to thrive: since the installation of the predator-proof fence the breeding population has shot up from eight active burrows to over 150 inside the fence line today.

When he first purchased the property back in the early 2000s, Evan Lobb says he knew that there were some birds down there, but he didn’t know much about them. “After a few weeks Maggie [Bayfield] knocked on the door and said: ‘did you know there’s a petrel colony on your property, and would you be okay with us fencing it off?’,” said Evan. Twenty-odd years of working bees and mid-winter trust meetings later, the success of the project is apparent.

The Rapanui Grey-Faced Petrel Trust (RGFPT) was established in 2006 with a vision to “preserve the Rapanui Grey-Faced Petrel Covenant as a predator-free sanctuary for the long-term protection of the grey-faced petrel breeding colony and other indigenous species”. In 2007, Evan registered a QEII covenant over the property to ensure the petrels’ home is protected in perpetuity.

While hosting the only large ōi nesting site on the Taranaki mainland may not have been the initial plan, the birds have burrowed their way firmly into Evan’s heart. “We love to go and experience it; it’s a pretty infectious thing to have a colony right there on your doorstep”. Usually active at night, for many people it’s a rare treat to watch the petrels, but that’s one of many perks that come with living at Rapanui. “Seeing children’s faces light up and connect with nature during nighttime sighting of petrels on the ground is a highlight,” Evan says. He loves to watch them in flight: ducking, weaving, diving and calling out to sea.

Ōi are known for their powerful flight and distinctive high-pitched whistles and low moans; you may have even heard one soaring overhead without knowing it! Evan’s nephew lives near the foothills of Mt Taranaki. At dusk one evening while at home with his mum, he heard the distinctive cry. Were it not for visits to Rapanui he realised they may never have

known they were living beneath a petrel flight path. Evan’s excited for more people to have the opportunity to see the elusive birds, referring to efforts to protect a more recently discovered population in Ōakura. “I know how exciting that is,” says Evan. “You go to experience it and think ‘oh wow I’ve heard that sound before, I didn’t know that’s what was making it!’”.

While there were a few locals aware of the ōi colony at the time Evan moved in, the establishment of the RGFPT, spreading the word and holding working bees has brought together a multi-talented group with backgrounds ranging from planting and trapping to caving and abseiling. The group is also working in partnership with mana whenua Ngāti Tama and the local council. “We’ve been really well supported by Taranaki Regional Council (TRC) and TRC staff who’ve been fantastic, along with all the trustees, sponsors and local volunteers over the years,” says Evan. “I take my hat off to all the conservation people and support I’ve had. I’ve just gone along for the ride and done what I can. The diversity and enthusiasm of the group is amazing; you’re only as good as the people you work with!” Over the years, the RGFPT has been able to add more tools to their belt, and are now tagging, carrying out burrow checks, putting in a cat fence, upscaling the trapping system and setting up cameras.

When asked if he had any advice for other landowners or covenantors inspired by a special species on their land, Evan reminds us that “really, you’re just a custodian, a caretaker. It’s humbling to think that the conservation of this species pre-dates us. Prior to the arrival of pākehā, Māori would harvest petrels sustainably as a food source”. Projects like this are a slow burn, and it can be hard to know whether you’re having an impact, but the Rapanui grey-faced petrel colony is a testament to what can be achieved through dedicated trapping, predator exclusion and teamwork.

FROM TOP

Ōi/grey-faced petrel.

Photo credit: Deirdre Nagle

Ōi/grey-faced petrel.

Photo credit: Deirdre Nagle

What a fence! This predator proof fence protects the nesting ōi from invasive mammals. Photo credit: Deirdre Nagle

Evan Lobb at the protected ōi nesting site on his property. Supplied: Evan Lobb

Countrywide

NEXT PAGE FROM TOP

This covenant has a strong, sturdy deer fence, featuring the beautiful North Canterbury coastline.

Wairarapa rep Trev’s electric motorbike loaded with deerpalatable plant species ready for replanting: Coprosma grandifolia and Griselinia lucida

DEER IN 2025 –ANOTHER LOOK

An overview

Whether you’re a keen-eyed hunter thrilled at the sight of them, or a staunch conservationist, it’s safe to say that deer have had a fundamental impact on Aotearoa’s landscape. Roaming quietly through remote beech valleys, browsing throughout farmland margins, and haunting freshly planted revegetation projects, their presence is felt. But beneath their familiar presence lies a steadily mounting pressure on the spaces we cherish. QEII covenants, containing many of New Zealand’s threatened native species, are among the most impacted.

Our modern wild deer and ungulate populations are descendants of 19th century settlers’ intentional plant and animal introductions, a biproduct of the ‘let’s make it just like home’ mindset at the time. Fast forward to today, seven deer species occupy vast swathes of the country, with some geographical variation. Overall, red deer and fallow deer are the most prolific and are found throughout the country. Rusa, sika and sambar have only naturalised in the North Island, from Kaimanawa to the Manawatū. Wapiti occur in Fiordland, and white-tailed deer are established in Stewart Island and pockets

of the lower South Island. While no single national census exists for wild populations, local surveys and observations are revealing dense and steadily increasing populations, especially within public conservation land. In some cases, upward of 50 individuals per square kilometre have been reported.

Wild deer are simultaneously championed for sport and venison but also pose one of the most significant challenges to the health of our native ecosystems. The deer issue is increasingly becoming a hot topic for farmers, hunters and conservationists alike and their management is heavily debated. On one hand, wild deer populations are considered a vital source of food and income. Recreational hunting is quickly becoming one of the country’s leading tourism earners. Guided hunting trips are increasing in popularity, bringing in big spenders who contribute to the economy, generating up to $200 million a year. On the other hand, farmers (and covenantors) are feeling the brunt of the issues caused by feral deer and ungulates. ‘Out of control’ is the sentiment drummed throughout the country as the scale of the issue is becoming better understood.

BOTH ON RIGHT

Dactylanthus taylorii (wood rose), New Zealand’s only endemic parasitic flowering plant. It is estimated that there are less than a thousand individuals remaining. Wood rose is particularly vulnerable to browsing and trampling by deer. Photos provided by Horizons Regional Council.

The ecological impacts

Tararua QEII regional rep, Lou Hagger, is all too familiar with the impact of deer on the region’s landscape. Since taking up the rep role in late 2021, Lou has become ever more aware of both the financial impacts her landowners are facing as well as the decline of protected forest health in her patch. Lou has monitored the degraded understoreys of particularly affected covenants through a series of photopoints, which tell a sobering tale.

Research and observations are steadily painting a picture of seedling population crashes and understorey degradation, leading to empty, eerily silent forests – lowland podocarp-broadleaf and silver beech forests are most at risk. The problem is most easily identified in the forest understorey. Where you’d usually find lush patches of ferns and bryophytes, a dry, crunchy sea of leaf litter is all that remains. The most palatable tree seedlings and saplings are also targeted –māhoe, tree fuchsia, tōtara, and rimu among them, the next generation of forest giants are stripped away before they can rise above browsing height.

Where browsing is most intense, the forest composition is altered and plant recruitment can halt entirely. The birds, insects, and reptiles that rely on those plants and fungi for food and shelter are forced to move on. Lou is particularly concerned about further pressure on plant species already at risk. For example, some of the covenants being “smashed by deer” contain wood rose (Dactylanthus taylorii, Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable), New Zealand’s only endemic fully-parasitic flowering plant. The unique plant is particularly vulnerable to deer browsing and trampling as it taps into host plants’ roots along the forest floor.

Intensive deer browsing affects our waterways too. When the plants responsible for protecting the soil from erosion are removed, streams and catchments can become choked with sediment – harming freshwater fish and invertebrates. Due to New Zealand’s unique geology and modern land use, we have exceptionally high sedimentation rates. Wild deer and other ungulates are directly contributing to the estimated 182 million tonnes of soil released into our waterways annually.

The financial impacts

While it’s argued that wild deer can boost the economy via hunting tourism, concerns of significant negative financial impacts are steadily increasing. In some regions, mobs decimate winter crops such as beet and kale intended for stock. Fences are toppled and compromised, adding to the already increasing repair and maintenance costs. Incursions can also spread disease and parasites to stock animals as well as genetically ‘contaminating’ domestic herds, a problem particularly for red deer farms. Control methods such as fencing and culling are expensive, further adding to heavy financial losses. A Federated Farmers survey carried out in 2024 estimated farmers are fronting roughly $213 million annually in lost production and deer/ ungulate control costs.

