EPA Report: Verified Source: Pestlink Operational Report for Possum, Ship rat Control in the Waitutu

18 Aug 2014 - 24 Aug 2014 30/01/2015 Department of Conservation Contents

1. Operation Summary ...... 2 2. Introduction ...... 3 2.1 TREATMENT AREA ...... 3 2.2 MANAGEMENT HISTORY ...... 5 3 Outcomes and Targets ...... 5 3.1 CONSERVATION OUTCOMES ...... 5 3.2 TARGETS ...... 6 3.2.1 Result Targets ...... 6 3.2.2 Outcome Targets ...... 6 4 Consultation, Consents & Notifications ...... 6 4.1 CONSULTATION ...... 6 4.2 CONSENTS ...... 7 4.3 NOTIFICATION ...... 7 5 Methods ...... 8 5.1 TARGET SPECIES ...... 8 5.2 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ...... 10 5.2.1 Effects on Non-Target Species ...... 10 5.2.2 Effects on Soil and Water Quality ...... 10 5.2.3 Effects on Ecosystems ...... 10 5.2.4 Effects on Human Health ...... 10 6 Monitoring Results and Outcomes ...... 10 6.1 RESULT MONITORING - TARGET SPECIES ...... 10 6.2 RESULT MONITORING - ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ...... 11 6.3 OUTCOME MONITORING ...... 12

1. Operation Summary

Operation Name Possum, Ship rat Control in Waitutu Operation Date 18 Aug 2014 - 24 Aug 2014 Area Office: Te Anau Region: Eastern and Southern South Island Pestlink Reference 1314TEA07 Treatment Area Size (ha) Waitutu 300000.00 Conservation Unit Name(s) GA Id(s) Waitutu Blk XIII Sec 4 Covenant Waitutu Block Covenant National Park 2801633

Treatment Block Details Treatment Blocks Size (ha) Waitutu 30000.00

Contractor Name Helicopters Otago Ltd.

Treatment Dates Start Completion Waitutu 18 Aug 2014 24 Aug 2014

Target Pest Details Target Treatment Blocks Control Method Name Pests Waitutu Possum, Pesticide Aerial Pesticide - Aerial in Waitutu-(1) Ship rat

Conservation Outcome(s) Protection of the health and integrity of the forest canopy and associated plant communities susceptible to possum browse, but particularly: Mistletoe species Peraxilla colensi, P. tetrapetala, Alepis flavida, and Ileostylus micranthus). Protect threatened species from rat, possum and stoat predation, particularly mohua and kaka. Result Target(s) Treatment Area/Block What we got • less than 1 percent Waitutu 0.07% rtc for possums

• less than 5 percent Waitutu 0% tracking for rats

Outcome Targets What we got • Possum preferred forest species including results to come once

Pestlink Ref: 1314TEA07 Page 2 of 13 Date Printed: 02 Feb 2015 mistletoe are protected from adverse effects of monitoring completed possum browse and recruitment in mistletoe is observed.

data yet to be analysed.

2. Introduction

2.1 TREATMENT AREA

Non-target species Common Name Scientific Name South Island Fernbird, Matata, koroatito, karoti, Bowdleria punctata punctata matata, koroatito, u-tick Ninox novaeseelandiae Morepork, Ruru novaeseelandiae , Toutouwai, kakaruai, Petroica australis australis kakariwai Yellow-breasted , Petroica macrocephala ngirungiru, miromiro macrocephala

Target benefit species Common Name Scientific Name

Yellow mistletoe Alepis flavida Scarlet mistletoe Peraxilla colensoi Red mistletoe, pikirangi, Peraxilla tetrapetala pirirangi, pikiraki, pirita White mistletoe, taapia, Tupeia antarctica pirata, tupia South Island Kaka, bush Nestor meridionalis parrot, brown parrot, kawkaw meridionalis - Metrosideros umbellata

Threatened species Common Name Scientific Name

- Ourisia modesta Myosotis pygmaea var. - pygmaea

- Tetrachondra hamiltonii Yellow mistletoe Alepis flavida Scarlet mistletoe Peraxilla colensoi Red mistletoe, pikirangi, Peraxilla tetrapetala pirirangi, pikiraki, pirita

Pestlink Ref: 1314TEA07 Page 3 of 13 Date Printed: 02 Feb 2015 White mistletoe, taapia, Tupeia antarctica pirata, tupia

Sedge Carex capillacea - Crassula ruamahanga - Gentianella lineata - Notogrammitis rigida - Hypolepis amaurorachis - Ranunculus ternatifolius Grassland wheatgrass Stenostachys laevis Malherb's parakeet, kakariki, kakariki, kakariki karaka, Cyanoramphus malherbi kakariki karaka, orangefronted parakeet, or Falco novaeseelandiae Southern falcon "southern" South Island Kaka, bush Nestor meridionalis parrot, brown parrot, kawkaw meridionalis

