30 June 2010

For the year ended 30 june 2010

Quality for Life Contents

Introduction 1 Map of regional parks, forests and water collection areas 2 Projects 2009-10 3 Sustainable land use plans 4 Akatarawa Forest 6 Battle Hill Farm Forest Park 8 Belmont Regional Park 10 East Harbour Regional Park 12 Hutt River Trail 14 Kaitoke Regional Park 16 Pakuratahi Forest 18 Queen Elizabeth Park 20 Wainuiomata Recreation Area 22 Wairarapa Moana Wetlands Park 24 Water Collection Areas 26 Preparation for new parks 28

Cover 1. Great Outdoors Lighthouse and Lakes participants 2 2. orchid Singularybas oblongus 1 3 3. Great Outdoors Harakeke participants 4 4. a new snail species was discovered in the Wainuiomata Water Collection Area eport Introduction nnual R nnual

Welcome to the Guided walks continue to be popular events in our parks with walks in East Harbour Regional Park, Kaitoke Greater Wellington Regional Park and the Wainuiomata Water Catchment Regional Council’s Area commonly requested. Regional Parks Annual Another activity that remained popular was the collection

of natural resources and research with 19 permits being A Parks egional

Report, a publication R issued. All applications were given to iwi to consider. The that informs you of permits were for a range of activities including collecting the achievements and watercress, seismic research and plant propagation. issues in Wellington’s Schools involved in Greater Wellington’s Take Action programme (an environmental education programme network of regional aimed at Years 4-8) are frequent visitors to Battle Hill Farm parks and forests. Forest Park, Belmont Regional Park, Pakuratahi Forest, and the Wainuiomata Recreation Area. The students look at our parks’ streams and catchments and compare them to other areas that may be heavily impacted by human activity.

However there was a significant drop in the number of visits to our parks and forests this year with 17% fewer than last year. We believe the main reason for the drop was the very poor summer weather this year.

There are a number of areas within the parks network where ownership may transfer to Māori as part of Treaty of Waitangi settlement negotiations with the Crown. This year the parks network has seen the handing back of the lakes within the Parangarahu Lakes Area in East Harbour Regional Park to Māori. Other claims are progressing that may affect ownership of land within Queen Elizabeth Park, Whitireia Park and Wairarapa Moana Wetlands Park.

Greater Wellington acquired 284 hectares at Baring Head for inclusion into the East Harbour Regional Park with A falcon in East Harbour Regional Park funding assistance from the Nature Heritage Fund, Department of Conservation, Hutt City Council and a private benefactor. This property is adjacent to the 11 hectare lighthouse block at Baring Head, which is already part of East Harbour Regional Park. Prior to the purchase of the additional land, the lighthouse block was only accessible via a right-of-way that did not permit public access. Greater Wellington is planning to open the Baring Head section of East Harbour Regional Park to the public in January 2011.

Great Outdoors buggy walk in Queen Elizabeth Park

1 2 Regional park and forests map

Otaki

MT BRUCE (DoC) N

Kiriwhakapapa

Kapiti Island Otaki Waikanae Forks

Paraparaumu TARARUA FOREST PARK

Akata (DoC) Mt Holdsworth Castlepoint rawa Road Raumati Queen Waiotauru Road Elizabeth MacKays Maungakotukutuku Masterton Park Crossing Paekakariki

Road WHAREROA FARM Hutt Water

d (DoC) AKATARAWA a Collection Area o FOREST

l i Waiohine

i Akatarawa Gorge

k Carterton i

k Forest

a Karapoti

k Kaitoke e Road REWA

a Whitireia Park P Bull Run Road Regional Pakuratahi BUSH Battle Hill Park (DoC) (DoC) Marchant Road Mana Island Te Marua Farm Forest Bridge Road Rimutaka Titahi Bay Rail Trail Greytown Park Tulsa Park Onepoto Tunnel Gully Featherston Riversdale Belmont Rimutaka Porirua il Trig Track Cannons Regional a Tr Creek Dry Creek er COLONIAL Park iv Pakuratahi Takapu R Cross Creek Lake Domain KNOB Road Kaitangata t Upper Hutt Forest Hill Road Crescent t (DoC) Hu Stratton Street Wairarapa Oakleigh Belmont d oa Street R Moana Hutt Central e ak Cornish L Wetlands rn Street Lower Hutt te ROCKY es Martinborough W Lake Park HILLS Hikoikoi Wainuiomata Wairarapa Park (DoC) Hill Road Wainuiomata/Orongorongo Parera Road Lees Grove Water CollectionArea Matiu/Somes Wairongomai Island Days Bay Ruamahanga River Wainuiomata Kowhai Street Burdans Gate Recreation Area Wellington East Harbour Barrage Pirinoa Road Gates Regional RIMUTAKA HIWINUI Park FOREST PARK FOREST Catchpool (DoC) Ocean (GW) Parangarahu Beach Lakes Area Lake Onoke STONEY Coast Onoke TAUANUI Road Spit CREEK Baring FOREST parks and Head FOREST (GW) (GW) R Putangirua Palliser Bay Pinnacles

AORANGI egional FOREST forests PARK (DoC) TORA BUSH (DoC)

0 5 10 20 kilometres White Rock

Cape Palliser eport Projects 2009-10 nnual R nnual

• There were an estimated 800,544 visits to our parks and forests over the past year – a drop of 17% from last year. We believe that Wellington’s poor summer weather was a significant factor in the lower numbers

• A telephone survey of regional residents indicated that 53% of the population visited at least one regional park in the past 12 months,

an increase of 1% from last year A Parks egional R • The Great Outdoors summer events programme (formerly known as the Regional Outdoors Programme) was completed with 66 events attracting 12,234 people (a drop of 3,620 from last year). Total attendance at Greater Wellington led events was 4,730 – an average of 91 people per event

• Our Parks “Friends” groups and other community groups remain heavily involved in the parks. The Green Shoots newsletter (a community newsletter produced by Greater Wellington) was published twice during the year and sent out to over 1,300 people and organisations

• The monthly Sport Wellington Buggy Walks continue to be popular with around 2,475 mums, dads, grandparents and babies participating throughout the year. During the summer months, walks are held within the regional parks and led by park rangers. The winter series (June – September) tends to be urban-based

• Greater Wellington, together with Hutt City and Upper Hutt City councils, received a “Highly Commended” award in the Outstanding Event category at the New Zealand Recreation Association’s national conference for the Bike the Trail event

• At the inaugural Living Streets Aotearoa Golden Foot Awards, the monthly Sport Wellington Buggy Walks won the Small Project category

• In 2009, the Draft Parks Network Strategy was presented to Council. This document outlined the vision, mission and principles for our regional parks. Subsequent to this, Council agreed to review the suite of management plans covering our parks and forests. In December 2009, Greater Wellington signalled its intent to prepare a plan and asked for public input into how the plan should be developed. The Greater Wellington Parks Network Plan - Draft will replace all current management plans for the regional parks (including Battle Hill, Belmont, East Harbour, Kaitoke, and Queen Elizabeth), the Pakuratahi and Akatarawa forests and Wainuiomata Recreation Area. The content of the strategy now forms part of the Greater Wellington Parks Network Plan - Draft. The Greater Wellington Parks Network Plan - Draft was released for public consultation at the end of May

How much does it cost? Total Parks operational expenditure 2009/10: $6 million

Expenditure attributable to each park is identified in the relevant sections

3 4 Sustainable land use plans Sustainable land useplans 2. 1. Harbour RegionalPark. Park andthefarmedarea oftherecently-acquired BaringHeadblockatEast and Whitireia Park².Work willbeginin2011 onplansfor QueenElizabeth Park andplansare currently beingdevelopedforBelmontRegionalPark A sustainablelanduseplanhasbeendevelopedforBattleHillFarmForest and Parks’Friendsgroups. authorities, theDepartmentofConservation,iwi,farmleaseholders talking tokeystakeholders,suchasofficersfrom relevant territorial The planningprocess todevelopasustainablelanduseplaninvolves than wouldbepossiblefrom continuingtofarmmarginal land. where greater benefitswouldbegainedfrom biodiversityandwaterways Sometimes itmaybebesttoretire anarea offarmland,egsteephillcountry, map anddecisionsmadeonthemostsuitableusesfordifferent landtypes. and production forestry –canbeoverlaidonthelanduseamalgamation Land useforactivitiesotherthanfarming–suchasbiodiversity, recreation that maynotbesuitablebecausetheyare toosteep,infertileorwet. developed. Themapidentifiesareas thatare idealforfarmingandareas amalgamation mapshownhere forBattleHillFarmForest Park,isthen of areas thatare currently beingfarmed. A map,suchasthelanduse The firststepindevelopingtheplaninvolvesmappinglandcapability needing protection? Are there landscapeandheritagefeatures ontheland?Isthere biodiversity Wellington managesparkland,eghowcanwebestfacilitate publicaccess? The planconsidersallfactorsthatcouldhaveanimpactonhowGreater yield potentialbasedoncharacteristicssuchassoilfertilityandtopography. capability withlanduse.Landmeasures theland’s agricultural Developing asustainablelanduseplaninvolvesmatchingtheland’s sustainably managemodifiedenvironments andbyPolicy57¹oftheplan. driven bythegeneralaimof land useplansforthefarmedareas oftheregional parks.Thisworkhasbeen Over thepasttwoyears,Greater Wellington hasbeendevelopingsustainable regeneration ofnative vegetation. development ofarestorationplan,as itwilldeterminewhichareasshouldbesetasideforplantingor interest followingthefireinFebruary 2010.WhitireiaPark’s sustainable landuseplanwillassistinthe In thecaseofWhitireiaPark,community wasinvitedtotakepartasthereheightenedpublic land managementpractices. objectives forprotectingandmanaging naturalandculturalresourcesoftheparks,withgood use, enjoyment and educational potential of those parks, and that it needs to be consistent with Policy 57statesthatfarmingistobeallowedonregionalparkswhereitcontributes tothepublic