Doug and Jo Mckenzie, covenantors in Lou’s region, are in a constant battle with deer. Motivated by both the financial impacts on their farming business and environmental damage, Doug spends a considerable amount of time and energy controlling the local deer population across the large farming station. In the last four years Doug has removed roughly a thousand deer from their covenants

and surrounding property. From a quick conservative estimate, Doug reckons they’ve lost $75k to 100k in unrealised revenue due to pasture competition caused by deer in that same period.

Doug utilises a trap to catch deer on his property. It started off small but has developed over the years, currently spanning an area over thirty hectares and costing about $100k to build. The trap passively groups up deer, allowing for more effective management, although he admits controlling them even within the trap is still a difficult activity.

The Mckenzie covenants are an example of how difficult it can be to control deer even when highly committed. Doug explains that the process of excluding deer is hard, nonstop work. They were able to successfully eliminate deer from two of their covenants, only for cyclone Gabrielle to wash out sections of fence line, with the deer quickly reinfesting shortly after. Doug warns that deer exclusion is not a “set and forget” exercise, and that “you’ve always got to be vigilant”, although he admits that the results are “so satisfying” once a block is finally excluded of deer.

These photos show the Morrison family’s covenant in the Tararua region.. A deer fence was established at the site in 2017. Seven years on, the undergrowth is visibly returning without the stress of deer browse.

Not all doom and gloom

While the impacts of feral deer herds are confronting, there is real action being taken, with QEII covenantors right on the frontline. QEII recognises the size and scale of the deer issue and where possible, supports landowners to protect their special bush blocks. QEII can chip in up to 60% towards deer fencing of new covenants to exclude feral ungulates. Additionally, through the recent Jobs for Nature initiative, QEII was lucky enough to run its own deer exclusion project. By collaborating with landowners and local regional councils, the project was able to protect a further 446 hectares of highly biodiverse, QEII-protected land from feral ungulates.

While an expensive investment, deer fencing has proven to be one of the most effective long-lasting protection methods against feral ungulates. The cost of deer fencing is highly variable depending on location, topography, shape and size of the block, and availability of skilled labourers. Currently, brand-new deer fences can cost between $30 to $60 per metre. A fence ‘top-up’ is a cheaper option and can be just as effective when an existing fence is suitable and in good condition.

In addition to fencing, the deer within fenced areas must be removed too. While sometimes as basic as a quick sweep over with a rifle, deer often prove difficult to get rid of – even from small blocks. Culling and hunting methods are continually improving; professional hunters having developed a sort of science to the craft. Greater access to modern technology has affected how culling operations are carried out. Blocks are approached aerially with the use of drones and helicopters, powerful thermal scopes allow for effective sighting, and game cameras relay important information. Advancements in artificial intelligence can also create better conservation outcomes.

Learning models can be programmed to identify a range of species including deer. Therefore, footage from game cameras can be more efficiently reviewed, and populations better understood.

Dog breeding and handling methods have also been finely tuned, providing hunters with a powerful, furry tool to assist their efforts. Additional to deer traps, deer ramps and jump-outs can be utilised in sections of the fence line for a more passive approach. For a deeper look into the impact of ungulates and their management, earlier Open Space issue 101 (pages 2638) provides great advice to covenantors, hunters and conservationists alike.

Wairarapa rep, Trevor Thompson, is a staunch advocate for the exclusion of deer from his region’s most vulnerable blocks. Trev’s favourite exercise after a site has had its fence put up and deer removed is to plant what would usually be “deer tucker”, palatable plant species most at risk from ungulate browsing. Planting ecosourced seedlings encourages the forest towards higher biodiversity and a more representative species composition. This practice is important in sites where species normally present have been removed entirely by intensive browsing.

It’s encouraging to see people across the country working together, often with limited resources, tackling the deer problem in practical, effective ways. From coordinated control work to community-led monitoring and fencing, these efforts are helping protect Aotearoa’s most vulnerable native habitats. Although the issue is far from resolved as the range and impact from deer rises, QEII will continue providing advice and guidance to landowners, highlighting the ongoing work needed to ensure the longterm health of Aotearoa’s biodiversity.

RIGHT

Examples of a deer jump-out and ramp

BEYOND THE FRAME –TAUTANE

When you opened the envelope that holds this issue of the Open Space magazine, you may have noticed the photo on the front taken by QEII Tararua rep Lou Hagger of the coastal edge of Tautane Station. Tautane Station is a Ngāti Kahungunu owned 3,500 ha sheep and beef breeding/semi-finishing station situated at Herbertville and features significantly in Kahungunu history and Aotearoa history.

Just looking at the photo, there is a sense that Tautane, Cape Turnagain, is a special place.

“There is so much going on in this space,” says Lou. “Not only are there the moths and Pimelea, but also Northern New Zealand dotterel, banded dotterel and variable oystercatcher nesting sites, gecko, regular sightings of kārearea, a neat hybrid harakeke (a cross between Phormium tenax and P. cookianum), sand coprosma with berries that lizards love… I could go on.”

“There has been a lot of work done by various people and groups to build on this conservancy.”

The protected site was once covered in invasive pampas grass, choking out the space needed for other plants like pinātoro/ native daphne (Pimelea prostrata) and tātaraheke/sand coprosma (Coprosma acerosa) (At RiskDeclining). Controlling the pampas was the initial drive for protecting the area with a QEII covenant in 2011, but invasive pampas wasn’t the only threat to contend with.

Deer, goats, pigs, rabbits and other animal pests have been the focus of longstanding efforts to care for this unique stretch of coast. Goats not only find the pampas enticing but also love whau (Entelea arborescens) and other palatable endemic plants in the area. Their trampling also adds to the erosion of the coastline, which comes under pressure from wind and other climatic events.

A lottery grant as well as Horizons Regional Council contributions funded a massive goat control effort along the coast (over 420 hectares as well as the outlying

RIGHT

Thompson Twins Contracting used a variety of techniques to remove deer such as aerial shooting from a helicopter with the help of thermal imaging, night hunting and using drones, alongside hunting on the ground using specially trained dogs.

Supplied: Ben Thompson

area). Backcountry Contracting used ‘judas goats’ – goats fitted with GPS trackers – to lead them to herds in the area. Fortunately, there have been no recent sightings of goats, which is great news.

Kay Griffiths and Craig Single (The Conservation Company) and Ruth Fleeson (Horizons Regional Council) have been hard at work restoring and monitoring the coastal site since 2011.

“Over the last 14 years, Kay and Craig have removed all the adult pampas from the covenant,” says Horizons senior biodiversity advisor Ruth Fleeson. “Now, toetoe is flourishing in its place.”

“Cat and mustelid control is making breeding safer for shorebirds and other vulnerable fauna. The pīngao is healthier and starting to spread without the goats impacting it.

Regeneration of the vegetation overall has improved with reduced possums and goats. The whole site is looking healthier and thriving as a result of the consistent effort to look after it. The Cape is a truly phenomenal place. We intend to keep this going forever.”

Rātā tū wao ki Tautane project

Further inland across Tautane whenua, a new deer fence has been constructed by Emile de Greeuw at Omata Fencing, wrapping around a rare remnant of coastal broadleaved forest and sedgeland with an 800-year-old rātā at its heart.

Ngāti Kahungunu and Horizons Regional Council are envisioning returning the site to its condition before humans arrived in Aotearoa –before deer and other species crept into the forests. In collaboration with Horizons and QEII, Ngāti Kahungunu have focused their efforts on protecting the forest habitat from deer as a first step in the long-term project.

At Tautane, and in the wider region, ecosystems have become increasingly stressed from the flow of deer across the landscape. The red and fallow deer that were introduced into the region have put pressure on the forest on a combination of fronts: suppressing plant regeneration, degrading the soil and tipping the whole habitat off balance.

After strategically installing hightensile deer fencing at the site, Ngāti Kahungunu’s contracting team Ngā Manu Taiao commenced a cull, followed by The Thompson Twins contractors who used several combined techniques to remove deer from the covenant. As of July 2025, The Thompson Twins had taken out 91 deer from the 46.5-hectare block, and now the task is to make sure they stay out.

Now that the forest has some breathing room, there is a chance to let the ecosystem recover with some help. There are currently plans for weed control in the covenant followed by restoration planting of ecologically sourced species in areas, led by Ngā Manu Taiao.

Once the forest is healthy and not under ungulate pressure, it is hoped that it will one day be a home for native manu to return to.