Kea Nestor notabilis Mohua, Yellowhead, bush Mohoua ochrocephala canary, mohoua, houa Pipit, Pihoihoi, Anthus novaeseelandiae pihoihoi, Richard's pipit novaeseelandiae South Island Fernbird, Matata, koroatito, karoti, Bowdleria punctata punctata matata, koroatito, u-tick South Island Rifleman, Acanthisitta chloris chloris Titipounamu Variable Oystercatcher, black oystercatcher, Torea pango, Haematopus unicolor torea pango, torea tai, torea tai, torea, Red-crowned Parakeet, red- Cyanoramphus headed parakeet, Kakariki, novaezelandiae kakariki, kaka-wairiki, novaezelandiae kawariki, porete, powha Phalacrocorax carbo Black Shag, Kawau novaehollandiae

Geographical location The Waitutu is situated 30 km East of . TREATMENT BLOCK DETAILS: Treatment block Waitutu Hardwood dominant (southern rata, kamahi and broadleaf), Vegetation type podocarp dominant (rimu, miro and Hall's totara), beech dominant (silver and mountain) and mixed vegetation types.

Pestlink Ref: 1314TEA07 Page 4 of 13 Date Printed: 02 Feb 2015 Coastal turf communities, bog vegetation, alpine shrub lands and tussocks. Bioclimatic zone coastal lowland semi-coastal sub-montane montane sub-alpine alpine Climate characteristics: Rainfall 3000 mm Temperature: Average Summer 13.0

Average Winter 6.0 Snow level 900 m Altitude 5 - 1395 m South Island Landless Native Act (SILNA) landowners own approximately 2,500ha of coastal land in the treatment area. The land owned by SILNA landowners, while not necessarily Community and Iwi ancestral land, holds great value to the land holders, for cultural, interests recreation and biodiversity purposes. The area is popular with hunters and whitebaiters. There are several concessionaires in the area that support these interests. The Hump Ridge Track lies to the east of, and overlooks the treatment area. Within the treatment area the Crombie Stream and Long Point have been identified as important sites for canoe landings, shellfish regeneration sites and short-term campsites (DOC, 2000). The archaeological sites recorded within and around the Historic sites area indicate a range of activities have been undertaken here by early Maori consistent with coastal travel, inland exploration, and the exploitation of local resources (Edgerton pers. Comm., 2009).

2.2 MANAGEMENT HISTORY Management history was not chosen to be shown in this operational report. This history is, however, available via Pestlink.

3 Outcomes and Targets 3.1 CONSERVATION OUTCOMES Protection of the health and integrity of the forest canopy and associated plant communities susceptible to possum browse, but particularly: Mistletoe species Peraxilla colensi, P. tetrapetala, Alepis flavida, and Ileostylus micranthus). Protect threatened species from rat, possum and stoat predation, particularly mohua and kaka.

Pestlink Ref: 1314TEA07 Page 5 of 13 Date Printed: 02 Feb 2015 3.2 TARGETS 3.2.1 Result Targets The result targets for the treatment area were: • less than 1 percent rtc for possums

• less than 5 percent tracking for rats

3.2.2 Outcome Targets The outcome targets for the treatment area were: • Possum preferred forest species including mistletoe are protected from adverse effects of possum browse and recruitment in mistletoe is observed.

4 Consultation, Consents & Notifications 4.1 CONSULTATION Consultation began one year prior to the application of bait. South Island Landless Natives Act (SILNA) landowners were the key stakeholders and were consulted extensively as were the Nature Heritage Fund organisation who provided the bulk of the funding for the operation. Every effort was made to run as open and informative a process as possible. Other key stakeholders that were regularly consulted were:

• DOC staff • local iwi through Kaitiaki Roopu • local landowners • local branches of the New Zealand Deer Stalkers Association • Forest and Bird • local communities • DOC concessionaires • WARO operators

Consultation was carried out through regular meetings using powerpoint presentations, via newsletters, media releases, fact sheets and regular phone and email contact. For further information on the consultation can be found in the Waitutu Consultation Plan, Waitutu RMA AEE, and Waitutu MOH application. Consultation outcomes The operation ran very smoothly. This is the second 1080 operation in this area (last in 2010). Opposition was almost nonexistent. Lessons learned Early and extensive consultation was essential, the good results and extensive post control consultation carried out in 2010/2011 paved the way for reduced concerns about this operation.

