Full Article

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Full Article 6 Notornis, 2005, Vol. 52: 6-10 0029-4470 © The Ornithological Society of New Zealand, Inc. 2005 The second census of Chatham Island shag and Pitt Island shag – are numbers declining? ADAM J. BESTER Department of Conservation, PO Box 114, Te One, Chatham Islands, New Zealand. [email protected] MATT CHARTERIS Department of Conservation, PO Box 114, Te One, Chatham Islands, New Zealand. Abstract A census of Chatham Island shag (Leucocarbo onslowi) and Pitt Island shag (Strictocarbo featherstoni), both endemic to the Chatham Islands, New Zealand, was conducted during their 2003/04 breeding season. Totals of 271 pairs of Chatham Island shags and 547 pairs of Pitt Island shags were recorded. Compared with the only previous survey (in 1997/98), numbers of both species were signifi cantly lower. This decline most likely refl ects broad scale marine changes affecting the birds’ food supply. Alternatively, it may suggest variability in the timing of breeding between seasons. Bester, A.J.; Charteris, M. 2005. The second census of Chatham Island shag and Pitt Island shag – are numbers declining? Notornis 52(1): 6-10. Keywords Chatham Island shag; Leucocarbo onslowi; Pitt Island shag; Strictocarbo featherstoni; census; population size; distribution INTRODUCTION METHODS The Chatham Island shag (Leucocarbo onslowi) and The census was conducted by two observers from Pitt Island shag (Strictocarbo featherstoni) are endemic 21 October 2003 to 6 January 2004. The entire to the Chatham Islands where they have restricted coastline of the Chatham Islands was surveyed coastal ranges. Both species were comprehensively to locate the shags’ nesting colonies following the surveyed in the 1997/1998 season and estimates of methods of Bell & Bell (2000). However, the census the total number of breeding pairs for the majority of The Sisters was undertaken by a birdwatching of the Chatham’s group obtained (Bell & Bell 2000). contingent in rough sea conditions. Only occupied No other counts have been attempted over the nest sites (or, if late in the season, nests recently entire island during one season but counts of some used) were counted and mapped. One nest was colonies have been reported by Fleming (1939), considered to represent one breeding pair. Roost Morris (1977), Robertson & Bell (1984), Imber (1994) sites were mapped but individual roosting birds and C.J.R. Robertson (pers.comm). were not counted. Areas surveyed were Chatham This paper presents results from the second Island, The Sisters, The Forty Fours, Western Reef, complete census of the Chatham Island shag and Ngatikitiki Rocks, Pitt Island, Rangatira, North- Pitt Island shag on the Chatham Islands. The survey East Reef, The Pyramid, Mangere Island, Little was conducted during the 2003/2004 breeding Mangere, The Castle, Rabbit Island, Murumurus, season. Information was collected on nest location, Star Keys, Seal Rock, Black Rock, Te Wakaru Island, colony size and threats to the colony. Photopoints Fancy Rock, and islands and rock stacks within Te were also established to identify changes in Whanga Lagoon (see Figures 1 & 2). Chatham Island shag colonies over time. This To determine any temporal variability census was undertaken under the Chatham Island throughout the season, two Chatham Island shag shag and Pitt Island shag recovery plan (Aikman et colonies were surveyed twice, in November and al. 2001), wherein complete surveys of both species again in December. Searches were performed on are requested every fi ve years. foot, by vehicle, by dinghy and by fi shing boat. Binoculars and a telescope were used where necessary to view the coastline. A total of 63 person Received 17 December 2004; accepted 20 January 2005 hours were spent searching for shag nests on land, Editor M.Williams and 20 hours spent searching by boat and dinghy. Chatham Island and Pitt Island shag