Regional ParksNetworkManagementPlan

to 5 Regional Parks Annual Report N Mana Island Wellington 6 COLONIAL 0 KNOB (DoC) Akatarawa Forest Whitireia Park Parangarahu Porirua Lakes Area Titahi Bay (DoC) Onepoto Matiu/Somes Cornish Burdans Gate East Harbour East Baring Head Street 5 Stratton Street Cannons Regional Regional Island Kowhai Street Creek Oakleigh Street Takapu Road Park Hikoikoi Kapiti Island Days Bay Park Regional Regional Belmont Road Coast Hill Road 10 Park Park Elizabeth Elizabeth Hutt Central for walkingandrunning.We continue The CannonPointWalkway ispopular recreation (4WDandmotorcycling). Classic course),huntingandmotorised internationally renownedKarapoti mountain biking(featuringthe Akatarawa Forestisimportantfor Rimutaka andOrongorongoranges. public landintheAkatarawa,T links andecologicalcorridorswithother species foundhere.Theforestforms the region’s survivingindigenousbird insect lifeishighlydiversewithall and severalwetlands.Thebird plantings, regeneratingnativeforest remnants ofmontaneforest,exotic original lowlandpodocarpand steep forestedhillcountrycontains A futurewatercollectionarea,this Akatarawa Forest management andplanningissues. recreation intheforestandresolve Access Committee(ARAC)tofacilitate to work with the Catchpool Queen Queen Farm Forest Forest Farm Park Paekakariki Crescent Kaitangata Belmont Battle Hill Hill Battle Wainuiomata Lower Hutt Hill Road Paekaka Lees Grove riki Hill Road Dry Creek Park Parap WHAREROA FARM FOREST PARK Wainuiomata H Raumati RIMUTAKA

Recreation

u MacKays Crossing W t (DoC) W t araumu ainuiomata/Orongorongo

Bull RunRoad (DoC) ater Collection R Area iv 20 kilometres e Akatarawa Maungakotukutuku

r Waikanae A Upper Hutt T Forest AKA katarawa r Tulsa Park

a FOREST Bridge Road Ocean Beach Palliser Bay i l T ARAWA Area Onoke

Spit

Road Karapoti ta Aka R rawa Pakuratahi ecreational

Te Marua

Wairongomai Onoke Lake Forest Road ararua, Waiotauru Regional Tunnel Gully Kaitoke Kaitoke Road

Park Otaki

W e Rimutaka

s Rail Trail

Cape Palliser t

e Collection r n Hutt W

Gates Barrage L ak Annual expenditure: $195,000 • • • • • • • • • Wairarapa Lake e R Pakuratahi o Cross Creek a d Pinnacles Putangirua Marchant Road and February culled54goats Professional goatcontrol operationsinSeptember every three months ongoing basis,withbaitstationsbeingre-filled Cannon Pointarea hasbeenmaintainedonan A ground-based possumcontrol operationinthe beard, Darwin’sbarberryandbuddleia cotoneaster, Japanesehoneysuckle,pampas,oldman’s infestations ofarangepestplantspeciesincluding on historicinfestationsitesandcontinuedtofindnew Parks’ pestplantteamcarriedoutfollow-upcontrol in theforest confirmed thepresence ofthis regionally rare species A sightingofaflockrare red-crowned kakariki recorded intheforest againthisyear nationally vulnerableNewZealandfalconwas bellbirds andwhiteheadshaddecreased. The the previous yearwhereas tomtits,grey warblers, silvereyes, kereru andriflemenhadincreased since the Akatarawa Forest. Therelative abundanceof Bird countswere completedforthesecondyearin on ashared costbasis contractor), workwascompletedonclearingtheslip with UnitedGooder(Transpower’s maintenance A large slipoccurred duringJuly. After negotiations Trap Catch).Thisisagoodresult operation monitorgavearesult of1%RTC (Residual Akatarawa Saddleblockoftheforest in August. A post A 1080possumcontrol operationwascompletedinthe training/driver training 83 formotorcycle eventsand 22forarmytraining/police Consents toentertheforest issued:107for4WDclubs, Country Akatarawa event), theannualKarapotiClassic,and4WDBack Forest includedTheAkatarawaAttack (mountainbiking The Great Outdoorsevents heldinthe Akatarawa Forks Otaki Trig Track Rimutaka TAUANUI FOREST ater (GW) Area Wairarapa Wairarapa Wetlands Wetlands Moana Moana

Pirinoa Road Park AORANGI FOREST Road Parera PARK (DoC) Lake Domain

Ruamahanga River TARARUA FORESTPARK Featherston FOREST HIWINUI (DoC) (GW) White Rock Gorge Waiohine STONEY FOREST CREEK (GW) Greytown Martinborough BUSH TORA (DoC) Road Mt Holdsworth Carterton Kiriwhakapapa

Masterton MT BRUCE (DoC) ROCKY HILLS (DoC) REWA BUSH (DoC) Riversdale Castlepoint eport nnual R nnual egional Parks A Parks egional R

Great Outdoors Akatarawa Attack – photo courtesy Trampers making their way up Matai Creek of Hutt Valley Mountain Bike Club

Mountain foxglove (ourisia lactea var drucei) Great Outdoors Karapoti Classic

7 8 Battle Hill Farm Forest Park N Mana Island Wellington COLONIAL 0 KNOB (DoC) biking, campingandpicnicking. for walking,horseriding,mountain and steephillcountrymakeitpopular region. Thecombinationofflat,rolling Ma¯ori andearlycolonialforcesinthe significant confrontationbetween forest, BattleHillisthesiteoflast wetlands andasmallremnantofnative A mixofpasture,plantationforestry, Park Battle HillFarmForest Whitireia Park Parangarahu Porirua Lakes Area Titahi Bay (DoC) Onepoto Matiu/Somes Cornish Burdans Gate East Harbour East Baring Head Street 5 Stratton Street Cannons Regional Regional Island Kowhai Street Creek Oakleigh Street Takapu Road Park Hikoikoi Kapiti Island Days Bay Park Regional Regional Belmont Road Coast Hill Road 10 Park Park Elizabeth Elizabeth Hutt Central Catchpool Queen Queen Farm Forest Forest Farm Park Paekakariki Crescent Kaitangata Belmont Battle Hill Hill Battle Wainuiomata Lower Hutt Hill Road Paekaka Lees Grove riki Hill Road Dry Creek Park Parap WHAREROA FARM FOREST PARK Wainuiomata H Raumati RIMUTAKA

Recreation

u MacKays Crossing W t (DoC) W t araumu ainuiomata/Orongorongo

Bull RunRoad (DoC) ater Collection R Area iv 20 kilometres e Akatarawa Maungakotukutuku

r Waikanae Upper Hutt T Forest r AKA Tulsa Park

a FOREST Bridge Road Ocean Beach Palliser Bay i l T ARAWA • • • • • • • • • • Area Onoke

Spit

Road Karapoti ta Aka average of3%fortherest oftheyear numbers fellfrom 60%trackinginJuly2009toan control. Rodent monitoring in the reserve showed rat stations. Ratswere controlled asby-killofthepossum remnant throughout theyearusing anetworkofbait Volunteers carriedoutpossumcontrol inthebush man’s beard infestationintheplantationforest infestations besidethecampground andalarge old Parks’ pestplantteamcontrolled bananapassionfruit fencing, roading andfertiliserapplication repairs haveoccurred throughout thefarmincluding considerable regeneration. Maintenanceworkand are notgettinginandtheunderstorey hasseen improving biosecurityofthebushreserve. Goats Most ofthenorthernfarmboundarywasre-fenced, moved upstream toprotect itfrom furthererosion concern hasbeenupgradedwithhandrailsand A footbridgeinthecampground thatwasasafety by Porirua CityCouncil issues. A repeat rubbish dumperattheparkwasfined There have been no significant vandalism or enforcement of restoration workinthisarea of thewetlandtoneedplantingandtiesupnineyears planting inSwampyGully. Thiswasthelastpiece Arbor Daysawover100studentstakingpartin visitors andcampers re-established andmuchappreciated bysummer The swimmingholeinthecampground was and theverybusyprogramme ofequestrianevents orienteering, historyfieldtrips,harrierevents including schoolcross-country championships, The usualconcessionactivitieshavecontinued Whareroa FarmtoQueenElizabethPark to climbtheridgeMtWainui anddownthrough success. The public especially appreciated the opportunityOutdoors summereventsprogramme. All were agreat Ten eventswere heldattheparkaspartofGreat about landuse,developmentandactivities when managingtheparkandmakingdecisions consultation. TheplanguidesGreater Wellington was adoptedinNovemberfollowingcommunity The rawa Pakuratahi

Te Marua

Wairongomai Onoke Lake Forest Road Waiotauru Regional Tunnel Gully Kaitoke Kaitoke Road Battle HillFarmForest Park ManagementPlan