We are grateful to Lou Hagger, Rawinia Lewis of Ngāti Kahungunu, Horizons Regional Council, Thompson Twins Contracting and many others for their contributions to this story.

Cape Turnagain moth and the pinātoro plant

Just to the left of the envelope photo, the low-growing pinātoro/native daphne (Pimelea prostrata) clings to the bluff. A very special day-flying moth, Notoreas perornata ‘Cape Turnagain’ (Threatened - Nationally Critical) depends on the pinātoro plant for survival. You might recognise this moth from a colouring competition we ran last year alongside issue 106 of the Open Space magazine. The moth’s life cycle centres around the pinātoro plant – from laying eggs, to supporting caterpillars, and through to adulthood. Because of this close relationship, the moth relies on the pinātoro plant surviving in this windswept environment. If a weather event removed the pinātoro plant from this site, the moth would likely disappear.

The Conservation Company, Horizons and QEII planted out additional pinātoro at the site taken from cuttings of existing plants. They observe irregular sightings of the moth on their visits at certain times of the year, but no formal survey of the moths has been done in recent years.

Bringing back whau

Whau (Entelea arborescens) is Aotearoa’s native cork tree. The buoyancy of its wood provided excellent material for fishing floats for early Māori. Whau is usually found further north these days, but two remaining whau plants were found at Moanaroa Station just south of Tautane above deer and goat browse height.

From the two existing plants, QEII rep Lou Hagger has propagated 13 plants and planted three of these back out along the Tautane coast. Lou planted them under a native canopy with rabbit protection to give them the best chance of survival. Next planting season, Lou plans to take the other propagated seedlings inland, inside the new deer fenced covenant.

What special place should we show next?

If you have a photo of your covenant that you would like to feature on a future envelope for Open Space, please send a copy of a high-resolution photo with a short description to editor@qeii.org.nz.

ABOVE FROM TOP

Notoreas perornata ‘Cape Turnagain’ (ThreatenedNationally Critical) depends on the Pimelea plant for survival

One of the whau plants Lou has returned to the Tautane coast

OUR CHANGING LANDSCAPE

Since 1977, QEII has helped everyday people protect an average of 110 precious sites with QEII covenants each year. No two covenants are the same. Every one of these sites contains a stunning variety of plants, birds, insects, fungi, and some even protect New Zealand’s tiny native mammals –bats. They are ecosystems that could disappear entirely without action.

One of the most common reasons people give for why they want to protect special sites on their land is to “preserve it for future generations”. Whether it be bush, wetland, saltpan, marsh, gumland, stream or spring, it shows the ethos of our covenantors. They quietly go about protecting these areas because, in the words of the first QEII covenantor, the late Gordon Stephenson, “it is the right thing to do”. We share this vision of protecting special places and hope that future generations will be proud of the legacy that QEII covenantors are leaving behind.

A large part of our work has been adding protection to new places over time, culminating in the impressive 180,000 hectares of protected land today. But now we have reached a point at which our funding levels mean we can’t help every person who comes to us to protect a new site.

There has been no increase to QEII’s baseline government funding since 2015. While we received a temporary lifeline in February for the next three years, this will not be enough to continue protecting new areas

with covenants at the rate that we have been while also meeting our commitment to existing covenantors.

From 1 July this year, we have had to make some changes to how we process requests for new protection. Because we are only able to protect a limited number of sites across the country, we have tightened our criteria to prioritise sites that have the highest open space values nationally.

How will this process work?

We are currently trialling a new system to prioritise areas for new protection.

This financial year, proposed new covenants will be considered in two ‘funding rounds’ (November 2025 and May 2026), where proposals will be assessed against a range of criteria, including open space values (biodiversity, cultural, recreational, landscape, heritage), strategic values, and value for money. We hope that this new scoring criteria will allow us to prioritise sites fairly and strategically across the country.

An area that meets our usual covenanting threshold can be considered outside of the above process if the covenant can be established at no cost to QEII. In addition to fencing and cadastral survey costs, this would require a $7,000 processing fee for the first covenant on a property and $1,000 for each additional covenant to cover QEII costs. These costs can be met by the landowner or a combination of contributors.

We hope that the reduction in our new protection work will be a temporary situation and – with help – we will be able to welcome new kaitiaki to the network of QEII covenant owners across the country.

Why

your support matters now more than ever

The changes we’ve had to make this year are not decisions we’ve taken lightly. They highlight the reality faced by many conservation organisations operating with limited resources and growing demand. Every covenant request represents a story and a person, family or even a community who sees the value in preserving something irreplaceable.

We know that for most covenantors the decision to covenant is deeply personal. But without adequate funding, we have no choice but to turn away people who are ready and willing to protect their land.

This is not just a missed opportunity— it’s a loss for all of us.

Every site that goes unprotected is at risk. It’s a place where ecosystems could thrive, where birdsong could return or where rare plants could flourish. When we have to say “no” to a covenant, we’re not just declining or deferring the protection of an area, we’re potentially consigning that piece of land to future clearance or development.

Care for existing covenants will continue

While we are making changes to how we protect new places, there are more than 5,000 existing covenant owners who are making a difference in their patch every day.

We will continue to support them to care for their unique QEII-protected site and the species that depend on it. Most landowners haven’t stopped at protecting their site with a covenant, but are putting a lot of effort into pest control, weed control and doing what they can to see their covenant thrive.

Making a difference

The establishment of a new covenant costs QEII, on average, about $25,000. Because of the support we receive from landowners and other organisations who contribute financially to fencing and commit to ongoing management of the areas, we’re able spread our limited resources widely and protect more areas.

Every additional contribution, donation, and gift-in-will we receive allows us to protect even more. Many QEII covenants are the last strongholds of unique species. By fencing areas, we reduce browsing and grazing pressure and allow the system to get back in balance – in bush areas it allows seedlings to become part of the understorey and eventually the canopy.For wetlands and coastal areas it ensures the habitats and their resident species are set up for success.

We provide protection that lasts forever and we will stand behind that in court, defending the decisions of landowners who intentionally chose to protect these spaces well past their own lifetimes.

What we stand to lose

If landowners can’t add their sites to the network of QEII covenants, we risk losing momentum at a time when it’s needed most. The need for permanent protection has never been more urgent.

For decades, QEII has been a reliable partner for landowners who want to do the right thing – protect precious indigenous flora and fauna. But without enough resources to meet demand for new covenants, we risk sending the message that protecting nature is too hard, too expensive, or not a priority.

But that is not true, and it doesn’t have to be this way.

How you can help

QEII is a charity, and while we receive government support, that is not enough to allow us to meet the current demand for help from landowners. With your support, we can say “yes” to more people ready to create new covenants. Together we can make sure that conservation remains accessible and achievable.

These are just some of the ways you could help:

• Make a donation: Every contribution helps us continue our mission. Whether it’s a one-off gift or a regular donation, your support makes a tangible difference.

• Leave a gift in your will: A bequest to QEII is a powerful way to ensure your legacy includes protecting Aotearoa’s natural heritage for generations to come. Partner with us: If you’re part of a business, foundation, or philanthropic organisation, we’d love to explore ways to work together. Strategic partnerships can help us scale our impact and reach more communities.

• Spread the word: Share our story. Talk to your friends, family, colleagues and local MP about the importance of permanent protection. Encourage others to learn about QEII and consider how they can support the protection of these amazing places.

A shared responsibility

Protecting Aotearoa’s biodiversity is not the responsibility of any one organisation—it’s a shared commitment. QEII exists because thousands of New Zealanders have stepped up to protect what matters most. We are proud to stand alongside them, and we invite you to join us.

Whether you’re a landowner, a nature lover, a philanthropist, or simply someone who wants to see our native species thrive, your support matters. Together, we can ensure that QEII continues to be a beacon of hope for conservation in Aotearoa.

Looking ahead

We remain hopeful. The passion we see from landowners, communities and supporters gives us confidence that this is a temporary situation. With your help, we can continue to grow the network of protected sites, support existing covenantors, and welcome new guardians into the fold.

We envision a future where every landowner who wants to protect their land can do so. A future where our native species, ecosystems and landscapes are safe, not just for now, but forever.

Let’s make sure that when future generations walk through the forests, wetlands and tussock lands of Aotearoa, they know that someone cared enough to protect them.

Let’s ensure that the stories of these places are not lost, but passed on.

Let’s protect what matters most.

qeiinationaltrust.org.nz/support-us/

Pekapeka peek-aboo!

Evening falls. All is still and quiet.