census 7 Figure 1 Location and size of Rangitatahi Chatham Island shag breeding (The Sisters) colonies during the 2003/04 breeding season (n = 271 pairs). Cape Young 1 1 Ngatikitiki Rocks Matarakau 35 Kaingaroa 11 4 Te Wakaru Island Cape Patterson Okawa Point 47 Port Hutt Western Reef Chatham Island e Whanga Lagoon Point Weeding Te One T (Rekohu, Wharekauri) 5 Waitangi Motuhara (The Fourty Fours) Owenga Cape Fournier 30 4 The Pinnacles Ko Orea Point Black Rock 81 Rabbit Island 20 15 Kokepa Rock Pitt Island Motuhope (Star Keys) Mangere (Rangiauria) Tapuaenuku (Little Mangere) North-east Reef Rangiwheau (The Castle) Rangatira North Island (South East Island) Muramurus Fancy Rock Chatham Tarakoikoia (The Pyramid) Islands South Island N Stewart Island Bounty Is 0 10 20 30 40 km Antipodes Is RESULTS Fournier (24), Point Munning (22) and south of Chatham Island shag Point Weeding (19). The colonies, which ranged in The breeding population of Chatham Island shags size from 1 to 43 pairs, were more fragmented and was estimated to be 271 pairs distributed at 13 widespread than Chatham Island shag colonies. colonies (Table 1). The largest colony was on Star Keys The number of colonies recorded in this survey was (in two groups, total 81 pairs), followed by Okawa similar to previous estimates but the total estimated Point (47), Matarakau (35) and the Pinnacles (30). population represented a 24.9% decline from the This represents a 67.8 % decrease in total breeding 1997/98 census. pairs since 1997/98 (Bell & Bell 2000). All colonies had decreased since the last survey, with some DISCUSSION colonies totally disappearing (i.e. Cape Fournier This survey found Chatham Island shags had a and Shag Rock near Motuhinahina). However, signifi cantly smaller breeding population than the some newly-established colonies have been formed previous survey in the 1997/98 breeding season. at the Pinnacles, Kaingaroa east, Cape Patterson, Given that the same methodologies were used, this Cape Young and Kokepa Rock result could constitute a real decline in this species. Most Chatham Island shag colonies had Pitt Island shag declined. Two major colonies, Cape Fournier and The Pitt Island shag population was estimated to Shag Rock near Motuhinahina had disappeared be 547 pairs (Table 1). The main breeding colonies completely, although two major new colonies had were Star Keys (43 pairs), Boat Harbour on Pitt been established on the Pinnacles and Kokepa Island (35), the south coast of Rangatira (31), Cape Rock, and minor colonies at Kaingaroa east, Cape 8 Bester & Charteris Rangitatahi Figure 2 Location and size of Pitt (The Sisters) Island shag breeding colonies during the 2003/04 breeding 14 Cape Young season (n = 547 pairs). 32 Ngatikitiki Rocks Matarakau 11 Kaingaroa Cape Patterson 9 Te Wakaru Island Okawa Point 20 Port Hutt 10 21 Motuhinahina 7 Western Reef 9 Chatham Island e Whanga Lagoon Te One T (Rekohu, Wharekauri) Point Weeding 33 Waitangi Motuhara (The Fourty Fours) 15 Owenga 28 24 Cape Fournier The Pinnacles Ko Orea Point 14 Black Rock Rabbit Island 54 43 19 18 Pitt Island Motuhope Mangere (Rangiauria) (Star Keys) 35 Tapuaenuku (Little Mangere) North-east Reef Rangiwheau 4 1 (The Castle) 14 7 Rangatira North Island 43 (South East Island) Muramurus 45 Fancy Rock Chatham Tarakoikoia (The Pyramid) Islands South Island N Stewart Island Bounty Is 0 10 20 30 40 km Antipodes Is Young and Cape Patterson. Although historical Similarly, Pitt Island shags have decreased fi gures are rare, those counts suggest that Chatham signifi cantly since the 1997/98 survey. Pitt Island Island shags were formerly more common than shags are more widespread than Chatham Island today. For example, Fleming (1939) mentioned shags and were found predominantly on Mangere, the large colonies on Star Keys and Rabbit Island Rangatira, Star Keys, Boat Harbour (Pitt Island) and and that they were ‘very common’ in Pitt Strait Point Munning (Chatham