Park Otaki

W e Rimutaka

s Rail Trail

Cape Palliser t

e Collection r n Hutt W

Gates Barrage L ak Wairarapa Lake e R Pakuratahi o Cross Creek a d Pinnacles Putangirua Marchant Road Forks Otaki Trig Track Rimutaka TAUANUI FOREST ater (GW) Area Wairarapa Wairarapa Wetlands Wetlands Moana Moana

Pirinoa Road Park AORANGI FOREST Road Parera PARK (DoC) Lake Domain

Ruamahanga River TARARUA FORESTPARK Featherston FOREST HIWINUI (DoC) (GW) White Rock Gorge Waiohine STONEY FOREST CREEK (GW)

Greytown

Martinborough BUSH TORA (DoC)

Road Mt Holdsworth Carterton Kiriwhakapapa Masterton MT BRUCE (DoC) ROCKY HILLS (DoC) REWA BUSH (DoC) Riversdale Castlepoint eport nnual R nnual

• Monthly mustelid and cat trapping was continued in the remnant and on the farmland by volunteers from Mana Boat Club and Mana Lions. They trapped four cats, two possums, 34 stoats, 62 hedgehogs and 65 rats

Annual expenditure: $264,000 egional Parks A Parks egional R

Arbor Day planting Battle Hill’s tame eels

Equestrian event Great Outdoors Farm to Coast participants admire the view

9 10 Belmont Regional Park N Mana Island Wellington COLONIAL planning andmanagementissues. to representcommunityviewson active advocacygroupswhohelp Friends ofMaaraRoaremainvery of BelmontRegionalParkandthe and BelmontT T 22km PukeAriki/HaywardsKorokoro from LowerHutttoPauatahanui.The bunkers andtheoriginalcoachroad Korokoro Dam,World War IImunitions riding. Theparkfeaturesthehistoric running, mountainbikingandhorse make itpopularforwalking,tramping, wide openspacesandhiddenvalleys Wellington andPoriruaharbours.Its park offers viewsoverthe HuttValley, of anancientrollingpeneplain,the Based onacentralplateauthatispart Belmont Regional Park raverse takesinBoulderHill(442m) 0 KNOB (DoC) Whitireia Park Parangarahu Porirua Lakes Area Titahi Bay (DoC) Onepoto Matiu/Somes Cornish Burdans Gate East Harbour East Baring Head Street 5 Stratton Street Cannons Regional Regional Island Kowhai Street Creek Oakleigh Street Takapu Road Park Hikoikoi Kapiti Island Days Bay rig (457m).TheFriends Park Regional Regional Belmont Road Coast Hill Road 10 Park Park Elizabeth Elizabeth Hutt Central Catchpool Queen Queen Farm Forest Forest Farm Park Paekakariki Crescent Kaitangata Belmont Battle Hill Hill Battle Wainuiomata Lower Hutt Hill Road Paekaka Lees Grove riki Hill Road Dry Creek Park Parap WHAREROA FARM FOREST PARK Wainuiomata H Raumati RIMUTAKA

Recreation

u MacKays Crossing W t (DoC) W t araumu ainuiomata/Orongorongo

Bull RunRoad (DoC) ater Collection R Area iv 20 kilometres e Akatarawa Maungakotukutuku

r Waikanae Upper Hutt T Forest r AKA Tulsa Park

a FOREST Bridge Road Ocean Beach Palliser Bay i l T ARAWA • • • • • • • • • • • Area Onoke A draft part ofthepark’sHillRoadentrance Road residents plantedaround 400trees intheupper Roa aspartoftheHondaTree Fundprogramme. Hill In June,800trees were plantedbytheFriendsofMaara seed ballsbefore throwing theseedballsintobush event, whichshowedpeoplehowtogatherseedsfor The FriendsofMaaraRoaorganised theHumanBirds ranging from guidedwalks and4WDtripstolivemusic. Day organised bytheFriends ofBelmont,withevents and HumanBirds.Over350peopletookpartintheOpen new eventswere held:BelmontRegionalParkOpenDay In additiontotheregular Great Outdoorsevents,two Maintenance workintheparkincludedcutbacksof restoration project neartheHillRoadentrancetopark grant from HuttCityCouncilforawetland/riparian The FriendsofBelmontRegionalParksecured a$7,000 and especiallysilvereye including grey warbler, tui,bellbird, fantail,kereru in 2009.There were increases inanumberofspecies total bird numbersrecorded, from 314in2008to791 Annual bird monitoringshowedabigincrease in work forthenextfiveyears The newplanidentifiesprioritiesforpestplantcontrol three months maintained, withbaitstations beingre-filled every Speedys ReserveandKorokoro Valley havebeen Ongoing possumcontrol operationsinDryCreek, stations intheCannon’sCreek bushremnant continued tocarryoutpossumcontrol usingbait Volunteers from theFriends ofMaaraRoahave of thetrackbelowdam Korokoro Damandalongaonekilometre stretch a numberofotherspeciesinthearea surrounding Contractors controlled tradescantia,selaginellaand the park hydrangea infestationsatvariouslocationswithin passionfruit, climbingasparagus,holly, buddleia and beard, Japanesehoneysuckle,cathedralbells,banana Parks’ pestplantteamcontinuedcontrolling oldman’s of eitherskinksorgeckosintheareas surveyed A lizard surveyfailedtofindanyhealthypopulations water run-off overthewinterperiod completed andnewwaterrun-offs installedtomanage of theOakleighStreet toKorokoro Dam trackhasbeen Dry Creek Loop Track and the Kelson Track. Rebenching

Spit

Road Karapoti ta Aka Pakuratahi rawa

Te Marua

Wairongomai Onoke Lake Forest Road Waiotauru Regional Tunnel Gully Kaitoke Kaitoke Road

Pest Plant Control Plan for the park was completed. Park Otaki

W e Rimutaka

s Rail Trail

Cape Palliser t

e Collection r n Hutt W

Pirinoa Road Park AORANGI FOREST Road Parera PARK (DoC) Lake Domain

Ruamahanga River TARARUA FORESTPARK Featherston FOREST HIWINUI (DoC) (GW) White Rock Gorge Waiohine STONEY FOREST CREEK (GW)

Greytown Martinborough BUSH TORA (DoC)

Road Mt Holdsworth Carterton Kiriwhakapapa Masterton MT BRUCE (DoC) ROCKY HILLS (DoC) REWA BUSH (DoC) Riversdale Castlepoint eport nnual R nnual

• Rodent monitoring completed by Korokoro Environmental Group volunteers showed that rat tracking in the Korokoro valley fell from 28% in June 2009 to an average 2% throughout this financial year

• Eighteen goats were culled across the upper A Parks egional Korokoro valley and Dry Creek areas of the park R during two professional hunts. No goats were found on the western side of the Korokoro valley or in Sweetacres Reserve

Annual expenditure: $565,000

World War II munitions bunkers

Great Outdoors Kev the Wandering Kiwi participants Great Outdoors Real Cannons Creek participants at the Korokoro Dam

11 12 East Harbour Regional Park N Mana Island Wellington in theNorthernForest. intensive pestcontrolnetwork Operation (MIRO)maintainsan The MainlandIslandRestoration wealth ofnativeplantsandwildlife. and Kohangateralakes,hometoa significant freshwaterKohangapiripiri Lakes Areacontainsthenationally Parangarahu (formerlyPencarrow) and picnickingopportunities.The and excellentwalking,tramping backdrop toWellington harbour the NorthernForestprovideeastern podocarp/broadleaf inthevalleysof Beech/rata onthehillsandlowland E butterfly was spotted was butterfly ringlet forest endangered and A rare COLONIAL ast Harbour R 0 KNOB (DoC) Whitireia Park Parangarahu Porirua Lakes Area Titahi Bay (DoC) Onepoto Matiu/Somes Cornish Burdans Gate East Harbour East Baring Head Street 5 Stratton Street Cannons Regional Regional Island Kowhai Street Creek Oakleigh Street Takapu Road Park Hikoikoi Kapiti Island Days Bay Park Regional Regional Belmont Road Coast Hill Road 10 Park Park Elizabeth Elizabeth Hutt Central Catchpool Queen Queen Farm Forest Forest Farm Park Paekakariki Crescent Kaitangata Belmont Battle Hill Hill Battle Wainuiomata Lower Hutt Hill Road Paekaka Lees Grove riki Hill Road Dry Creek Park Parap WHAREROA FARM FOREST PARK Wainuiomata H Raumati RIMUTAKA