A silhouette breaks away from the treetops - very small, very fast. Is it a trick of the eye? A large moth, perhaps? Ash from a distant bonfire? It doesn’t move like a bird: its flight is unusual. It seems to follow the forest’s edge, but then it flitters and loops in unexpected directions.

You may be witnessing a pekapeka-tou-roa emerging for her nightly activities. A long-tailed bat, one of Aotearoa’s only two native landbased mammals. Our other land-based mammal? Also a bat!

Pekapeka-tou-poto (the short-tailed bat) won’t emerge from her hiding place until after dark. When she does, she is more likely to be found rustling around on the forest floor than up in the sky. She uses her folded wings like crutches as she scoots amongst the leaf litter searching with her keen sense of smell and hearing for her kai - an insect, fruit, or a pollen-coated flower.

Pekapeka-tou-roa prefers to catch insects ‘on the wing’, using echolocation.

Many people are unaware of the presence of these unique little creatures. Is it because they are nocturnal, emerging when we head inside to sleep? Is it because they have had to face new threats since the arrival of humans in Aotearoa? Or could it simply be because they are so very small?

Check out the map to get an idea of where bats are known to visit.

Pekapeka-tou-poto are important pollinators of flowers like rewarewa and pua o te reinga.

As they sip nectar from these

The pollen is carried to the next flower to be visited by the bat, where some of the grains brush off, allowing the life cycle of these plants to continue.

Pekapeka-tou-roa/Long-tailed bat

Chalinolobus tuberculatus

Pekapeka-tou-poto/Short-tailed bat

Mystacina tuberculata

‘Short-tails have long ears,

This map shows very roughly where the presence of bats has been detected through monitoring around New Zealand. It is based on information collected by the Department of Conservation (from regional councils, contractors and private individuals) and is approximate only. Areas of black showing no bat detection do not necessarily indicate a lack of bats. There may have simply been no monitoring done there yet. This map has been reproduced with the permission of OpenStreetMap under the ODbL (openstreetmap.org/copyright). Centimetres

Join our intrepid pekapeka-tou-roa as she heads off on her constant journey to find a safe place to rest.

The challenges shown here are very real for our little pekapeka. Although they have called Aotearoa home for millions of years, they are now threatened by a wide range of issues.

Introduced species are not friendly neighbours for bats! They:

• use the same kinds of forest crevices for nesting and resting as pekapeka, pushing them out (possums, wasps and starlings).

• eat the leaves of the rākau (trees) bats use for their roosting sites (possums, deer, goats and wallabies).

• compete with bats for food (possums, rats and mice).

• even eat our pekapeka (cats, rats, possums, stoats and ferrets).

But we humans are sometimes not friendly neighbours either. Forest clearing has reduced the number of very old, large trees with cavities - like rātā and pukatea – that are ideal tūhunga/roosts for bats.

Hope is not lost, though: we can play a part in keeping te taiao (the environment) safe for our native mammals. Many people already are!

How can we make life a little better for bats? Helen and Paul from Whāngārei tell us what they’re doing to care for their bat neighbours.

Our farm has been in Helen’s family for 75 years, and we are proud to carry on the family ‘habit’ of protecting the native bush on the farm. We have close to 30 ha of lowland forest covenanted with QEII, providing large bush corridors across the farm. We have an extensive bait station and trap network throughout the covenants targeting possums, rats and mustelids (weasels, ferrets and stoats). This is showing positive signs of success with a high native bird population. Among others, in our bush we a have large range of native birds such as kukupa, tūī, pīwakawaka, tomtits and the occasional kākā.

There were always bats on the farm when Helen was growing up, and she used to see them flying around when she was wandering on the farm or doing lambing beats at dusk. More recently, we would sometimes see bats flying above our heads at dusk, while watering our vegetable garden.

It’s very difficult to spot bats, so we have always wondered how widespread they are on our farm and if there’s more we can do to assist them to flourish. Recently, our QEII rep Nan Pullman set up a bat monitoring device on the edge of one of our covenants, which showed significant bat activity. This monitor picked up ‘social chatter’ and ‘feeding buzzes’ over the period that it was installed, which excited the experts because that suggests more than one bat was flying backwards and forwards past the monitor. This is great encouragement to continue the input of hard work, time and money involved in pest control, and has led to us intensifying mustelid trapping across the farm, with these traps now serviced by a professional trapper.

We are very excited to have a population of bats on the farm, and the recent arrival of kākāriki is very special. Our hope is that one day we will see kiwi return to our bush too.

Paul, a QEII landowner

How to be a good bat neighbour

There are lots of things we can do in smaller spaces to care for our bats, too. A few ideas to try at your kainga (home) or kura (school) might be to:

• Keep any pet cats indoors at night, or better still, in a catio. Because pekapekatou-poto feed on the ground they are very prone to being preyed on by cats. One cat is known to have eaten 102 pekapeka-tou-poto in a week.

• Make a bat box! Follow this link to find out how: stuff.co.nz/lifestyle/homed/garden/112623556/diy-project-bat-roosting-box

• Plant rākau/trees! Very old trees can make great roosting sites, but pekapeka will also use tī kōuka/cabbage tree hollows to rest in as well. Tī kōuka are easy and fast to grow. Rākau with rough bark like tōtara and pūriri also create safe zones for bats.

• Weed out invasive plants like moth plant and climbing asparagus. These pests can smother the ancient trees that bats depend on. Find out which weeds are which at weedbusters.org.nz

• Help your whānau to keep pest animal numbers down with a trapping system for pests like possums and rats. One rat can destroy an entire bat colony in a single night. So one less rat could make a big difference!

This little pekapeka has a face-full of pollen! Can you help her to find her way to the ‘wood roses’ at the centre of this maze, so she can get a snack and pollinate them?

Pua o te reinga

Underground, in darkness, a round, woody mass is sucking energy from its host (a tree root). It is preparing to burst from the soil and send out its special bat-signal - a chemical that smells like a mammal and is irresistible to pekapeka-tou-poto.

This is ‘pua o te reinga’ (the flower of the underworld), wood rose, or Dactylanthus

A flower, and a parasite! Its creamy brown blooms sit just above the leaf litter. Exactly the right height for their only known pollinators, our short-tailed bat!

This bat has the right tools for the job of pollinating this strange flower. She has a brushy tip on her tongue; perfect for licking up sweet nectar and dusty pollen. Her fur, too, will collect pollen and carry it to the next flower.

A fly that gets free meals and a free ride

Why would a fly want to hitch a ride? It’s complicated.

This bat-fly has no wings. She is blind. And her only food source is the guano (poo) of the short-tailed bat. So she and her thousands of bat-fly buddies have developed a lifestyle that is reliant on pekapekatou-poto colonies. As the bat-flies and their larvae feed on bat poo, they are also keeping the bats’ roosting spaces tidy. They cause no harm to their bat hosts (although they are known to protect their personal space at times by screeching at the pekapeka). This kind of beneficial relationship is known as mutualism

When the bats move to a new roost, many of the bat-flies will go along for the adventure!

MANAWATŪWHANGANUI REP MAPS ROUTE TO AWESOME JOB

Manawatū-Whanganui

Spotting a pair of whio on a river next to a covenant and hearing stories about families’ multigenerational history on their land are just two of the things that Laurie Whitehead loves about being QEII’s rep for Manawatū-Whanganui.

Laurie joined the Trust in February last year (2024) following stints for the Department of Conservation in Whanganui and later the Horizons Regional Council biodiversity team.

She had long wanted to work in conservation, but her career initially went in a very different direction.

After completing an applied science degree, Laurie was in the Royal New Zealand Air Force for five years as a geospatial analyst, involving mapping and analysing images. Surprisingly perhaps, the skills she developed in the Air Force have been far from wasted in her environmental roles.

“I’m doing a Master’s degree at the moment and those skills, especially mapping, seem more relevant than ever, looking at different ways of understanding and managing the environment,” Laurie says.

Applying to join QEII was a no-brainer when the vacancy for the ManawatūWhanganui rep role came up.

“The focus of QEII is on the protection of natural areas and it’s so important that landowners are leading the way to ensure that something that’s precious to them is looked after in perpetuity. It’s really cool that it’s driven by the landowners,” she says.

“When it comes to looking after the environment, it’s the people that make it work.”

Laurie grew up on farms in Taranaki and Manawatū-Whanganui and knows most farmers are proud of their land and feel responsible for looking after it. “I’m really lucky in going to all these special places that few get the chance to see and meeting the people who look after them. Many are second or third generations of families on that land.”

“ When it comes to looking after the environment, it’s the people that make it work.”