Island). A small colony and around the main island. C.J.R. Robertson (in was also found on Shag Rock in Te Whanga lagoon, Marchant & Higgins 1990) stated that there were 530 as previously identifi ed by Bell & Bell (2000). nests on the Star Keys, and Morris (1977) reported Slightly more birds were found south of Pitt Strait 80+ nests at Cape Fournier. In 1961 Okawa Point (283 pairs) compared to north of Pitt Strait (264 had 68 nests and Matarakau had 50 nests (Imber pairs). The number of colonies has remained stable 1994). According to Bell & Bell (2000) the number but colonies have shifted to new locations since the of colonies has been relatively stable over the last 1997/98 season, suggesting that colonies change 40 years but colony location has tended to vary. quite frequently. Interestingly Bell & Bell (2000) noted that the newly Marchant & Higgins (1990) reported no threats established colony at Cape Fournier in the 1997/98 to survival, however, we found recently-used shot season was probably due to birds shifting from gun cartridges at a small Pitt Island shag colony The Pinnacles. It appears that some of these birds south of Owenga. Recently-used nests were have now moved back to The Pinnacles and have found although no chicks were observed at a time abandoned the Cape Fournier site. when most other Pitt Island shags had chicks. It Chatham Island and Pitt Island shag census 9 Table 1 Number of active nests of Chatham Island shags and Pitt Island shags observed in 1997/98 (Bell & Bell 2000) and 2003/04 breeding seasons (* count made by visiting birdwatchers in rough sea conditions – count may not be comparable). Chatham Island shag nests Pitt Island shag nests 1997/98 2003/04 1997/98 2003/04 Ko Orea Pt 7 4 Chatham Island 340 247 Pinnacles 0 30 Rabbit Island 29 18 Cape Fournier 115 0 Pitt Island 141 144 Okawa Point 114 47 The Castle 6 14 Kaingaroa (East) 0 1 Little Mangere 3 0 Matarakau 53 35 Mangere 20 19 Ngatikitiki Rocks 38 4 Rangatira 63 45 Cape Patterson 0 11 Star Keys 46 43 Cape Young 0 1 The Sisters 71 9* Point Weeding 6 5 The Forty Fours 9 4 Motuhinahina 68 0 Western Reef 0 4 Rabbit Island 83 20 North-east Reef 19 17 Kokepa Rock 0 15 Star Keys 339 81 TOTAL 842 271 TOTAL 728 547 Locations 10 13 Locations 63 64 % decline 67.82% % decline 24.86% is possible that these birds were shot.
Recommended publications
  • Chatham Islands Museum News Issue No 2
    Chatham Islands Museum News Issue No 2 The focus over the last three months has been on the Concept Plan for the new museum received from the designer, Sally Papps, in October. This is an excellent document but is far too large to be put up on the website. Discussions on the content with imi, iwi and the broader community were held in early December and these resulted in some suggested revision of the entrance and flow of topics. Comments have been sent to Sally and the plan is under revision. A further round of discussions will be held once a revised document has been received and more detail on each section will be sought. A short version of the revised plan will be put up on the website to allow for wider consideration and comment. Staff and volunteers have been searching the museum’s photographic collection for interesting photographs relevant to each of the Concept Plan topics, listing these and adding thumbnails, so the final selection will be quicker and easier for Sally. Photographs held at the Alexander Turnbull Library are also being checked for relevance and interest. The museum’s application to Lottery Environment and Heritage was successful. This will enable the transferring of videos to USB and the editing of audio-visual excerpts for use in the new museum to proceed and also allow information for two touchscreens to be prepared. Hamish Campbell has agreed to prepare the geological history of the Islands and Jocelyn Powell will work with mapping experts to develop the coastal chart and land mapping history.