Recreation

u MacKays Crossing W t (DoC) W t araumu ainuiomata/Orongorongo egional Park

Bull RunRoad (DoC) ater Collection R Area iv 20 kilometres e Akatarawa Maungakotukutuku

r Waikanae Upper Hutt T Forest r AKA Tulsa Park • • • • • • • • • Northern Forest •

a FOREST Bridge Road Ocean Beach Palliser Bay i l T ARAWA peripheral areas ofthe NorthernForest block A professional deerhunterculledtwo deerinthe asparagus intothepark team alsocontinuedreducing thespread ofclimbing at road ends,trackstartsandbehind houses.The work onmanyhistoricalinfestation siteslocated Parks’ pestplantteamcarried outfollow-upcontrol been trappedsinceMIRObegantrapping) trapped over322possums(over2,400have ongoing possumtrappingoperation.Volunteers Island RestorationOrganisation (MIRO)withtheir We have continuedtosupportmembersofMainland geckos intheNorthernForest evidence ofhealthypopulationseitherskinksor A lizard survey completedthisyearfailedtofind Landcare Research National Vegetation Surveydatabasemaintainedby was found.Thedatacollectedhasbeenaddedtothe and deer. Littleevidenceofrecent browsing damage browsing mammalspeciessuchaspossums,goats information onforest dynamicsandtheimpactsof in theNorthernForest thisyear. Theseplotsprovide Three permanentvegetationplotswere re-measured fruit intheplotshadbeendamagedbyrodents damaged fruit were recorded whileoverathird ofthe very heavyfruiting yearforhinau.Very fewpossum- Hinau fruit-fall monitoringshowedthatitwas a management oftherobin population above theoptimum5%thatisdesirableforeffective the MainlandIslandduringMaywasat18%,well a lotoffoodfortherodents). Rodentmonitoringin mast (aheavyseedingyearforbeech,whichprovides in theMainlandIslandsitethisyearduetobeech There were difficultiesinkeepingratsatlownumbers A replacement bridgehadtobeliftedinbyhelicopter damage followingthefallofalarge beechtree inJuly. Butterfly Creek Valley suffered majorstructural A walkingbridgeontheMackenzieTrack inthe butterfly intheparkfor30years celery pineandthefirstsightingofaforest ringlet year: thefirst recording withintheparkofnative Two interesting discoverieswere madeduringthe duck shootingseason Crazyman event(285participants)andtheannual Night-time Madnessevent(360participants),the throughout theyear, includingtheButterflyCreek There were numerous eventsheldinEastHarbour Area Onoke

Spit

Road Karapoti ta Aka Pakuratahi rawa

Te Marua

Wairongomai Onoke Lake Forest Road Waiotauru Regional Tunnel Gully Kaitoke Kaitoke Road

Park Otaki

W e Rimutaka

s Rail Trail

Cape Palliser t

e Collection r n Hutt W

Pirinoa Road Park AORANGI FOREST Road Parera PARK (DoC) Lake Domain

Ruamahanga River TARARUA FORESTPARK Featherston FOREST HIWINUI (DoC) (GW) White Rock Gorge Waiohine

STONEY FOREST CREEK (GW) Greytown Martinborough BUSH TORA (DoC) Road Mt Holdsworth Carterton Kiriwhakapapa Masterton MT BRUCE (DoC) ROCKY HILLS (DoC) REWA BUSH (DoC) Riversdale Castlepoint eport nnual R nnual

Parangarahu Lakes Area (formerly Pencarrow • Follow-up spraying of gorse was carried Lakes Block) out on the ecologically significant coastal escarpment between lakes Kohangapiripiri • Sheep and cattle stops have been installed and Kohangatera on the wetland boardwalks to try and keep out neighbouring stock • Boneseed on the harbour escarpment was

controlled from a set point beyond Burdan’s A Parks egional • Six permanent vegetation plots were re- Gate to stop the spread of this pest plant R measured in the Parangarahu Lakes Area this further southwards year. A good increase in seedling growth was recorded. The data collected has been added • Mustelids and other pests were controlled to the National Vegetation Survey database throughout the area by the use of a network of traps. 35 mustelids (28 weasels and • A lizard survey found healthy populations of seven stoats), 19 hedgehogs and 39 rats common gecko and common skink in the area. were trapped. These pests prey on ground- A copper skink was also found, the first time dwelling birds, such as those that nest this species has been identified in this area around Lakes Kohangatera and Kohangapiripiri • Another restoration planting plot was established and planted by MIRO • Eighteen goats and one pig were culled volunteers. In-fill planting was done during ongoing pest surveillance and in the two previously established plots control activities

• The wetland pest plant Beggar’s tick was Annual expenditure: $364,000 again controlled at Lake Kohangatera

The replacement Mackenzie Track bridge being installed The Ferry Road track was upgraded

13 N

14 Hutt River Trail Mana Island Wellington COLONIAL 0 KNOB (DoC) Whitireia Park Parangarahu Porirua Lakes Area Titahi Bay (DoC) Onepoto Matiu/Somes Cornish Burdans Gate East Harbour East Baring Head Street 5 Stratton Street Cannons Regional Regional Island Kowhai Street Creek Oakleigh Hutt Cityandcouncils. the PhoenixT Rotary clubsoftheHuttValley, Other stakeholdersincludethe T are plannedtotheRimutakaail Wellington region.Off-road links available inthewesternsideof flat andscenicterrainisnotreadily on bothsidesoftheriver, thislengthy, sports fieldsandwithtracksoften opportunities. Linkingtoparksand provides easilyaccessiblerecreational Upper Hutt,the30kmuttRiverT the PetoneforeshoretoBirchville, Running fromHikoikoieserveon H Street Takapu Road rail andthustotheWairarapa. Park Hikoikoi Kapiti Island Days Bay Park utt R Regional Regional Belmont Road Coast Hill Road 10 Park Park Elizabeth Elizabeth Hutt Central Catchpool Queen Queen Farm Forest Forest Farm Park Paekakariki Crescent Kaitangata Belmont Battle Hill Hill Battle Wainuiomata Lower Hutt Hill Road Paekaka Lees Grove riki Hill Road rust, andtheUpper Dry Creek Park iver T Parap WHAREROA FARM FOREST PARK Wainuiomata H Raumati RIMUTAKA

Recreation

u MacKays Crossing W t (DoC) W t araumu ainuiomata/Orongorongo

Bull RunRoad (DoC) ater Collection R Area iv 20 kilometres e Akatarawa Maungakotukutuku

r Waikanae Upper Hutt T Forest AKA

r rail Tulsa Park

a FOREST Bridge Road Ocean Beach Palliser Bay i l T ARAWA Area rail Onoke

Spit

Road Karapoti ta Aka Pakuratahi rawa

Te Marua

Wairongomai Onoke Lake Forest Road Waiotauru Regional Tunnel Gully Kaitoke Kaitoke Road

• • • • • • • • • • • Park Otaki

on theirstopbank the Whirinaki communityplanted170native plants planted inthesandplantat therivermouth.InJune, In August, severalhundred coastalshrubs were Planting daysinvolvingthe communitywere held. Harcourt Werry berms and anupgradedcarpark was installedalongthe 800 metres ofrivertrailwaslaidnorthWhakatiki from KennedyGoodBridgetoMelling Hutt CityCouncilinstalledanewmulti-useriverpath Whakatikei section work completedthere-vamp ofthePoetsParkto with anewriverrock headwallwasinstalled.This were installed,totarawere planted andaculvert During October, PoetsParkgotamakeover. Bollards the firstonewasinstalledatWhakatikeiinMarch seat. Theyhavereceived manypositivecomments,and table forthetrail,usinggabionbasketswithawooden The Rotaryclubshavedesignedanewseatandpicnic along theriver crews to paint out graffiti and tagging on the floodwalls Hutt City Probation Services volunteered their work advanced graffitiprotection They willbereplaced withnewgraphicsandmore due toconstanttaggingandgeneralweartear. berm signswere removed forrepair andreplacement to causedamage.DuringMay, anumberoftrailand is alsoanongoingconcernwithstolencarsbeingused people dumpingrubbish andgreen waste.Vandalism Trail bikeriderscontinue tobeaproblem, alongwith established ontherivertrail A Segwayconcession,basedatPoetsPark,was work alongtheRandwickberms up rubbish, andRandwickSchoolcontinuingits Hutt Intermediateplanting,mulchingandpicking WSchools continuetobeactivealongtheriverwith athletic daystoannualfunruns andwalks Other eventsthroughout theyearrangedfrom school the previous year Participation inWalk theTrail increased by40%over finish wasmovedfrom Petone toStokes Valley). the tsunamiwarningmorningofevent(the and BiketheTrail sawover1,400participants,despite taken away. HaveaGoFlyFishingwasbookedout Gravel Grabsawmore riverstonesthan lastyearbeing Kev theWandering KiwiatPoetsParkwhiletheHutt on theHuttRiverTrail. Over100peopleattended The Great Outdoorsevents were aspopularalways e Rimutaka

s Rail Trail

Cape Palliser t

e Collection r n Hutt W

Pirinoa Road Park AORANGI FOREST Road Parera PARK (DoC) Lake Domain

Ruamahanga River TARARUA FORESTPARK Featherston FOREST HIWINUI (DoC) (GW) White Rock Gorge Waiohine STONEY FOREST CREEK (GW) Greytown Martinborough BUSH TORA (DoC) Road Mt Holdsworth

Carterton Kiriwhakapapa Masterton MT BRUCE (DoC) ROCKY HILLS (DoC) REWA BUSH (DoC) Riversdale Castlepoint eport nnual R nnual

• The annual charity races were held on the river including the Petone Workingmen’s Club plastic duck race and the Upper Hutt Cosmopolitan Club’s plastic boat race

• A fish passage, installed two years ago at Hulls Creek,

was repaired after it was damaged during a storm A Parks egional R • The TV show Good Morning filmed at Avalon during November and a documentary film crew filmed a piece at Harcourt Park about the Hutt fault line

Annual expenditure: $66,000

Great Outdoors Bike The Trail Great Outdoors Have A Go Fly Fishing participants

Mulching at Strand Park New river trail seat

15 Otaki

MT BRUCE (DoC) N

Kiriwhakapapa

Kapiti Island Otaki WaikanaeKaitoke RegionalForks Park Paraparaumu egional Park egional TARARUA FOREST PARK