Pestlink Ref: 1314TEA07 Page 6 of 13 Date Printed: 02 Feb 2015 4.2 CONSENTS Consent Consent date File Reference Permission ID DOC permission - Conservation Services, 01/08/2014 docdm-1429069 Southern Region Ministry of Health Consent - 01/08/2014 docdm-1438980 14-17-PMA-INVPH Public Health South Resource Consent - 01/08/2014 docdm-1390345 APP-20146337 Environment Southland

Letters of consent were gained from the Waitutu Incorporation (20/1/2014). Paiki Block (17/01/2014), Waitutu Blk 12, Section 7 (23/03/2014), Maritime New Zealand (10/02/14) and the Southland District Council (17/01/2014).

Lessons learned Start this process early as some key people can be difficult to track down. 4.3 NOTIFICATION The following groups/businesses were notified as per the Resource Consent conditions:

At least seven days prior, but not more than 28 days:

• Environment Southland • Southland District Council • MOH • Waitutu Incorporation (SILNA landowners) • a public notice was placed in the local newspaper

A minimum of five working days prior to the operation:

• local concessionaires • local WARO operators

A minimum of 24hrs prior to the operation:

• local medical centres • local vetenarian centres • Invercargill Information centre • local DOC offices • Hump Ridge Track Office • local NZDA branches • National NZDA • local Tramping Clubs • local guided hunting concessionaires

In addition the following were also notified:

• other SILNA landowners

Pestlink Ref: 1314TEA07 Page 7 of 13 Date Printed: 02 Feb 2015 • Nature Heritage Fund • DOC Head Office • Maritime NZ • local landowners • Crayfish and Paua industry reps • local and national media • local Police • those people that through consultation had requested that they be advised

All the above were also notified when the operation was completed and the caution period ended. For more information refer to:

• Waitutu Resource Consent Decision document. • Waitutu Consultation Plan.

Warning signs notifying public of the operation and risks were placed at entrances or access points to the treatment area. All parts of the Consultation and Notification SOP were followed. Lessons learned There are a significant number of people that must be contacted, many 24hrs before the drop. It is essential that contact details are confirmed and that prior contact is made with each before the deadline so that any questions can be answered and that best communication methods are confirmed. Enough staff need to be on hand to carry out the final notification at short notice.

5 Methods 5.1 TARGET SPECIES

Treatment Block Waitutu Control method Name Target pest species Pesticide - Aerial Pesticide - Aerial in Possum Waitutu-(1) Ship rat

Target Pest Treatment Block Control Method Name Species Waitutu Pesticide - Aerial Pesticide - Aerial in Waitutu-(1) Possum Ship rat

Trade name of pesticide 0.15% 1080 Pellets RS5 Name of pesticide Sodium fluoroacetate Type of bait Cereal pellet Toxic loading 1.5 g/kg Bait quality sampling Conducted Bait Details

Pestlink Ref: 1314TEA07 Page 8 of 13 Date Printed: 02 Feb 2015 Pre-feed Toxic Bait type Cereal pellet Cereal pellet Lure/ mask/ deterrent Cinnamon Cinnamon Lure/ mask/ deterrent 0.30% 0.30% Dye None Green Individual Bait Weight 12.0g 12.0g

Sowing Rate Details Pre-feed Date Rate(kg/ha) Wind Speed Direction 18/08/2014 1.00 Calm Nil

Toxic Date Rate(kg/ha) Wind Speed Direction 24/08/2014 2.00 Calm Nil

Time between pre-feed and 6 toxic

End of Caution Period Date - Aircraft type LongRanger Other Jet Ranger

Number of Aircraft 7 Sowing gear details Description Capacity underslung bucket with spinner 300, 500 & 900 kg sizes

Type of navigational guidance Tracmap

system used Hi-ab bulk bags (300kg) into 4x4 loader bucket, then from there into helicopter bucket. 900kg Loading Method buckets under the two Kawasaki helicopters were loaded directly from the hi-ab.

Complaints and Incidents None. Other Details about this method Two twin engine BK117 helicopters were used with 900kg buckets. Three Long Rangers with 500kg buckets and two Jet rangers with 300kg buckets. Deviations from planned operation Operation was carried out over two days due to low cloud slowing the start time. Lessons Learned Always plan for a two day operation as the chance of low cloud or fog increases significantly with good weather.