    [Show full text]
  • Soils of Chatham Island (Rekohu)
    Soils of Chatham Island (Rekohu) Fronlis icce: 11nproved pastures Tiki larolin phase, on clay, strongly rollink near uitand tminshil’ NEW ZEALAND DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH N. H. TAYLOR Director SOIL BUREAU BULLETIN 19 SOILS OF CHATHAM ISLAND (REKOHU) By A. C. S. WRIGHT Soil Bureau 1959 Price: Paper cover, 15s. Quarter cloth, 20s. N.g. Soil Bur. Bull. 19. 60 pp. 22 figs, 5 tables R. E. OWEN. GOVERNMENT PRINTER. WELLINCTON. NEW ZEALAND -lm CONTENTS Page Introduction 7 .. .. Soils 10 The Pattern of the .. .. 16 Factors Concerned in Development of the Soil Pattern the .. 16 Geology .. 20 Climate .. 22 Flora Fauna and .. .. Soil Pattern 29 Historical Factors Causing Modification of the .. .. Pedological Significance of Soil Pattern 31 the .. .. Agricultural Significance of Soil Pattern 32 the . Elsewhere 34 Relationships with Soils of New Zealand Mainland and the . 36 Development Potential of Soils the .. Acknowledgments 38 .. Appendix 39 . .. 39 Description of Soil Types and Their Plant Nutrient Status . Soil Chemistry (by R. B. Miller and L. C. Blakemore) 54 . .. References 58 . .. 60 Index Soils to . .. Map (in pocket) Extended Legend (in pocket) INTRODUCTION grouped Chatham under Lieutenant Chatham ishind is the largest of la islands the armed tender forty-fourth parallel latitude in William Broughton voyaging independently to about the of south longitude 17fic It lies rendezvous with Captain George Lancouver at the vicinity of west. at about South Tahiti, group; landing was made on ann miles east of Lyttleton in the Island of sighted the a The island itself New Zealand (fig 1). the main island (Vancouver 1798). islands in Chatham formally Chatham Island and in due There are three main the was named group Admiralty group: Chatham (formerly given the alternative course the appeared on charts There least names of liekobu and Wharekauri) of 224,000 acres, under the same name.
    [Show full text]
  • Chatham Island and Pitt Island Shag Census 2011 DRAFT REPORT
    MCSPOP2010-02 DRAFT REPORT MCSPOP2010-02: Chatham Island and Pitt Island shag census 2011 DRAFT REPORT Chatham Island shag Pitt Island shag May 2012 Igor Debski1, Mike Bell2 and Dan Palmer1 1Science and Technical Group, Department of Conservation, PO Box 10-420, Wellington 6143 2Wildlife Management International Limited, PO Box 45, Spring Creek, Marlborough 7244 1 MCSPOP2010-02 DRAFT REPORT Abstract We conducted an extensive survey of coastal areas suitable for Chatham Island and Pitt Island shag nesting between August and November 2011. The census methods were designed to maximise comparability with an earlier census in 1997/98. Based on a complete census of all known Chatham Island shag breeding colonies we estimated the breeding population to be 355 pairs, representing a 58 % decline since 1997/98. We estimated the total Pitt Island shag breeding population to be 434 pairs, a 40% decline since 1997/98 (extrapolated numbers were used for some outlying islands known to hold this species that we did not visit). A series of regular observations showed that breeding activity for both species peaks in October, though there is some notable variation in timing between colonies. Such variation must be taken into consideration in estimating the total breeding population for both species. Both species are distributed across the Chatham Islands group. We found that population declines since 1997/98 have been particularly steep for both species at Pitt Island and outlying islands, with smaller declines on main Chatham Island. A range of anthropogenic threats have been identified, both land-based and at-sea. Because population declines have been particularly pronounced at pest-free, protected out-lying islands we conclude that at-sea factors are likely to be driving the population decline, though more research is required to identify causal factors.