Her Manawatū-Whanganui patch has around 205 covenants, ranging from wetlands, dune systems to different types of native forest. Although QEII covenants are fragmented across the landscape, she says they provide important protection for native species and are a bridge between the public conservation land in the region.

“There are a couple of really spectacular wetland covenants that are great habitats for birdlife. Their size blew me away a little bit,” Laurie says. “There’s also a site near Waiouru which is pretty massive and has some really cool primary forest with quite a number of tomtits and a few robins.”

Laurie found a pair of rare whio (blue ducks) in a river adjoining a covenant earlier this year and posted a short video of them to the QEII Facebook page.

“I think they are really cool birds. They’re really vocal and aren’t as afraid of people as many other birds, which means you often get a good chance to look at them.”

Covenants in the region face a range of challenges from pest animals and plants. The numbers of rabbits, hares, as well as sambar, red and fallow deer are all expanding.

“Recently I saw just my second sambar deer, it popped out of nowhere and honked at me, which gave me quite a fright.”

Outside of work and study, Laurie spends time with two dogs, two cats, five sheep and a Greek spur-thighed tortoise named Ruth on a lifestyle block at Waituna West, north of

Feilding. She also enjoys gardening and is planting natives to attract birdlife.

Well into her second year with QEII, Laurie says she loves her work. “My job is awesome. I feel really lucky to be able to go to all these places and meet all these people.”

FROM TOP

A whio/blue duck pair Laurie spotted out in the field.

Toutouwai/robin. Laurie says she’s seen some amazing birdlife on the job. Ruth the pet tortoise.

LEFT

Laurie looking up into the forest canopy

WEED IT AND REAP: THE PEOPLE TAKING ON THE WEEDS

Controlling weeds is a battle that many owners or caretakers of QEII-protected landscapes are fighting around the country. Every place is different, with different weed species to contend with. Sometimes a bit of assistance gives QEII landowners the edge they need to get on top of the issue.

Getting a jump on invasive weeds

‘Weeds’ are essentially plants growing where they are not welcome. These fast-spreading species can change the look and feel of our natural areas, replacing diverse ecosystems with dense, weedy growth. Weeds often create perfect hiding spots for pest animals like rats and stoats - putting pressure on our native fauna, many of which are already struggling to survive.

By working together to remove these unwanted plants, we can restore and protect our native ecosystems. Every effort - big or small - helps to keep invasive weeds at bay and ensure that future generations can enjoy our native bush.

With support from The Stephenson Fund and the Auckland Council Fund, QEII covenantors have been undertaking a variety of weed control projects to remove different pest plants. From wilding pines to creeping ivy, these landowners show that with the right tools, support and determination, even the toughest species can be managed.

ABOVE

Staveley Camp weed control, 2022

Wilding Pines: A growing challenge

Wilding pines have spread rapidly across New Zealand’s landscapes since their introduction. Unlike most native trees, wilding pines grow quickly and spread easily, displacing many slower growing natives. They are fast becoming a problem for many regions and a threat to QEIIprotected ecosystems.

Last year, Te Moata Charitable Trust received support from The Stephenson Fund to remove the pesky trees from their covenant along the Coromandel Peninsula.

Since then, their contractor and Te Moata staff have felled approximately 1,140 wilding pines. This involved careful planning to minimise impacts on surrounding trees, huts, tracks and waterways. Where safe to do so, the debris from felled trees was also removed.

Their long-term goal is to restore the native forest ecosystem, which includes kauri, rimu, tānekaha, miro, tōtara, mataī, pūriri and karo, and provides habitat for birdlife such as kiwi, kererū, tūī, pīwakawaka and kākā.

The removal of these pines will allow the regenerating bush space to grow and thrive.

Total project cost: $22,582.50

LEFT

Pinus contorta invading alpine tussock shrubland. (Note: Photo was not taken in the case study site.) Photo credit: Jesse Bythell

Tackling climbing asparagus (and other intruders)

In the Auckland region, QEII covenantor Rosemary was faced with several unwanted guests that had sprung up in her covenant. With the steep terrain, compounded by the wet spring weather, some external help was needed to safely control the weeds.

In 2023, she applied for support through the Auckland Council Fund. During the spring and summer of 2023/24, a contractor worked to remove climbing asparagus, ginger, Aristea arum lily and woolly nightshade from around the property. The project required three rounds of spraying and by late summer, clear progress had been made. As part of the project, a weed map was also drawn up to help with ongoing management of the covenant.

Total project cost: $8,021.80

Supported by: The Auckland Council Fund and the landowner

Aristea along western track – before control (July 2023)

Privet and woolly nightshade in slip –before control (July 2023)

(July 2024)

(July 2024)

Be wary: Not all that climbs is a weed. Make sure to correctly identify your native from your weeds first.

Leafy greens: Tackling those small but hardy unwanted guests

A range of leafy, climbing weeds such as Cape ivy, climbing asparagus, common ivy and old man’s beard have become common across New Zealand’s landscapes. These fast-growing species spread easily and can quickly smother native plants, preventing natural regeneration. They’re a problem many of our covenantors will be familiar with, often requiring regular control to keep them in check.

Cape ivy be gone

When Denise noticed a new weed species growing along a steep section of her Northland covenant, she knew it had to go. The culprit was Cape ivy, a dense tangly shrub known for smothering other plants. In 2024, with support from The Stephenson Fund, Denise hired a contractor to safely remove the Cape ivy (and some ginger, pampas and woolly nightshade along the way) from the difficult terrain. The next year, a contractor was brought back to physically remove remnants of the Cape ivy. Denise replanted the site with natives to establish the shade necessary to eliminate further Cape ivy spread and prevent reinvasion.

Total project cost: just over $5,000

Supported by: The Stephenson Fund and the landowner

Willows: Troublesome in our wetlands and waterways

Many willow species are invasive and have spread rapidly impacting waterway systems, replacing native vegetation and altering the balance of our ecosystems. They can block waterways, worsen flooding and shade out native plants.

In the Taranaki region, The Spencer Family Trust recently took on the challenge of removing invasive willows from their QEII covenanted wetland to help restore the ecological health of the area.

In early 2025, with funding support from QEII and the Taranaki Regional Council, they hired a contractor to ‘drill and fill’ the willow population in their covenant. Most of the willows were successfully poisoned during the project, with only a small section requiring some follow-up work.

Total project cost: $4,743

Supported by: The Stephenson Fund, Taranaki Regional Council, and the landowner

Tackling weeds in your own backyard:

• Guide to identifying weeds: www.weedbusters.org.nz/what-are-weeds/weed-list/

• DOCs guide for weed control methods: www.doc.govt.nz/nature/pests-and-threats/weeds/control-methods/

Have a project in mind but could use some help?

Contact your regional rep for guidance on your project.

If you have a covenant in the Auckland Region, consider applying to the Auckland Council Fund.

You can find out more information on our website: qeiinationaltrust.org.nz/managing-your-covenant/the-auckland-council-fund/

The Stephenson Fund accepts applications annually for QEII covenantors around the country. This year’s round closed in August; you can find out more information about the fund and opening dates on our website.

You can find out more information on our website: qeiinationaltrust.org.nz/managing-your-covenant/the-stephenson-fund/

SAY IT BEFORE YOU SPRAY IT, CHECK IT BEFORE YOU WRECK IT

Amongst the available tools and techniques for farm and covenant maintenance, landowners around the country will be familiar with herbicide spraying boundaries and fence lines.

Sometimes this is especially necessary to maintain the condition of fencing that protects a covenant, ensuring that no vegetation is undermining the effectiveness of the fence. In some cases, the nature of terrain means aerial spraying is the most practical option, but this can sometimes have some unforeseen consequences.

QEII regional rep for Southland Jesse Bythell knows first-hand the effects of spray drift in covenants. There have been a number of instances lately in her region when aerial spraying activities have resulted in damage to covenant vegetation.

“Aerial spraying can be quite a tricky business. Pilots intending to be careful and precise can still get drift getting into covenants if they come up against unexpected weather on the day. This is especially a problem for small covenants that don’t have the species to replace themselves. Podocarps (e.g., rimu and kahikatea) are particularly sensitive and because mature trees often emerge above the canopy, they are often more likely to be affected by spray drift. If your covenant only has a small number of podocarps, you can’t really flick a switch and get a 100 or 200-yearold tree back.”

Jesse has seen forests that have become decimated following drift from aerial spraying.