Pestlink Ref: 1314TEA07 Page 9 of 13 Date Printed: 02 Feb 2015 5.2 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS 5.2.1 Effects on Non-Target Species Refer to AEE for full detail Effects on Non-Target Species - Not Applicable 5.2.2 Effects on Soil and Water Quality Soil & water quality degradation of 1080 is slow in soil and sediments, taking 1-4 weeks under favourable conditions. The rate of degradation will be influenced by the presence of soil or litter micro-organisms, and temperature, soil moisture and rainfall. Sodium monofluroacetate is highly water soluble so leaching out of soil will occur. In Waitutu, with its high rainfall, 1080 baits are expected to break down very rapidly. Water samples were to be taken from 7 sites within the treatment area, within 48hrs of the completion of the operation by an independent contractor and tested for traces of 1080. Effects on Soil and Water Quality - Not Applicable 5.2.3 Effects on Ecosystems Full details refer to AEE. Effects on Ecosystems - Not Applicable 5.2.4 Effects on Human Health For full detail refer to AEE. Effects on Human Health- Not Applicable

6 Monitoring Results and Outcomes 6.1 RESULT MONITORING - TARGET SPECIES Result target(s) less than 1 percent rtc for possums less than 5 percent tracking for rats

6.1.1 Target Species Monitoring Trapping Method: Species monitored Possum - Trichosurus vulpecula , Ship rat - Rattus rattus , Stoat - Mustela erminea in Waitutu Monitor method details 5 lines of 10 traps were monitored at nine sites within the treatment area (total 45 lines) were monitored to NPCA standard residual trap catch protocol by independent contractors. Total of 1350 trap nights.

Deviations The Crombie block was reworked due to heavy overnight rain on the first night of monitoring. Target pest result details Pre During/Post

Pestlink Ref: 1314TEA07 Page 10 of 13 Date Printed: 02 Feb 2015 Monitoring dates September 2013 December 2014 Results 5.1%rtc range 2.5 to 22% 0.07% between blocks

Result target met? Yes Lessons Learned There was some debate with the contractor about overnight rainfall. Recommend that contractors are required to take tamper proof rainfall monitoring devices in next time. 6.1.2 Target Species Monitoring Tracking tunnels Method: Species monitored Ship rat - Rattus rattus in Waitutu Monitor method details Six lines of ten tunnels at five sites within the treatment area set and monitored to DOC protocol. 31 lines / 310 tunnels total.

Deviations none Target pest result details Pre During/Post Monitoring dates July October Results 22% 0%

Result target met? Yes

Lessons Learned n/a 6.2 RESULT MONITORING - ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS 6.2.1 Non Target Species Monitoring of: general forest birds

Monitor Method details 5 minute bird counts at around 700 stations at two sites within the treatment block. Monitoring has been carried out annually since 2006. Deviations none Monitoring dates November 2014 Results data is yet to be analysed Lessons Learned n/a

6.2.2 Soil and Water Quality Monitoring of: Water and soil for 1080 residue

Monitor Method details Water was monitored at seven sites within the treatment area as required by Regional Council consent conditions. Soil was monitored at the loading site.

Deviations Only seven of the eight water monitoring sites were monitored as the helicopter was unable to land at the eighth. Monitoring dates August 2014

Pestlink Ref: 1314TEA07 Page 11 of 13 Date Printed: 02 Feb 2015 Results No 1080 was selected in soil at the loading site. 1080 residue was detected in 2 of the seven water samples but was well below MOH minimum levels.

Lessons Learned Ensure that helicopter pilot is familiar with treatment site and landing sites. Ensure that DOC staff member accompanies contractors. Possibly use DOC staff as opposed to contractors in the future.

6.2.3 Ecosystems flight paths, application rates, distance to Monitoring of: boundaries and exclusion zones Monitor Method details gps, visual inspection

Deviations none Monitoring dates August 2014 Results excellent compliance with requirements, refer to compliance register, docdm-1460187

Lessons Learned Compliance register needs to be rolled out and completed as early as possible as it results in a lot of work.

6.2.4 Human Health Monitoring of: Baits and carcasses, warning signs

Monitor Method details Bait and carcass monitoring protocol was followed refer to docdm-1473541 for more detail. Warning sign placement and monitoring was to DOC standard protocol and complied with MOH consent condition requirements. Deviations none Monitoring dates from August 2014 Results Warning signs are still in place at time of writing and will remain so until bait and carcass monitoring shows required breakdown of bait and carcasses.

Lessons Learned Should try and reduce the number of checks required by MOH around holiday periods as Waitutu is so remote that the risk is minimal and each check results in $5k helicopter costs.

6.3 OUTCOME MONITORING Outcome targets Possum preferred forest species including mistletoe are protected from adverse effects of possum browse and recruitment in mistletoe is observed.

Pestlink Ref: 1314TEA07 Page 12 of 13 Date Printed: 02 Feb 2015 No monitoring of outcomes was undertaken

Pestlink Ref: 1314TEA07 Page 13 of 13 Date Printed: 02 Feb 2015