    [Show full text]
  • Chatham Islands Conservation Board Annual Report 2017-18
    Chatham Islands Conservation Board Te Pou Atawhai O Rekohu Wharekauri Annual Report to the New Zealand Conservation Authority 1 July 2017 - 30 June 2018 Chatham Islands Conservation Board Te Pou Atawhai O Rekohu Wharekauri Annual Report 1 July 2017 - 30 June 2018 Presented to the New Zealand Conservation Authority Pursuant to section 6(0) of the Conservation Act 1987 ISSN 1776-3906 (Print) ISSN 1179-2582 (Online) Serviced by the Department of Conservation Chatham Island Office PO Box 114, Waitangi, Chatham Islands Front Cover Photo: Myosotidium hortensia, Chatham Island Forget-me-not Photographer: Sourced from DOC website Contents 1. Introduction……………………………………………... 1 2. Membership of the Board……………………………… 2 3. The Board’s District…………………………………….. 4 4. Board Meetings and Field Trips………………………..5 5. Statutory Functions Under the Conservation Act…….7 6. Liaison……………………………………… …………….9 6.1 Department…………………………………...………9 6.2 Community…………………………………....……...9 6.3 Pitt Island…………………………………...…….....10 7. Financial Year 2017/2018……………………………. 10 8. Map of Chatham Islands……………………………… 11 1 INTRODUCTION The Chatham Islands Conservation Board (the Board) is one of 15 statutory Conservation Boards appointed by the Minister under Section 6P of the Conservation Act 1987. The functions and powers of the Board are outlined in Sections 6M and 6N respectively. Each Conservation Board covers a geographically-defined area and comprises up to 12 members. The Chatham Islands Conservation Board consists of 7 members encompassing various sectors of the community. The Board receive support from the local DOC office with Dave Carlton in the role of Operations Manager and Jilleen Chandler providing secretarial services and administration support. Dinee Fleming chaired the Board for four years until standing down in November 2017 and Amanda Seymour was elected to replace her.
    [Show full text]
  • SEABIRDS RECORDED at the CHATHAM ISLANDS, 1960 to MAY 1993 by M.J
    SEABIRDS RECORDED AT THE CHATHAM ISLANDS, 1960 TO MAY 1993 By M.J. IMBER Science and Research Directorate, Department of Conservation, P. 0. Box 10420, Wellington ABSTRACT Between 1960 and hlay 1993,62 species of seabirds were recorded at Chatham Islands, including 43 procellariiforms, 5 penguins, 5 pelecaniforms, and 9 hi.Apart &om the 24 breeding species, there were 14 regular visitors, 13 stragglers, 2 rarely seen on migration, and 9 found only beach-cast or as other remains. There is considerable endemism: 8 species or subspecies are confined, or largely confined, to breeding at the Chathams. INTRODUCTION The Chatham Islands (44OS, 176.5OW) are about 900 km east of New Zealand, and 560 km and 720 km respectively north-east of Bounty and Antipodes Islands. The Chatham Islands lie on the Subtropical Convergence (Fleming 1939) - the boundary between subtropical and subantarctic water masses; near the eastern end of the Chatham Rise - a shallow (4'500 m) submarine ridge extending almost to the New Zealand mainland. Chatham Island seabirds can feed over large areas of four marine habitats: the continental shelf of the Chatham Rise; the continental slope around it; and subtropical and subantarctic waters to the north, east, and south. The Chatham Islands' fauna and flora have, however, been very adversely affected by human colonisation for about 500 years (B. McFadgen, pers. cornrn.). Knowledge of the seabird fauna of the Chatham Islands gained up to 1960 is siunmarised in Oliver (1930), Fleming (1939), Dawson (1955, 1973), and papers quoted therein. The present paper summarises published and unpublished data on the seabirds of the archipelago from 1960 to May 1993, from when visits to these islands depended on infrequent passages by ship from Lyttelton, South Island, to the present, when a visit involves a 2-h scheduled flight from Napier, Wellington, or Christchurch, six dayslweek.