“When the canopy thins, this lets more light through and invites the weeds in. For a small covenant, even a shallow intrusion of spray drift can gnaw a chunk out of the total forest area, weakening the health of the whole system.”

Jesse reckons this issue might often be down to lack of awareness and communication.

“Nine times out of ten people are acting in good faith, but unaware of the rules or impacts. In some cases, it might be a neighbour spraying a boundary and they might have no idea there are special threatened flora and fauna behind that fence.” Jesse says having a good friendly chat to your neighbours can go a long way. She also recommends “having a chat to your local rep and checking the rules of your regional council before jumping into your own spraying around your covenant.”

Good to know

• Damage to native flora and fauna within a covenant is prohibited under the covenant deed, so consult with your rep about whether aerial spraying might be appropriate for your covenant.

• Talk to your neighbours and councils before you get cracking on an aerial spray to ensure you’ve got the right permissions and approvals (often written permission is needed from neighbours when spraying along property boundaries).

• When commissioning aerial spray work be clear with the pilot where the covenant boundaries are and ask them to use smoke flares for real-time feedback on wind direction and strength.

WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR ABOUT BIODIVERSITY CREDIT MARKETS

Financial support for people doing good biodiversity work is a great concept. QEII is watching with interest to see how work to develop a ‘Voluntary Nature Credits Market’ (VNCM) in Aotearoa New Zealand progresses.

What are biodiversity credit markets?

Biodiversity credit markets are a financial mechanism that allows for the trading of biodiversity conservation efforts. These markets facilitate the buying and selling of biodiversity credits.

As an example of how it might work, entities such as businesses could enhance their sustainability credentials by purchasing credits generated from conservation or restoration projects. These projects typically involve the preservation or enhancement of habitats, species, and ecosystem services.

The purpose of biodiversity credit markets is to create economic incentives for the conservation and sustainable management of ecosystems, aligning environmental goals with business interests.

Where is the policy at?

The policy is still in the very early stages of development.

In July 2023, the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) released a discussion paper seeking public input on the possibility of work by the government to facilitate development of a biodiversity credit market in New Zealand. The public consultation on biodiversity credit markets showed strong support for such a system.

Then on 12 June 2025, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard announced the Government’s intention to support the expansion of what is now being called a Voluntary Nature Credits Market (or markets) in New Zealand.

The Government has published a summary of its proposed role in a future VNCM and a set of integrity principles intended for use when reviewing and approving project standards for voluntary credits.

It proposes that the standards that projects must meet to be eligible will be set by the “private sector” –organisations that “package” and sell the credits from biodiversity projects –but that government would “support” the setting of standards.

A series of pilot projects are now underway to test the possible different roles the government might play in the market.

Will I be able to claim biodiversity credits for my covenant or bush block?

We don’t know. The design of the market is still being worked through.

QEII National Trust is, like many of our covenant owners and land managers, keen to understand more about any new system – and the rules and administration expectations on suppliers of potential credits.

There are also questions to be answered about the eligibility of certain projects to participate in the system. In a QEII context, the big unknowns are around the principle

of ‘additionality’ and the role of covenanting as a means of ensuring ‘durability’ of biodiversity outcomes.

What is QEII doing?

We were commissioned to provide some advice to MfE as part of their work on the issue of “permanence and durability” and to try to understand what interest there might be among our constituents (mostly farmers) about participating in a market as a supplier of credits. We will endeavour to stay as close to policy development as possible, while maintaining our independence and neutrality.

QEII is very focused on supporting our existing covenantors to continue the great work that has already been going on for nearly 50 years. We will continue to advocate for policy that best caters to QEII covenantors and potential future covenantors.

As things become clearer, we will see if there is a further role for QEII to play in a world with biodiversity credits – in a way that supports covenant owners.

We will keep landowners and supporters informed about QEII’s position on these matters when there are opportunities to do so.

Where to find more information

More information, including the discussion document and proposed government roles, is available on the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) website: environment.govt.nz

Remembering Nick Matich

QEII regional representatives and staff remember Nick Matich as a storyteller, adventurer and good mate. Nick sadly passed away in June of this year, but his memory and legacy lives on at QEII National Trust.

Nick was the QEII rep for the Kaipara region for nearly 14 years, eventually hanging up his QEII hat in 2019.

Before joining QEII, Nick worked on construction projects in both New Zealand and England, then worked as a roofer in Australia, lab worker at the Marsden Point refinery and for DOC at Ruapehu undertaking weed control.

His passion for surfing and skiing took him around the world. His love of outdoor activities brought him closer to New Zealand’s indigenous flora and fauna.

Nick’s introduction to QEII was via his longtime surfing buddy Malcolm Pullman, the husband of Whangārei QEII rep Nan Pullman. In the early 2000s, Nan asked Nick to do some weed control and monitoring work in her region, which at the time encompassed Whangārei and Kaipara.

“When I think of Nick, I remember his ability to talk to people, his drive to get out in the countryside and always his eye on the weather maps as he planned his next surf or ski adventure,” says Nan Pullman.

In 2006, Nick took on the Kaipara rep role when it split off from Whangārei. He proved himself to be

a wonderful rep, connecting well with his landowners. “From a well-known Dargaville family, with the ‘gift of the gab’ and a fondness for a good cup of tea, Nick was always going to get on with landowners in his rural community,” says Nan.

By 2019, there were 130 covenants in Nick’s patch, predominantly bush remnants on working farms. Over the 14 years as a rep, he saw the positive changes in his region with covenant owners actively controlling pests and weeds. On the other hand, concern around kauri disease was growing at the time, which was something he took care to prevent out in the field.

“Nick took pride in working for the QEII National Trust and was a loyal friend to my family,” says Nan. “We miss him heaps.”

Other QEII reps also remember Nick fondly and found a good friend in him. “I counted Nick as a good mate of mine, even though we only caught up at conference,” says Trevor Thompson, QEII rep for Wairarapa. “He had a great love of surfing and skiing. Quite a humble guy. When he moved out of QEII we said we’d keep in touch, but I’m sad we didn’t manage to. He had a great sense of humour, liked to laugh. A good kiwi bloke.”

Many remember Nick for his enduring passion for skiing and surfing. Provided: Nan Pullman

Robbie Bennett, QEII rep for Waikato, says he enjoyed Nick’s company at QEII ‘hub’ meetings and annual conferences. “We got on like a house on fire,” says Robbie. “I especially appreciated the way he included me when I was still a newbie, sharing his experiences and laughs. He always seemed to have this big grin on his face. It’s something I’ve not forgotten. And I’m still inspired by the fact that he surfed and skied into his 70s. Rock on Nick!”

Head office staff member, Joanna Haigh, remembers Nick as a great storyteller. “Nick had some great stories to tell of the varied life he’d led. He always had a smile and a joke to share and was a valued member of the QEII whānau.”

Known in the community for her passion for plants and conservation, Eve Harrison not only had a QEII covenant on her property that she painstakingly cared for but also undertook an inspiring amount of work in the neighbouring Whakanewha Regional Park.

Andy Spence, Managing Director of Cut’n’Paste Weed Gels, previously worked as a park ranger in Whakanewha. Andy met Eve not long after she arrived on Waiheke Island and built her house on Bella Vista Road.

“Eve’s contribution to the park was and is simply legendary,” says Andy. “She cleared acres of weeds and planted thousands of trees, mostly bought at her own expense.”

“She always expressed that she was profoundly grateful to be allowed to do the work she did at the Park. I was always profoundly grateful that she was willing to do such amazing and thorough conservation and restoration work.”

Eve’s own QEII covenant is one of the smallest in Aotearoa New Zealand at only 0.22 hectares. Open Space Covenants this small are not usually selected for approval due to higher potential ongoing management

issues and threats from development and pests, including weeds. Eve’s commitment and dedication to the site, including her work with threatened plant species, plus its proximity to the neighbouring Whakanewha Regional Park, were taken into account.

QEII regional rep Jess Reaburn remembers Eve’s dedication to her covenant and conservation, continuing to carry out restoration and pest plant control work well into her eighties. “Eve was a stalwart supporter of conservation on Waiheke and passionate about plants. She planted a wide variety of species on her property and regularly volunteered controlling weeds in the neighbouring Whakanewha Regional Park. There is a track in the park named after her which runs along the boundary of her covenant.”

When Jess last saw Eve earlier this year, she was very concerned about finding a new owner for the property who shared her values.

Eve’s house will soon be up for sale. Andy Spence, who is assisting with the sale of her property, says she would want someone who will appreciate her work and the trees to buy it.