Akata (DoC) Mt Holdsworth Castlepoint rawa Road Raumati • One of the new Great Outdoors events held at Kaitoke Queen Waiotauru Road Elizabeth MacKays Maungakotukutuku Regional Park was the Take a Kid TrampingMasterton event. This Park Crossing was an opportunity for parents and their children to Kaitoke R Kaitoke Paekakariki learn essential outdoor safety skills. The feedback from Road WHAREROA FARM Hutt Water those involved was very positive

d (DoC) AKATARAWA a Collection Area o FOREST

l i • Another eventWaiohine held at Kaitoke was Wild Rivers –

i Akatarawa Gorge

k Carterton i

r a day to celebrate the wild rivers of New Zealand.

k Forest

a Karapoti k Kaitoke The 700 participants were able to try kayaking, e Road REWA

a Whitireia Park P Bull Run Road Regional Pakuratahi fly fishing and electric fishing BUSH Battle Hill Park (DoC) (DoC) Marchant Road Mana Island Te Marua Farm Forest Bridge Road Rimutaka • A 1080 possum control operation was completed in Titahi Bay Rail Trail Greytown Park Tulsa Park August. The post operation monitoring result of 0% Onepoto Tunnel Gully Riversdale FeatherstonRTC (residual trap catch) was an excellent outcome Belmont Rimutaka Porirua il Trig Track Cannons Regional a Tr • The annual bird monitoring indicated that grey Creek Dry Creek er COLONIAL Park iv Pakuratahi warbler, silvereye and fantail were the most common Takapu R Cross Creek Lake Domain KNOB Road Kaitangata t Upper Hutt Forest Hill Road Crescent t bird species in the park (DoC) Hu Stratton Street Wairarapa Oakleigh Belmont d oa Street R Moana • During April, a 25,000L water storage tank for the Hutt Central e ak Cornish L Wetlands rn campground was installed as part of our Public Heath Street Lower Hutt te ROCKY es Martinborough W Lake Park Risk Management Plan. This water storage tank gives HILLS Hikoikoi Wainuiomata Wairarapa Park (DoC) Hill Road Wainuiomata/OrongorongoEasily accessible podocarp/broadleaf Parera the park a reserve supply of water. The replacement Road Lees Grove Water Collectionand beech Area forests and a matai/totara septic tank for the campground facility building was Matiu/Somes Wairongomai Island remnant near Te Marua contain an also installed Days Bay Ruamahanga River Wainuiomataabundance of native birds. Fish are Kowhai Street • The Flume Bridge has been water blasted, restoring Recreationplentiful and there are extensive Burdans Gate the structure to an almost new condition Areaopportunities to swim, picnic and walk Wellington East Harbour Barrage Pirinoa Road near the Hutt and PakuratahiGates rivers. Regional RIMUTAKA • TheHIWINUI Te Marua end of the park was the focus of several Park FOREST PARKKayaking through the Hutt River Gorge FOREST Catchpool plantings throughout the year. Corporate volunteers (DoC) is bothOcean scenic and challenging. There (GW) Parangarahu Beach planted trees at the Stuart Macaskill Lakes lookout Lakes Area is a large, landscaped camping ground Lake and Maidstone School pupils worked on a restoration Onoke STONEY Coast near theOnoke main entrance. KaitokeTAUANUI Road Spit site near the TeCREEK Marua Water Treatment Plant. Overall, Baring Regional Park is a significantFOREST location Head 2,400 plants wereFOREST planted by corporate groups in (GW) (GW) for outdoor commercial filming – the Kaitoke during the year, funded by the Honda Tree Lord of the Rings “Rivendell”Putangirua site is Palliser Bay Pinnacles Fund programme particularly popular with visitors. AORANGI Nearly half of metropolitan FOREST• Anti-social behaviour continues to be a problem Wellington’s water is drawn from PARK with people having to be evicted and in some cases (DoC) TORA the Hutt River and treated within trespassed for damageBUSH to park assets. At Te Marua, (DoC) Kaitoke Regional Park. 15m of fencing was driven into and smashed

• The film company Sauce spent two days filming an interpretation film for Zealandia Wildlife Sanctuary

0 5 10 20 kilometres • Members of the Wellington Botanical Society continuedWhite to Rock carry out restoration work within Te Marua bush. Members also carried out pest Cape Palliser plant control. A contractor carried out control of tradescantia, wild strawberry, broom and blackberry

16 eport nnual R nnual

• Parks’ pest plant team carried out follow-up control of old man’s beard, broom and gorse in the other bush remnants at Te Marua

• Thirteen goats, six pigs and two deer were culled in a professional hunting operation in March,

making use of the Judas goats present in the area A Parks egional R Annual expenditure: $421,000

American car owners picnic Great Outdoors Ridge Track Adventure

Great Outdoors Take A Kid Tramping – learning how Rata flowers to cross a stream safely

17 N Mana Island Wellington COLONIAL 0 KNOB (DoC) Whitireia Park Parangarahu Porirua Lakes Area Titahi Bay (DoC) Onepoto Matiu/Somes Cornish Burdans Gate East Harbour East Baring Head Street 5 Stratton Street Cannons Regional Regional Island Kowhai Street Creek Oakleigh Street Takapu Road Park Hikoikoi Kapiti Island Days Bay Park Regional Regional Belmont Road Coast 18 Hill Road 10 Park Park Elizabeth Elizabeth

Hutt Central Pakuratahi Forest Catchpool Queen Queen Farm Forest Forest Farm Park Paekakariki Crescent Kaitangata Belmont Battle Hill Hill Battle Wainuiomata Lower Hutt Hill Road Paekaka Lees Grove riki Hill Road Dry Creek Park Parap WHAREROA FARM FOREST PARK Wainuiomata H Raumati RIMUTAKA

Recreation

u MacKays Crossing W t (DoC) W t araumu ainuiomata/Orongorongo

Bull RunRoad (DoC) ater Collection R Area iv 20 kilometres e Akatarawa Maungakotukutuku

r Waikanae Upper Hutt T Forest AKA of exoticplantationforest. picnicking. Theareacontains775ha now popularforbiking,walkingand between Wellington andWairarapa, is theoriginalrailwaylineformation significant. Ofnationalsignificance Rimutaka angesareallregionally and theonlysnowtussockin beech standsintheuppercatchment ranges. ThewetlandatLadleBend, areas andtheT and Wainuiomata water collection ecological linkbetweentheHutt steep rivercatchment.Itformsan area, theforestcomprisesonelarge, Managed asafuturewatercollection r Pakuratahi Forest Tulsa Park

a FOREST Bridge Road Ocean Beach Palliser Bay i l T ARAWA Area Onoke

Spit

Road Karapoti ta Aka Pakuratahi rawa

Te Marua

Wairongomai Onoke Lake Forest Road Waiotauru Regional Tunnel Gully Kaitoke Kaitoke Road

ararua andRimutaka Park Otaki

W e Rimutaka

s Rail Trail

Cape Palliser t

e Collection r n Hutt W

Pirinoa Road Park AORANGI FOREST Road Parera PARK (DoC) Lake Domain

Ruamahanga River • • • • • • • • • • TARARUA FORESTPARK Featherston Approximately 300m within twodays 1.5m indiameter. Water wasrestored to thetoilets Tunnel Gullytoilets.The kahikateawasapproximately summer andlandedonthewatersupplypipefor A large kahikateawasuprooted bywindduring were grey warbler, silvereye, fantailandtui in September. Themostcommonspeciesobserved Volunteers completedbird monitoringinTunnel Gully people outofthepark the numberofcallstoParkRangerlettrapped to onehourafterdusk.Thishassignificantly reduced The closingtimefortheTunnel Gullygatewasmoved people walkedthetrail However, athird daywasscheduledand55keen Rail Trail walkswere cancelleddue topoorweather. with theirdogs.Unfortunatelythefirsttwo booking outandPawsintheParkattracting92people with theHuttValley GlidingClubOpenWeekend almost The Great Outdoorsevents continuetobepopular intensively searched forbuddleia buddleia. TheCollinsStream catchmentwas pampas, cotoneaster, sycamore, wildingpineand Parks’ pestplantteamtargeted infestationsofhakea, to theRimutakaRailTrail chain securingoneofourinternalgatesleading had toreplace notonlythepadlockbutalso Vandalism continuestobeaproblem. InJunewe eucalyptus trees raisedattheUpperHuttDepot of theTunnel Gullyarea iscontinuing withyoung been removed withmore togo. Succession planting Over 20dyingeucalyptustrees inTunnel Gullyhave had tobeinstalledtwometres abovetheoldculvert approximately 3-4mofsediment. A newculvert (installed over100yearsago)wasburiedby A historicbrickedculvertontheRimutakaIncline had deterioratedinseveralplaces Tunnel hasbeenregrouted asthecentury-oldgrouting The originalbrickworkintheroof oftheMaymorn in reduced maintenancecosts a harder wearingandsmoothersurfacethatwillresult been verysuccessfulastheasphaltmillingsprovide to surfacetheRimutakaRailTrail entrance.Thishas FOREST HIWINUI (DoC) (GW) White Rock Gorge Waiohine STONEY FOREST CREEK (GW) Greytown Martinborough BUSH TORA (DoC) 3 ofasphaltmillingswere used Road Mt Holdsworth Carterton Kiriwhakapapa Masterton MT BRUCE Rimutaka (DoC) ROCKY HILLS (DoC) REWA BUSH (DoC) Riversdale Castlepoint eport nnual R nnual

• Volunteers continued to maintain a network of possum traps in Tunnel Gully

• 39 goats and three pigs were culled in two professional hunting operations, and 33 goats were removed by the park ranger during the year egional Parks A Parks egional