    [Show full text]
  • Chatham Island Shag Census 2014-2016
    Chatham Island shag census 2014-2016 1 Chatham Island shag census 2014-2016 Mike Bell, Dave Bell, Dave Boyle and Hamish Tuanui-Chisholm. Wildlife Management International Ltd PO Box 607 Blenheim 7240 New Zealand www.wmil.co.nz Chatham Island Taiko Trust PO Box 2 Chatham Island 8942 www.taiko.org.nz This report was prepared by Wildlife Management International Limited and the Chatham Island Taiko Trust for the Department of Conservation as partial fulfilment of the contract POP2016-01 Seabird Population research: Chatham Islands 2016-17 dated October 2016. June 2017 Citation: This report should be cited as: Bell, M.D.; Bell, D.J.; Boyle, D.P.; Tuanui-Chisholm, H. 2017. Chatham Island Shag census 2014-2016. Technical report to the Department of Conservation. All photographs in this Report are copyright © WMIL unless otherwise credited, in which case the person or organization credited is the copyright holder. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Annual aerial surveys to count the breeding population of Chatham Island shags were carried out during the 2014, 2015 and 2016 breeding seasons. Each season two aerial surveys of all colonies were undertaken, with an additional early flight in 2016 to count the colonies in Te Whanga Lagoon. The number of Chatham Island shags was estimated at 856 breeding pairs, found in 13 breeding colonies. This result is very similar to that recorded in 1997 (842 pairs) but significantly higher than counts from 2003 and 2011. Methodology was the same in the 1997 and 2014-2016 counts and suggest the Chatham Island shag population has been stable for the last 20 years.
    [Show full text]
  • Chatham Islands Conservation Board Annual Report 06/07
    Chatham Islands Conservation Board Te Pou Atawhai O Wharekauri Rekohu Annual Report to the New Zealand Conservation Authority 1 July 2006 - 30 June 2007 1 Chatham Islands Conservation Board Te Pou Atawhai O Wharekauri Rekohu Annual Report 1 July 2006 - 30 June 2007 Presented to the New Zealand Conservation Authority Pursuant to section 6(0) of the Conservation Act 1987 Serviced by the Department of Conservation Chatham Island Area Office PO Box 114, Waitangi, Chatham Islands & Wellington Conservancy PO Box 5086, Wellington Front Cover Photo ‘Westy’, the last Chatham Islands shore plover of a population on Western Reef, Chatham Islands. He was taken to Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre where his progeny now adds to the genetic diversity of his species, though Westy himself has since died. Photographer: John Dowding © ISSN: 1176-3906 2 1 INTRODUCTION Chairperson’s Comments I resigned as Chairperson from the Board in February 2007. The Board was very fortunate that Peter Johnson was willing to take up the role of Chairperson. Peter is the first non-residing Board member to become Chairperson of the Chatham Island Board. He brings a wealth of knowledge, and also has great leadership skills and is well respected by many. Peter, I thank you for the huge contribution you make to the Chatham Islands Conservation Board. I would also like to thank my fellow Board members for their time and commitment on the Board in their role as advisors to the Department. It is imperative that those people who sit around the table remember that they are there to represent the community of Chatham and Pitt Islands entirely.
    [Show full text]
  • Click Beetles Elateridae
    Family: Elateridae Common name: Click beetles, skipjacks, wireworms (larvae) Click beetlesClick Elateridae 299 300 Order: Coleoptera Family: Elateridae Taxonomic Name: Amychus candezei Pascoe, 1876 Common Names: Chatham Islands click beetle (Scott & Emberson 1999) Synonyms: Amychus schauinslandi, A.rotundicollis (Schwarz 1901 cited in Emberson 1998b). Hudson incorrectly thought A. candezei and Psorochroa granulata to be synonymous (J. Marris pers. comm. 2000) M&D Category: C Conservancy Office: WL Area Office: Chatham Islands Description: A large flightless click beetle,16 - 23 mm long. Generally brown, but variegated and variable in colour, with a rough surface resembling bark (Emberson & Marris 1993a; Emberson et al. 1996; Klimaszewski & Watt 1997). Type Locality: Pitt Island, Chatham Islands (Pascoe 1876). Body length: 23 mm Specimen Holdings: LUNZ, MONZ, NZAC. Distribution: Found on Rangatira (South East) Island; Main Dome, Middle Sister Island; Big Sister Island; Robin Bush, Mangere Island; (Emberson & Marris 1993a; Emberson et al. 1996); Little Mangere (Tapuaenuku) Island; and Motuhope Island, Star Keys (Emberson 1998b). Originally described from Pitt Island, however, it has not been seen there for many years. It was also present at Hapupu, Chatham Island, until at least 1967 (Emberson 1998b). Estimate a population in the thousands (Emberson 1998a). Habitat: Adults are most commonly found on tree trunks at night (Emberson & Marris 1993a), but have occasionally been found under logs, rocks, and amongst organic litter (Emberson 1998b; Emberson et al. 1996; Klimaszewski & Watt 1997; J. Marris pers. comm. 2000). The larvae have been found in soil, litter, and rotten wood (Emberson et Permission: Manaaki Whenua Press. Permission: Manaaki Whenua Press. Klimaszewski & Watt 1997, p 144, Fig.