LEFT

Eve Harrison looking up at the trees she lovingly planted in her QEII covenant

Continuing Eve’s legacy

Friends of local conservation legend, Eve Harrison, remember her and her incredible efforts to care for nature in her neighbourhood. Sadly, Eve passed away in August this year. She had hoped her covenant would be passed to someone who would care for it just as lovingly.

The covenant encompasses two steep sections falling from Bella Vista Road towards Whakanewha Regional Park and Rocky Bay, with the house on one of the sections. Eve carefully reintroduced locally rare and threatened plants to act as a local seed source for the surrounding area, with species including kauri, rimu, hīnau, white maire, miro, nīkau, and northern rātā.

The two-bedroom house has been well maintained and features many water tanks, solar panels and solar hot water. It has also been recently reclad and painted. It has extensive views over Whakanewha Regional Park and good walking access to the sea.

“Eve was self-deprecating in the extreme and had the ability to say exactly what she thought,” Andy says. “The Rocky Bay community knew her well and loved her kindness to the bush and dogs…. She will be missed.”

If you are interested in purchasing Eve’s property and continuing her legacy of care for the natural world, please get in touch with real estate agent Andy Roke from Ray White, andy.roke@raywhite.com

Mirza Downs Station -

7611 State Highway 1, Ward, Marlborough

You might recognise Mirza Downs Station from previous issues of the Open Space magazine, featured in relation to its ecological importance in the region and the exciting research that has been undertaken on the property through the Eastern South Island project (Issue 108, May 2025).

Mirza Downs Station is now on the market, an opportunity for you to be the next caretaker of this unique property in South Marlborough.

This remarkable 610-hectare sheep and beef farm offers a rare and enviable combination of productive farmland and stunning natural beauty. Spanning from State Highway 1 all the way to the Pacific Ocean, the property features two QEII Open Space Covenants protecting a total of 135 hectares of crucial habitat for some of the most threatened species in the region.

This property is one of the most ecologically valuable in Marlborough with 27 threatened plant species, four threatened invertebrate species and three threatened lizard species. There are also threatened sea birds and seals on the coast.

The previous landowner, QEII National Trust and Marlborough District Council have been very active in working to protect these species. The hut on the dunes was part funded by QEII to enable this work to take place.

The farm is exceptionally well set up, with a comprehensive network of tracks and quality fencing throughout. Infrastructure includes multiple farm sheds, a three-stand woolshed,

two sets of sheep yards, and cattle yards, all designed to support efficient and sustainable farming operations.

At the heart of the property is a wellmaintained, comfortable home complete with a swimming pool – perfect for family living or entertaining guests. The lifestyle on offer here is second to none, with hunting, fishing, and diving all available on your doorstep.

This is more than just a farm – it’s a coastal lifestyle, a productive enterprise, and a unique opportunity to become a custodian of some of the most precious biodiversity in the country.

If you’re interested in this property, please contact:

Harrison Martin

Rural, Viticulture And Lifestyle Sales Consultant

+64 27 296 5409 +64 3 578 7700 bayleys.co.nz

Bayleys, 33 Seymour Street, Blenheim 7201, New Zealand

Property For Sale – Hokitika, West Coast

‘Kahikatea Memorial Forest and Wetland’

Originally dedicated in memory of Michael Orchard’s family with their passion for native forests and wildlife, this 2.6-hectare QEIIprotected regenerated kahikatea forest is now waiting for a new custodian with similar visions.

The QEII Open Space Covenant lies within a seven-hectare (20-acre) property for sale just 14 minutes north of Hokitika up the Arahura Valley, on the Old Christchurch Road. The property also includes a managed exotic forest block outside the covenant.

The property is generally flat and bounded by Fox Creek and Malfroy’s Tram, both names with historic significance. Vegetation comprises recent alluvial flats which support tall regenerating kahikatea/rimu/miro, with kāmahi on stream sides and dense kahikatea with flax on poorer drained wetland.

Adjacent properties have similar native vegetation areas making for high biodiversity values, and all back onto Conservation Land hill country of rimu/broadleaf forest. In autumn when the kahikatea is fruiting, the spectacle of kererū and tūī in flight is a sight to behold. The regenerating shrubland margin is an important habitat for fernbirds, and weka abound.

A central access track separates the native and planted forest. It is bounded by redwood and harvested pine areas with large attractive eucalypts (favoured by bellbirds). Replanted radiata pine grids are now ready for first tending, along the back section access.

An active NZ Farm Forestry Association exists on the West Coast, providing advice and property visits. For the native forest, Tāne’s Tree Trust has many helpful publications. Michael, a professional forester and member of both, will be happy to assist a new owner in management of their property if desired.

Further information, map and photos can be gained by contacting current owner:

Michael Orchard

PO Box 80, Hokitika, 7842

Phone/Text: 027 755 7310

Email: orchards@xtra.co.nz

LEFT

View over the healthy covenant, predominately regenerating kahikatea forest

BELOW

Michael Orchard with a special large podocarp

District Council Location Covenant Name Area (ha) Main open space type

Hastings Maraetotara Wairunga 5.89

Hastings Maraetotara Wairunga 1.09

New Plymouth Uruti The Bushman's Covenant 29.20

Southland Te Anau Eweburn Stream Covenant 27.52

Gisborne Wharekopae 5.29

Ōtorohanga Puketotara Paul Singh Sanctuary 33.60

Central Hawke's Bay Pōrangahau Ngapua 3.87

Far North Peria Mangakawakawa Expansion 37.90

Waipā Ngaroto Ellis Park 1.78

Carterton Dalefield Titiro i te Awa 0.67

Dunedin Evansdale Te Pirika a Nathan 3.51

Wairoa Wairoa 7.90

Southland Tuatapere Kōwhai Reach 2.95

Waitomo Mangaotaki 0.57

Carterton Waiohine Gorge Te Pāmu 4.64

Whangārei Tangihua Pātaka Kūkupa 2.72

Whakatāne Matatā Ātaahua Gully 9.40

Whakatāne Matatā Ātaahua Gully 0.83

Tasman Māpua Fisher Pegg Trust 2.71

Wairoa Tiniroto 8.91

Waitomo Te Mapara Collins Family Covenants 4.58

Waitomo Te Mapara Collins Family Covenants 3.42

Waitomo Te Mapara Collins Family Covenants 8.61

Ruapehu Retaruke Kōtare Trees 5.28

Lowland modified secondary tawa-tītoki forest, secondary tawa treeland, red beechpittosporum-cabbage tree revegetated forest, exotic grassland and open water (pond)

Lowland secondary tawa treeland, revegetated (red beech-pittosporum-cabbage tree) forest and exotic grassland

Semi-coastal modified primary forest

Submontane modified primary shrubland, rushland and stream

Lowland podocarp forest

Lowland modified primary podocarpbroadleaved forest and stream

Semicoastal modified primary and secondary forest and exotic grassland

Lowland modified secondary podocarp broadleaf forest and shrubland (with pinus radiata, kikuyu patches and kiwi)

Lowland revegetated forest, open water, wetland, and modified secondary grassland swamp.

Lowland modified primary forest

Coastal modified secondary forest, exotic grassland and herbland

Lowland modified primary forest and secondary forest

Lowland modified exotic grassland

Lowland secondary rewarewa/tawapukatea forest

Lowland modified secondary forest and stream

Lowland secondary forest, modified secondary sedgeland, reedland and exotic grassland

Semi coastal modified primary forest

Semi coastal modified primary forest and revegetating wetland

Lowland secondary and revegetated forest

Lowland modified primary forest, secondary forest and scrub, and exotic grassland

Lowland modified primary forest and streams

Lowland modified primary forest and streams

Lowland modified primary forest, exotic grassland and streams

Lowland modified primary forest

District Council Location Covenant Name Area (ha) Main open space type

Kāpiti Coast Ōtaki Waimanu 0.99

Kāpiti Coast Ōtaki Waimanu Rua 1.26

Christchurch Teddington Witte's Skyline 3.75

Waikato Pukekawa Otuiti 15.27

Central Otago Chatto Creek Airdrie Tōtara Covenant 63.21

Far North Puketi, Kerikeri Puketotara Bush Covenant 12.01

Hastings Eskdale Kōwhai Downs 16.83

New Plymouth Urenui 3.54

Tasman Richmond 3.02

Marlborough Kaiuma Bay 372.01

Marlborough Kaiuma Bay 40.07

Marlborough Kaiuma Bay 26.16

Marlborough Kaiuma Bay 6.87

Ruapehu Taumarunui Poppy's Place 4.79

Hurunui Balmoral Plains Home Bush QEII Covenant 48.68

Waikato Ruapuke The Plantation Covenant 3.66

Waikato Ruapuke The Cow Paddock Covenant 1.06

Waikato Ruapuke The Rimu Trees Covenant 2.22

Waikato Ruapuke Lamb Spring Covenant 32.90

Waitomo Rangitoto The Templeton Family Covenant 115.10

Central Hawke's Bay Oueroa Bush 6.53

New Plymouth Inglewood Nine Streams Farm Wetland Restoration 1.54

Tararua Pongaroa The Wetlands 2.00

Tararua Pongaroa Pete's Gully 5.13

South Wairarapa Tuturumuri Whakapata 9.70

Lowland modified primary treeland; modified secondary treeland, treefernland and sedgeland; and revegetated scrub