Annual expenditure: $251,000 R

One of the happy participants in the Great Outdoors Great Outdoors Kev the Wandering Kiwi and his friends Paws in the Park event

Moss and lichen A Great Outdoors Gliding particpant gets her instructions

19 N 20 Queen Elizabeth Park Mana Island Wellington COLONIAL 0 KNOB (DoC) Whitireia Park Parangarahu Porirua Lakes Area Titahi Bay (DoC) Onepoto Matiu/Somes Cornish Burdans Gate East Harbour East Baring Head Street the Wellington T public parksince1953.Facilitiesinclude Marine encampmentandhasbeena During World War IIitservedasaUS T and theparkisrichinhistoriesof villages atWainui andWhareroa, century thereweresignificantMa events andfestivals.Duringthe19th horse riding,grouppicnics,sports opportunities forwalking,cycling, Park (QEP)offers easilyaccessible the Kapiticoastline,QueenElizabeth of relativelyunmodifiedduneson Containing thelastremainingarea Queen ElizabethPark active onseveralfronts. horse riding.TheFriendsofQEPare camping atPaekakarikiandcommercial 5 Stratton Street angata WhenuaandEuropeansalike. Cannons Regional Regional Island Kowhai Street Creek Oakleigh Street Takapu Road Park Hikoikoi Kapiti Island Days Bay Park Regional Regional Belmont Road Coast Hill Road 10 Park Park Elizabeth Elizabeth Hutt Central Catchpool Queen Queen Farm Forest Forest Farm Park Paekakariki Crescent Kaitangata Belmont Battle Hill Hill Battle Wainuiomata Lower Hutt Hill Road Paekaka Lees Grove riki Hill Road Dry Creek ramway Museum, Park Parap WHAREROA FARM FOREST PARK Wainuiomata H Raumati RIMUTAKA

Recreation

u MacKays Crossing W t (DoC) W t araumu ainuiomata/Orongorongo

Bull RunRoad (DoC) ater Collection R Area iv 20 kilometres e Akatarawa Maungakotukutuku

r Waikanae Upper Hutt T Forest r AKA Tulsa Park

a FOREST Bridge Road Ocean Beach Palliser Bay i l T ¯ ARAWA ori Area Onoke

Spit

Road Karapoti ta Aka Pakuratahi rawa

Te Marua

Wairongomai Onoke Lake Forest Road Waiotauru • • • • • • • • • • • Regional Tunnel Gully Kaitoke Kaitoke Road

Park A draft Significant costsavingsare expectedfrom thisupgrade old chlorinetreatment plant wasdecommissioned. was drilled,ultravioletlightfiltersinstalledandthe The watersupplysystemwasupgraded. A newbore park’s bushremnant 70 peopleplantaround 1,500trees andshrubs inthe The lastplantingdayofthe2009seasonsawover around theNorthIsland the Aero Modellers’Rallyattractedenthusiastsfrom autumn eventinMarch which attracted150ridersand Buggy Walk participating intheGreat OutdoorsSportWellington Events intheparkcontinuedwithover200people the foredunes 6,000 spinfextohelpmanage coastalerosion on Friends ofQEP andGreater Wellington staff planted parents plant1,500plants The annual Arbor Dayeventsaw150studentsand bike riders have beenseveralsuccessfulprosecutions oftrail been instancesoftaggingthroughout thepark.There entrance required extensiverepairs andthere have A gatewhichwasrammedattheMacKaysCrossing Vandalism andtrailbikescontinuetobeaproblem. planting dayin August atWhareroa Stream Around 700trees were plantedinthefirst as atightbendinthetrackwillbeeased to extend its track. This will improve passenger safety in thepark.TheTramways Museumreceived approval visitor building, permitted as part of its licence to operate The Tramways Museum haspartiallycompletedanew of skinksorgeckosinthepark A lizard surveyfailedtofindanyhealthypopulations several hundred years it hasbeenimpactedbyhumanuseoverthelast note thegeologicalfeatures ofthearea andhow on theMacKaysCrossing Wetland Walk. Thesigns New ZealandTransport Agency, havebeeninstalled New landscapeinterpretation signs,fundedbythe work forthenextfiveyears The newplanidentifiesprioritiesforpestplantcontrol Otaki

W e Rimutaka

s Rail Trail

Cape Palliser t

e Collection r n Hutt W Gates Barrage La

k Pest PlantControl Plan for the park was completed. Wairarapa Lake e R Pakuratahi o Cross Creek a d Pinnacles Putangirua Marchant Road Forks Otaki Trig Track Rimutaka TAUANUI . TheNZEquestrianFederationhadtheir FOREST ater (GW) Area Wairarapa Wairarapa Wetlands Wetlands Moana Moana

Pirinoa Road Park AORANGI FOREST Road Parera PARK (DoC) Lake Domain

Ruamahanga River TARARUA FORESTPARK Featherston FOREST HIWINUI (DoC) (GW) White Rock Gorge Waiohine STONEY FOREST Green Footprint CREEK (GW) Greytown Martinborough BUSH TORA (DoC) Road Mt Holdsworth

Carterton Kiriwhakapapa Masterton MT BRUCE (DoC) ROCKY HILLS (DoC) REWA BUSH (DoC) Riversdale Castlepoint eport nnual R nnual

• Two grants were awarded by the Department • A volunteer has continued to carry out of Conservation’s Community Conservation predator and possum trapping within Fund for projects in the park. The Raumati the park. Eleven stoats, 36 weasels, South Residents Association secured one for 52 hedgehogs, 84 rats, 196 mice and $36,567 for the Poplar Avenue wetland. The five possums were trapped group has worked with Greater Wellington to set up and carry out a number of planting • Night shooting has continued to keep rabbits A Parks egional days, as well as completing monitoring and hares at low levels across the park R associated with the restoration. The Friends • Rodent monitoring in the dunes showed of QEP secured a $34,125 grant to purchase rat tracking at 10% in August 2009 but 10,000 plants for a major wetland planting 0% for the rest of the year in August 2010 Annual expenditure: $872,000 • A grid-search of the dunes for boneseed was carried out by Parks’ pest plant team and contractors. Boxthorn, brush wattle, elderberry, cherry, pampas, German ivy, broom, Japanese honeysuckle and climbing asparagus were controlled

Great Outdoors Nature Day participants

One of the littlest planters at Arbor Day this year New landscape interpretation sign 21 N 22 Wainuiomata Recreation Area Mana Island Wellington COLONIAL 0 KNOB (DoC) Whitireia Park Parangarahu Porirua Lakes Area Titahi Bay (DoC) Onepoto Matiu/Somes Cornish Burdans Gate East Harbour East Baring Head Street 5 Water CollectionArea. Island –theWainuiomata/ Orongorongo lowland forestsinthelowerNorth of onethelargestandmostpristine now regenerating,itliesatthefoot once loggedandmostofthebushis Although therecreationareaitselfwas along thevalleyfloor. walking andmountainbikingtracks in theWainuiomata Riverandeasy There arenumerousswimmingholes family outings,picnicsanddogwalking. Recreation Areaisapopularspotfor of Wainuiomata, theWainuiomata A peacefulandshelteredvalleyeast Wainuiomata Recreation Area Stratton Street Cannons Regional Regional Island Kowhai Street Creek Oakleigh Street Takapu Road Park Hikoikoi Kapiti Island Days Bay Park Regional Regional Belmont Road Coast Hill Road 10 Park Park Elizabeth Elizabeth Hutt Central Catchpool Queen Queen Farm Forest Forest Farm Park Paekakariki Crescent Kaitangata Belmont Battle Hill Hill Battle Wainuiomata Lower Hutt Hill Road Paekaka Lees Grove riki Hill Road Dry Creek Park Parap WHAREROA FARM FOREST PARK Wainuiomata H Raumati RIMUTAKA

Recreation

u MacKays Crossing W t (DoC) W t araumu ainuiomata/Orongorongo

Bull RunRoad (DoC) ater Collection R Area iv 20 kilometres e Akatarawa Maungakotukutuku

r Waikanae Upper Hutt T Forest r AKA Tulsa Park

a FOREST Bridge Road Ocean Beach Palliser Bay i l T ARAWA Area Onoke

Spit

Road Karapoti ta Aka Pakuratahi rawa

Te Marua

Wairongomai Onoke Lake Forest Road Waiotauru Regional Annual expenditure: $81,000 • • • • • • • • • Tunnel Gully Kaitoke Kaitoke Road

Park Otaki honeysuckle, oldman’sbeard andcherry infestations ofcotoneaster, barberry, Japanese of arangespeciesaswelldiscoveringnew Parks’ pestplantteamcarriedoutfollow-upcontrol extended control area up control oftradescantiainfestationswithinan Contractors completedinitialcontrol workandfollow- people withbuggiestoaccessthebridge A ramphasbeeninstalledontheTruss Bridgetohelp popular onhotdays metalled andcompacted.Thisswimmingholeisvery The walkingtracktoUltimatePoolhasbeenprepared, Forest Parkvolunteers completed. ThetrackwillbemaintainedbyRimutaka A newstoattrappingtrackdownSolomon’sTrack was recreation area inaneffort tocurbvandalism In November, 62newbollards were installedinthe from thetracks occasions. Minibikeridershavehadtobeescorted been rippedoutandthegrassarea trashedonseveral tagging takingplaceatthemainkiosk.Bollards have Vandalism continuestobeaproblem withexcessive October with500nativetrees planted corporate HondaTree plantingdaywasheldin planting dayatthelowerdaminJune2009,asecond Following thesuccessfulcorporateHondaTree over 300participantsonabeautifulWainuiomata day The Great Outdoorsevent