    [Show full text]
  • Aquatic Vegetation of Chatham Island (Rekohu)
    Aquatic vegetation of Chatham Island (Rekohu) DOC SCIENCE INTERNAL SERIES 164 Paul D. Champion and John S. Clayton Published by Department of Conservation PO Box 10-420 Wellington, New Zealand DOC Science Internal Series is a published record of scientific research carried out, or advice given, by Department of Conservation staff or external contractors funded by DOC. It comprises reports and short communications that are peer-reviewed. Individual contributions to the series are first released on the departmental website in pdf form. Hardcopy is printed, bound, and distributed at regular intervals. Titles are also listed in the DOC Science Publishing catalogue on the website, refer http://www.doc.govt.nz under Publications, then Science and Research. © Copyright March 200, New Zealand Department of Conservation ISSN 1175–6519 ISBN 0–478–22086–3 In the interest of forest conservation, DOC Science Publishing supports paperless electronic publishing. When printing, recycled paper is used wherever possible. This is a client report commissioned by Wellington Conservancy and funded from the Science Advice Fund. It was prepared for publication by DOC Science Publishing, Science & Research Unit; editing and layout by Geoff Gregory. Publication was approved by the Manager, Science & Research Unit, Science Technology and Information Services, Department of Conservation, Wellington. CONTENTS Abstract 5 1. Introduction 6 2. Methods 6 3. Results 9 3.1 Characterisation of waterbodies 9 3.2 Aquatic vegetation 9 3.3 Aquatic fauna 11 4. Discussion 11 4.1 Current aquatic weed status 11 4.2 Native aquatic plant species in the lakes 12 4.2.1 New records for the Chatham Islands 13 4.2.2 Species of limited distribution 14 4.3 Fauna in the lakes 14 4.4 Other management issues 15 5.
    [Show full text]
  • Chatham Island
    Reasons to visit the First place in the world to greet the new dawn Home of unique Chatham Islands birds and plants Visit significant sites of history and heritage Learn about the ancient Moriori covenant of peace Go fishing and hunting Enjoy rugged and awe inspiring landscapes Meet the people of the Chatham Islands Top 20 “Must See” Attractions Admiral Gardens & Pitt Island Kahukura Studio Point Munning Seal Colony Awatotara Bush Coastal Walking Track Port Hutt Basalt Columns Stone Cottage Chatham Cottage Crafts Sunderland Flying Boat Chatham Island Food Co. Taiko Camp and Gap Sanctuary Chatham Islands Museum Tommy Solomon Eva-Cherie Artz & Memorial Statue Studio 44°s Waitangi West Fishing Charters Wharekauri Station and Kaingaroa Splatter Rock chathamislands.co.nz Kopinga Marae DOC Walks Splatter/Taniwha Rock Skirmish Bay Stay " Wharekauri The Landing Ponga Whare Sunderland Flying Boat Maunganui Stone Cottage Ocean Mail Scenic Reserve Waitangi West " Point Munning " N KAIWHATA RD Conservation Covenant O Kaingaroa PORT R Seal Colony HU T Nikau Bush Port TT RD H R Conservation Area Te Whakaru Graveyard Hutt D " German Missionaries Settlement Basalt Columns Go Wild Nursery Thomas Currell J M Barker (Hapupu) Port Hutt Bay Stays Admiral Garden & Kahukura Studio AIRBASE RD National Historic Reserve Henga Lodge Te Whanga Henga Scenic Reserve Lagoon Chatham Island (R kohu / Wh arekauri) Tikitiki Hill Conservation Area " Chatham Island Charters Te One Pitt Island is Lake Pitt Island Guided Access Only " Huro " Te Matarae Kopinga Marae (Rangihaute/Rangiauria)
    [Show full text]