Lowland modified secondary treeland and treefernland; exotic treeland and grassland

Lowland modified primary treeland, secondary shrubland and grassland

Lowland secondary rushland swamp

Montane modified primary forest and shrubland, secondary shrubland and treeland, modified secondary shrubland and grassland and subalpine modified primary boulderfield

Lowland modified primary and secondary forest

Lowland modified primary tawa-tītokipodocarp forest, modified secondary sedgeland and exotic pasture/grassland

Semicoastal modified primary forest

Semicoastal revegetated forest, sedgeland and exotic grassland

Semicoastal modified primary forest, and modified secondary forest and shrubland

Semicoastal modified secondary forest

Semicoastal modified primary forest, and modified secondary forest and shrubland

Semicoastal modified primary forest

Lowland modified primary forest, riparian

Montane modified primary forest, secondary tussockland and scrub

Coastal modified primary broadleaf forest

Coastal modified primary broadleaf forest

Coastal secondary broadleaf forest

Coastal modified primary and secondary broadleaf forest and submontane modified primary forest

Lowland modified primary forest

Semicoastal modified secondary forest and shrubland and artificially created grassland

Lowland revegetated shrubland, sedgeland and exotic grassland

Lowland, modified raupo wetland

Lowland secondary forest colluvial hillslope

Lowland modified primary and modified secondary forest, modified secondary sedgeland and exotic grassland

District Council Location Covenant Name Area (ha) Main open space type

Tasman Brooklyn Lynne's Forest 7.46

New Plymouth Waitara Chris Jury Wetland 2.69

Masterton Mt Bruce New Forest 6.81

Central Hawke's Bay Wallingford Eparaima Bush 4.98

New Plymouth Omata Te Rua Hore Hore 0.82

New Plymouth Omata Watatao Extension 2.38

Clutha Glenomaru Valley Little Omaru 3.94

Waipā Pirongia Adferiad 2.67

Stratford Midhirst Waiwakanui 1.71

Stratford Midhirst Waiwakanui 0.78

Stratford Midhirst Bullock Track Bush 22.06

Far North Waipapakauri Macrae Wetland 0.92

Central Otago Lindis Crossing, Tarras Lindisvale II Covenant 2.77

Auckland Āwhitu Peninsula McMahon's Bush 0.70

New Plymouth Burgess Park Kererū Croft 1.52

New Plymouth Burgess Park Korimako Cay 0.54

Waitaki Waianakarua

Waitaki Waianakarua

Rangimarie EcoSanctuary 3.23

Rangimarie EcoSanctuary 2.83

Auckland Āwhitu Peninsula Windswept at Awhitu 1.96

Central Hawke's Bay Wallingford, Pōrangahau Jane Hunter Wetland 2.54

Waipā Ōhaupō Annette's West Road Bush 1.20

Dunedin Portobello Roselle 3.95

Central Hawke's Bay Ōmakere The Glen 2.61

Dunedin Port Chalmers Kaikai Beach 9.94

Lowland secondary and secondary modified forest

Semicoastal modified secondary forest, secondary sedgeland and artificially created open water

Lowland secondary forest, treeland and exotic pasture

Lowland modified primary tawa-tītokipodocarp forest

Semicoastal revegetated shrubland

Semicoastal revegetated shrubland

Lowland modified primary and secondary hardwood forest

Regenerating lowland montane primary and secondary forest with stream

Lowland modified secondary forest

Lowland modified secondary forest

Lowland modified secondary forest, exotic grassland and streams

Semicoastal secondary treeland palustrine swampland and open water palustrine swampland.

Lowland primary cushionfield and saline patches and modified primary stonefield and sandfield

Semicoastal modified primary and secondary forest

Semicoastal revegetated shrubland, modified secondary forest, artificially created sedgeland and open water

Semicoastal revegetated shrubland, secondary treefernland, artificially created flaxland and open water

Coastal modified primary treeland and exotic grassland

Coastal modified primary treeland, revegetated forest and exotic grassland

Semicoastal modified secondary sedgeland, revegetated scrub and shrubland, and ephemeral wetland.

Lowland modified primary (Carex secta) sedgeland, open water and exotic (pasture) grassland

Lowland modified primary swamp forest, and revegetated forest.

Coastal modified primary forest, treeland, secondary forest and shrubland, exotic grassland

Lowland secondary forest and modified secondary sedgeland

Coastal modified primary sedgeland, modified secondary shrubland and exotic grassland

Regional Representatives

Mieke Kapa FAR NORTH 027 494 0733 mkapa@qeii.org.nz

Trina Upperton KAIPARA 021 0822 9802 tupperton@qeii.org.nz

Nan Pullman WHANGĀREI 027 490 4483 npullman@qeii.org.nz

Chris Floyd NORTH AUCKLAND 021 066 2165 cfloyd@qeii.org.nz

Jessica Reaburn CENTRAL & EAST AUCKLAND 021 026 23436 jreaburn@qeii.org.nz

Paul Goldsmith SOUTH & WEST AUCKLAND 021 622 368 pgoldsmith@qeii.org.nz

Robbie Bennett WAIKATO 021 1742 761 rbennett@qeii.org.nz

Jason Roxburgh HAURAKI-COROMANDEL & 027 535 8327 jroxburgh@qeii.org.nz part WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY: north of Whakamaramara road

Zipporah Ploeg TAUPŌ & CENTRAL WAIKATO 020 4095 2800 zploeg@qeii.org.nz & part WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY: south of Whakamaramara road and north of SH36 and the Tauranga District

Melissa Sinton WAITOMO, NORTH TARANAKI & RUAPEHU 027 867 6407 msinton@qeii.org.nz

Hōri Barsdell EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY & 027 634 8958 hbarsdell@qeii.org.nz part WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY: south of SH36

Carol Burgess NEW PLYMOUTH 021 932 555 cburgess@qeii.org.nz

Jake Goonan SOUTH TARANAKI 022 327 0445 jgoonan@qeii.org.nz

Malcolm Rutherford GISBORNE 022 310 6818 mrutherford@qeii.org.nz

Troy Duncan HAWKE’S BAY 021 629 426 tduncan@qeii.org.nz

Lou Hagger TARARUA 022 477 3833 lhagger@qeii.org.nz

Laurie Whitehead MANAWATŪ-WHANGANUI 021 022 59259 lwhitehead@qeii.org.nz

Trevor Thompson WAIRARAPA 027 333 3243 tthompson@qeii.org.nz

Lee Barry WELLINGON – KĀPITI 021 0525 857 lbarry@qeii.org.nz

Tom Stein NELSON – TASMAN & MARLBOROUGH 0274 453 890 tstein@qeii.org.nz

Clare Moore NELSON – TASMAN & MARLBOROUGH 021 656 035 cmoore@qeii.org.nz

Martin Abel WEST COAST 03 753 3012 mabel@qeii.org.nz

James Kilgour NORTH CANTERBURY 027 474 9327 jkilgour@qeii.org.nz

Joe Potter Butler CENTRAL CANTERBURY 027 374 3013 jpotterbutler@qeii.org.nz

Max Crowe SOUTH CANTERBURY 020 400 31969 mcrowe@qeii.org.nz

Cathy Rufaut COASTAL OTAGO - NORTH 021 100 8347 crufaut@qeii.org.nz

Morgan Trotter COASTAL OTAGO - SOUTH 027 222 3067 mtrotter@qeii.org.nz

Rob Wardle CENTRAL OTAGO 0204 012 6483 rwardle@qeii.org.nz

Mark Sutton WAIAU CATCHMENT 021 540 814 msutton@qeii.org.nz

Jesse Bythell SOUTHLAND 0204 003 2109 jbythell@qeii.org