W e Rimutaka

s Rail Trail

Cape Palliser t

e Collection r n Hutt W

Pirinoa Road Park AORANGI FOREST Road Parera PARK (DoC) Lake Domain

Ruamahanga River TARARUA FORESTPARK Featherston Kev theWandering Kiwihad FOREST HIWINUI (DoC) (GW) White Rock Gorge Waiohine STONEY FOREST CREEK (GW) Greytown Martinborough BUSH TORA (DoC) Road Mt Holdsworth

Carterton Kiriwhakapapa Masterton MT BRUCE (DoC) ROCKY HILLS (DoC) REWA BUSH (DoC) Riversdale Castlepoint eport nnual R nnual egional Parks A Parks egional R

Wainuiomata Lower Dam

Reusing old water supply pipes as a feature near the Great Outdoors Kev the Wandering Kiwi and Education Centre a new friend

23 N Mana Island Wellington COLONIAL 0 KNOB (DoC) Whitireia Park Parangarahu Porirua Lakes Area Titahi Bay (DoC) Onepoto Matiu/Somes Cornish Burdans Gate East Harbour East Baring Head Street 5 Stratton Street Cannons Regional Regional Island Kowhai Street Creek Oakleigh Street Takapu Road Park Hikoikoi Kapiti Island Days Bay Park Regional Regional Belmont Road Coast Hill Road 10 Park Park Elizabeth Elizabeth Hutt Central Catchpool Queen Queen Farm Forest Forest Farm Park Paekakariki Crescent Kaitangata Belmont Battle Hill Hill Battle Wainuiomata 24 Lower Hutt Hill Road Paekaka Lees Grove riki Hill Road Dry Creek Park

Wairarapa Moana Wetlands Park Parap WHAREROA FARM FOREST PARK Wainuiomata H Raumati RIMUTAKA

Recreation

u MacKays Crossing W t (DoC) W t araumu ainuiomata/Orongorongo

Bull RunRoad (DoC) ater Collection R Area iv 20 kilometres e Akatarawa Maungakotukutuku

r Waikanae Upper Hutt T Forest r AKA Tulsa Park

a FOREST Bridge Road Ocean Beach Palliser Bay i l T ARAWA for creatingawetlandpark. and hasbeenplanningthefirststages of allthepartnerswassetupin2008 establishment boardofrepresentatives and KahungunukiWairarapa. An District Council,Rangita of Conservation,SouthWairarapa Moana, alongwiththeDepartment management partnersinWairarapa Greater Wellington isoneofthe recognised foritsmigratorybirds. the NorthIsland,andisinternationally of thelargestwetlandcomplexesin includes thethirdlargestlakeandone lakes andtheirassociatedwetlands.It comprises oftheWairarapa andOnoke Wairarapa MoanaWetlands Park Wairarapa Moana Wetlands Park Area Onoke

Spit

Road Karapoti ta Aka Pakuratahi rawa

Te Marua

Wairongomai Onoke Lake Forest Road Waiotauru Regional Tunnel Gully Kaitoke Kaitoke Road

Park Otaki

W e Rimutaka

s Rail Trail

Cape Palliser t

e Collection r n Hutt W

Gates Barrage L ak Wairarapa Lake e R Pakuratahi o Cross Creek a d Pinnacles Putangirua Marchant Road Forks Otaki Trig Track Rimutaka TAUANUI FOREST ater ¯ (GW) ne oWairarapa Area Wairarapa Wairarapa Wetlands Wetlands Moana Moana

Pirinoa Road Park AORANGI FOREST Road Parera PARK (DoC) Lake Domain

Ruamahanga River TARARUA FORESTPARK Featherston FOREST HIWINUI Annual expenditure: $75,000 • • • • • • • • • (DoC) (GW) The trialwillbecarriedoutnextyear vegetation tohaltshoreline accretion wascompleted. The designofatrialinvolvingcontrolling shoreline Pounui Wetland onthewesternsideoflake asparagus andbuddleiaintherelatively pristine and pampascontrolled newlydiscovered climbing Parks’ pestplantteamcheckedthere-growth ofwillow to prioritisehabitatprotection others. Thisisusefulinformationfordetermininghow that somewetlandshadhigherfishbiodiversitythan surrounding wetlandswere carriedout.Itwasfound Further fishsurveysof Wairarapa Moanaandthe Wairarapa Valley DrainageScheme established todeterminethelakelevelsforLower lake wasre-instigated. Thismonitoringwasinitially Wetland bird monitoringontheeasternsideof demolished andremoved entrance. Theoldconcrete toiletblockwas A newtoiletwasinstalledattheLakeDomain to keepstockoutofthewetlandareas The fencinghasbeencompletedatLakeDomain distribution attheopenday A newparkbrochure wascompletedready for and aformalceremony took placeatKohunuiMarae. was launched,an“openday”heldatFeatherston, courtesy oftheHondaTree Fund. A bookontuna(eels) yacht clubinvolving30localsplanting1,200trees The two-dayeventincludedaplantingatthe The officiallaunchoftheparktookplaceinmid-June. the oneusedinanyfurtheralder/willowcontrol work damage to any native vegetation. This herbicide will be alder trees butoneherbicide inparticularcausedless Both herbicidesusedhadasignificantimpactonthe The results ofthealdertrial in2009havebeenanalysed. Lagoon in August, attractingaround 65people A successfulpublicplantingdaywasheld atBarton’s White Rock Gorge Waiohine STONEY FOREST CREEK (GW) Greytown Martinborough BUSH TORA (DoC) Road Mt Holdsworth Carterton Kiriwhakapapa Masterton MT BRUCE (DoC) ROCKY HILLS (DoC) REWA BUSH (DoC) Riversdale Castlepoint eport nnual R nnual egional Parks A Parks egional R

A couple of Great Outdoors Explore Wairarapa Moana participants

Hardy souls planting at the Lake Domain Surveying Lake Wairarapa’s alder plot

25 N Mana Island Wellington COLONIAL 0 KNOB (DoC) Whitireia Park Parangarahu Porirua Lakes Area Titahi Bay (DoC) Onepoto Matiu/Somes Cornish Burdans Gate East Harbour East Baring Head Street 5 Stratton Street Cannons Regional Regional Island Kowhai Street Creek Oakleigh Street Takapu Road Park Hikoikoi Kapiti Island Days Bay Park Regional Regional Belmont Road Coast Hill Road 10 Park Park Elizabeth Elizabeth Hutt Central Catchpool Queen Queen Farm Forest Forest Farm Park Paekakariki Crescent Kaitangata Belmont Battle Hill Hill Battle Wainuiomata Lower Hutt Hill Road 26 Paekaka Lees Grove riki Hill Road Dry Creek Park Water CollectionParap Areas WHAREROA FARM FOREST PARK Wainuiomata H Raumati RIMUTAKA

Recreation

u MacKays Crossing W t (DoC) W t araumu ainuiomata/Orongorongo

Bull RunRoad (DoC) ater Collection R Area iv 20 kilometres e Akatarawa Maungakotukutuku

r Waikanae Upper Hutt T Forest r AKA Tulsa Park

a FOREST Bridge Road Ocean Beach Palliser Bay i l T ARAWA Area sudden weatherchanges. reputation forhighwinds,fogand extremely exposedandhavea steep-sided ridges.Thehilltopsare broken bymanystreamsandnarrow, terrain isruggedandmountainous, and trampingtakesplaceherebutthe NZ falcon(karearea).Somehunting including therarekaka,kakarikiand great varietyofindigenousforestbirds, southern rata,theforestishometoa the fewareasinregioncontaining and sub-alpinesphagnumbog.Oneof alpine tussocklands,wetturf beech, andvalleyfloorpodocarpforest, areas ofunmodifiedsilverbeech,red drinking water. Itcontainsextensive half oftheWellington urbanregion’s Collection Area(WC)suppliesnearly the T Hutt Riveratthesouthernendof Encompassing theheadwatersof Hutt Water Collection Areas Onoke

Spit

Road Karapoti ta Aka Pakuratahi rawa

Te Marua

Wairongomai ararua Ranges,theHuttWater Onoke Lake Forest Road Waiotauru Regional Tunnel Gully Kaitoke Kaitoke Road

Park Otaki

W e Rimutaka

s Rail Trail

Cape Palliser t

e Collection r n Hutt W

Pirinoa Road Park AORANGI FOREST Road Parera PARK (DoC) Lake Domain

Ruamahanga River TARARUA FORESTPARK Featherston FOREST HIWINUI (DoC) native weevil in the H the in weevil A native Annual expenditure: $6,000 • • • • • • (GW) 14 goats,11 deerandfourpigs A professional huntingoperationinMarch culled Hutt Forksarea of gorseinfestationsintheEasternHuttand road area. Theyalsocarriedoutfollow-upcontrol honeysuckle andlotusintheHuttForksaccess Parks’ pestplantteamcontrolled Himalayan of theseindicatortrees Rata photographyshowedimprovements inthehealth possum monitoringintheHuttcatchment This involvedcarryingoutbird, rodent, mustelidand control andmonitoringproject intheTararua Ranges. Project KakaTararua Forest Recovery, asignificantpest Department ofConservationofficerstoworkon Greater Wellington officersjoinedforces with 1080 operationwillhavesuppressed ratnumbers an increase inbird abundancenextyearasthe Bird numbersremained lowbutwehopetosee 1% afterthe1080operation the 1080operationwasat55%,whichthenfellto residual trapcatch(RTC). Rodenttracking before monitoring afterthe1080operationshoweda0% August intheHuttWater Collection Area. Possum A 1080possumcontrol operationwascompletedin White Rock Gorge Waiohine STONEY FOREST CREEK (GW) Greytown Martinborough BUSH TORA (DoC) Road Mt Holdsworth utt Water Collection A Collection Water utt Carterton Kiriwhakapapa Masterton rea MT BRUCE (DoC) ROCKY HILLS (DoC) REWA BUSH (DoC) Riversdale Castlepoint Otaki