  • Maori Cartography and the European Encounter
    14 · Maori Cartography and the European Encounter PHILLIP LIONEL BARTON New Zealand (Aotearoa) was discovered and settled by subsistence strategy. The land east of the Southern Alps migrants from eastern Polynesia about one thousand and south of the Kaikoura Peninsula south to Foveaux years ago. Their descendants are known as Maori.1 As by Strait was much less heavily forested than the western far the largest landmass within Polynesia, the new envi­ part of the South Island and also of the North Island, ronment must have presented many challenges, requiring making travel easier. Frequent journeys gave the Maori of the Polynesian discoverers to adapt their culture and the South Island an intimate knowledge of its geography, economy to conditions different from those of their small­ reflected in the quality of geographical information and island tropical homelands.2 maps they provided for Europeans.4 The quick exploration of New Zealand's North and The information on Maori mapping collected and dis- South Islands was essential for survival. The immigrants required food, timber for building waka (canoes) and I thank the following people and organizations for help in preparing whare (houses), and rocks suitable for making tools and this chapter: Atholl Anderson, Canberra; Barry Brailsford, Hamilton; weapons. Argillite, chert, mata or kiripaka (flint), mata or Janet Davidson, Wellington; John Hall-Jones, Invercargill; Robyn Hope, matara or tuhua (obsidian), pounamu (nephrite or green­ Dunedin; Jan Kelly, Auckland; Josie Laing, Christchurch; Foss Leach, stone-a form of jade), and serpentine were widely used. Wellington; Peter Maling, Christchurch; David McDonald, Dunedin; Bruce McFadgen, Wellington; Malcolm McKinnon, Wellington; Marian Their sources were often in remote or mountainous areas, Minson, Wellington; Hilary and John Mitchell, Nelson; Roger Neich, but by the twelfth century A.D.
    [Show full text]
  • Bev's Chatham Island Tour
    Bev’s Chatham Island Tour – February 2021 Itinerary Wednesday 24th February 2021 6:30 –Coach departs from New Plymouth to Wellington for our flight to the rugged and remote Chatham Islands. 14:00 – Flight departs Wellington 16:45 – Arrival to Chatham Island Tuuta We are greeted by our Hotel Chatham tour guide on arrival and stop at the Bluffs to take some photographs on the way to the hotel. We then check in, get settled and meet in the bar for pre- dinner drinks. Dinner in the hotel dining room is a Crayfish Welcome dinner. Please note all drinks are at additional cost during your stay. Thursday 25th February 2021 7:00 – 9:00 Breakfast in the hotel dining room (full continental breakfast). During your stay you will visit the Four Corners of the Chatham Islands as well as some special places in between. This itinerary is a guide of what your will experience while here and tour days may swap depending on the weather. The Wild West North West of the Island lays extensive farms, fern lands, and volcanic cones are a feature of the landscape. At the end of the road (Waitangi West), stunning white beaches are home to the local Chatham Island Oyster Catchers. On the lower slopes of Maunganui, lies the STONE COTTAGE built with local stone and timber, with mortar made of burnt pipi shells. You need to take a photo of the striking rock face. Day’s Highlights: • Stone Cottage • Waitangi West cattle station • Splatter Rock/ Cape Young We take a packed lunch from the hotel today.
    [Show full text]