MT BRUCE (DoC) N

Kiriwhakapapa

Kapiti Island Otaki Waikanae Forks

Paraparaumu TARARUA FOREST PARK

Akata (DoC) Mt Holdsworth Castlepoint rawa Road Raumati Queen Waiotauru Road Elizabeth MacKays Maungakotukutuku Masterton Park Crossing Paekakariki

Road WHAREROA FARM Hutt Water

d (DoC) AKATARAWA a Collection Area o FOREST

l i Waiohine

i Akatarawa Gorge

k Carterton i

k Forest

a Karapoti

k Kaitoke e Road REWA

a Whitireia Park P Bull Run Road Regional Pakuratahi BUSH Battle Hill Park (DoC) Mana Island (DoC) Marchant Road

Te Marua eport Farm Forest Bridge Road Rimutaka Titahi Bay Rail Trail Greytown Park Tulsa Park Onepoto Tunnel Gully Featherston Riversdale Belmont Rimutaka Porirua il Trig Track Cannons Regional a Tr R nnual CreekWainuiomata/OrongorongoDry Creek er COLONIAL Park iv Pakuratahi Takapu R Cross Creek Lake Domain KNOB Road Kaitangata t Upper Hutt Forest Hill Road Crescent t (DoC) Hu • Native snail surveying in the Wainuiomata Mainland Stratton Street Wairarapa Oakleigh Belmont Islandd resulted in the discovery of a new species, the oa Street R Moana Hutt Central e firstak ever recording of this species world-wide. It has Cornish L Wetlands rn Street Lower Hutt te ROCKY esbeen identified as one of the Allodiscus species.Martinborough These W Lake Park HILLS Hikoikoi Wainuiomata litterWairarapa dwelling snails feed on decaying plant and Park (DoC) Hill Road Wainuiomata/Orongorongo Parera animal materialRoad Lees Grove Water Collection Area Matiu/Somes Wairongomai A Parks egional

Island R Days Bay • North Island brown Ruamahangakiwi bred River in the Wainuiomata Wainuiomata Water Collection Area for the first time in over a Kowhai Street Burdans Gate Recreation century this year. A pair of kiwi from the recently re- Area Wellington East Harbour establishedBarrage populationPirinoa Road in the Rimutaka Forest Park Gates Regional RIMUTAKA laid two clutches of eggs inHIWINUI the catchment in late 2009. Park FOREST PARK FOREST Catchpool We have ensured that only kiwi-aversion trained dogs (DoC) Ocean (GW) Parangarahu Beach are used for hunting in this area and stoat traps are Lakes Area Lake being placed to assist the survival of the kiwi Onoke STONEY Coast Onoke TAUANUI Road Spit CREEK Baring • Total birdFOREST numbers in the Wainuiomata Mainland Island Head FOREST have increased(GW) significantly since 2008(GW) and bird numbers

continuePutangirua to be much higher in the intensively managed Palliser Bay Pinnacles mainland islandAORANGI than the nearby non-treatment area FOREST • New hinau fruitfallPARK plots have been established inside The lush native forests and clear (DoC) TORA and outside the Mainland Island to better BUSHreflect the rivers of the Wainuiomata and habitats within these areas. There was no hinau(DoC) fruit Orongorongo water collection areas damaged by possums but other damage to 2% of the were recognised early on for their fruit was recorded inside the Mainland Island (20% of water supply potential. In 1878 a dam the fruit was damaged outside the Mainland Island) was constructed and a pipeline laid to • An analysis of the condition of rata trees monitored in 0 5 Wellington.10 Today the20 Wainuiomata kilometres Water Treatment Plant supplies about the Wainuiomata Catchment showsWhite someRock improvement 20% of the water used by the four cities over time in the condition of these trees. Rata foliage is in the region. The forests in the Water veryCape palatablePalliser to possums Collection Area include superb rata • The 1080 operation planned for 2009/10 was postponed podocarp, sub-tropical emergent forest for at least a year as the current possum numbers are above a canopy of hinau, kamahi, rewa low (2% RTC) rewa and tree ferns. Some black beech is found on drier sites, and silver beech • The pest plant buddleia was intensively searched for on the high ridge-tops. and controlled within the Wainuiomata catchment by our pest plants team

• The annual hunting ballot had 74 entrants. The winners of the ballot culled five deer and four goats

• Professional hunting operations were carried out in October, January and June. A total of 22 goats, 59 pigs and 12 deer were culled. There is little sign of goats in the Wainuiomata Catchment. Most of the goats destroyed were found in the southern part of the Orongorongo Catchment

• We have continued to carry out intensive and comprehensive pest control within the Wainuiomata Mainland Island. 86 possums, 78 hedgehogs, 26 stoats, one weasel, four rabbits and one cat were trapped, while poisoning has kept rats and mice at low numbers

Professional hunting team goes to work 27 Otaki

MT BRUCE (DoC) N

Kiriwhakapapa

Kapiti Island Otaki Preparation for newWaikanae parks Forks Paraparaumu TARARUA FOREST PARK

Whitireia Park Akata (DoC) Mt Holdsworth Castlepoint rawa Road Raumati Queen Waiotauru • A majorRoad gorse fire broke out in the park in February Elizabeth MacKays Maungakotukutuku Masterton Park Crossing 2010. Over 60 hectares of the park was burnt Paekakariki

Road WHAREROA FARM• The OnehungaHutt BayWater Restoration Group has planted

d (DoC) AKATARAWA a Collection Area o FOREST

7,500 plants since the fire in two community planting

l i Waiohine

H Preparation for new parks parks new for Preparation

i Akatarawa Gorge

k Carterton i days, with over 80 people attending both days

k Forest

a Karapoti

k Kaitoke e Road REWA

a Whitireia Park P Bull Run Road • A sustainableRegional landPakuratahi use plan is currently being developed BUSH Battle Hill Park (DoC) (DoC) Marchant Road Mana Island withTe Maruainput from interest groups as well as iwi and relevant Farm Forest Bridge Road Rimutaka Titahi Bay public agenciesRail Trail Greytown Park Tulsa Park Onepoto Tunnel Gully Featherston Riversdale Belmont Annual expenditure:Rimutaka $38,000 Porirua il Trig Track Cannons Regional a Tr Creek Dry Creek er COLONIAL Park iv Pakuratahi Takapu R Cross Creek Lake Domain KNOB Road Kaitangata t Upper Hutt Forest Hill Road Crescent t (DoC) Hu Stratton Street Wairarapa Oakleigh Belmont d oa Street R Moana Hutt Central e ak Cornish L Wetlands rn Street Lower Hutt te ROCKY es Martinborough W Lake Park HILLS Hikoikoi Wainuiomata Wairarapa Park (DoC) Hill Road Wainuiomata/Orongorongo Parera Road Lees Grove Water Collection Area Matiu/Somes Wairongomai Island Days Bay Ruamahanga River Wainuiomata Kowhai Street Burdans Gate Recreation Area Wellington East Harbour Barrage Pirinoa Road Gates Regional RIMUTAKA HIWINUI Park FOREST PARK FOREST Catchpool (DoC) Ocean (GW) Parangarahu Beach Lakes Area Lake Onoke STONEY Coast Onoke TAUANUI Road Spit CREEK Baring FOREST Head FOREST (GW) (GW)

Putangirua Palliser Bay Pinnacles AORANGI FOREST PARK (DoC) TORA BUSH (DoC)

0 5 10 20 kilometres White Rock

Cape Palliser

Onehunga Bay after the fire in February 2010 Community planting day after the fire

28 Regional Sustainability Committee members

The Regional Sustainability Committee comprises eight members. Its membership for the year to 30 June 2010 was:

Chris Laidlaw (Chair) John Burke Alan McKenzie Appointee, representing the Paul Bruce (Deputy Chair) Barbara Donaldson Department of Conservation, Judith Aitken Rex Kirton with speaking rights only Sally Baber Fran Wilde Liz Mellish Appointee, representing the interests of the Iwi of the Wellington region

Parks management team

At 30 June 2010, the management team members of the Utilities and Services group with responsibilities for parks were:

Murray Kennedy (Group general manager)

Murray Waititi (Parks manager)

Amanda Cox (Marketing and Design manager)

Richard Waddy (Finance and Support manager)

Water, air, earth and energy – elements in Greater Wellington’s logo combine to create and sustain life. Greater Wellington promotes Quality for Life by ensuring your environment is protected while meeting the economic, cultural and social needs of the community

For more information, contact Greater Wellington: Wellington office Masterton office facebook.com/GreaterWellington PO Box 11646 PO Box 41 GW/PF-G-10/137 Manners Street Masterton 5840 October 2010 Wellington 6142 T 06 378 2484 twitter.com/greaterwgtn T 04 384 5708 F 06 378 2146 F 04 385 6960 www.gw.govt.nz