EPA Report: Verified

Source: Pestlink

Operational Report for Ship rat, Stoat Control in the Te

29 Sep 2014 - 23 Oct 2014 17/03/2015 Department of Conservation - Mawheranui Contents

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

1. Operation Summary

Operation Name Ship rat, Stoat Control in Te Maruia Operation Date 29 Sep 2014 - 23 Oct 2014 Greymouth - Office: Region: Northern and Western Mawheranui Pestlink Reference 1314GRY03 Treatment Area Size (ha) Te Maruia 78301.00 Conservation Unit Name(s) GA Id(s) Victoria Conservation Area 2793000 Lewis Pass Scenic Reserve 2799171 Lewis Pass National Reserve 2799172 Unnamed scenic reserve - Maruia Springs 2799174 Station Creek Ecological Area 2799322 Nelson Lakes National Park 2803471 Conservation Area - Granville Forest 2807465 Mount Harata Ecological Area 2807466 Conservation Area - Palmer Road 2807470 Conservation Area - Upper Grey River 2807474 Rahu Scenic Reserve 2807476 Scenic Reserve - Station Creek 2807912 Victoria Forest Park 2807926

Treatment Block Details Treatment Blocks Size (ha) Te Maruia North 42823.00 Te Maruia South 35478.00

Contractor Name Andersons & Central South Island Helicopters Treatment Dates Start Completion

Te Maruia North 29 Sep 2014 23 Oct 2014 Te Maruia South 29 Sep 2014 13 Oct 2014

Target Pest Details Target Treatment Blocks Control Method Name Pests

Te Maruia North Ship rat Pesticide Aerial Pesticide - Aerial in Te Maruia North-(1) Te Maruia South Ship rat, Pesticide Aerial Pesticide - Aerial in Te Maruia

Pestlink Ref: 1314GRY03 Page 2 of 13 Date Printed: 19 Mar 2015 Stoat South-(2)

Conservation Outcome(s) Maintain low rat densities throughout the operation area during a beech mast which saw rat density increase dramatically. This is to provide protection to vulnerable native bird and bat species during their breeding season, allowing them to successfully fledge their young. This operation is expected to control Possums as a by catch and will help maintain the already low possum densities protecting vulnerable plant species in the area. Result Target(s) Treatment Area/Block What we got • Maintain rat Te Maruia 41% RTI densities to < 5% tracking tunnel index during the native bird and bat breeding season. Maintain possum densities to < 5% RTCI.

Outcome Targets What we got • Maintain predator densities to levels that allow Not currently available long-tailed bat populations to stay stable or increase

• Maintain predator densities to levels that allow not yet available long-tailed bat populations to stay stable or increase

2. Introduction

2.1 TREATMENT AREA

Non-target species Common Name Scientific Name South Island Kaka, bush Nestor meridionalis parrot, brown parrot, kawkaw meridionalis Chalinolobus tuberculatus Long-tailed bat (South Island) (South Island) , Whio, mountain Hymenolaimus duck, blue mountain duck malacorhynchos Yellow-crowned Parakeet, Cyanoramphus auriceps Kakariki

Pestlink Ref: 1314GRY03 Page 3 of 13 Date Printed: 19 Mar 2015 Red-crowned Parakeet, red- Cyanoramphus headed parakeet, Kakariki, novaezelandiae kakariki, kaka-wairiki, novaezelandiae kawariki, porete, powha Mohua, , bush Mohoua ochrocephala canary, mohoua, houa South Island Robin, Toutouwai, kakaruai, Petroica australis australis kakariwai Petroica macrocephala

Bush falcon, Karearea Falco novaeseelandiae "bush"

Target benefit species Common Name Scientific Name Mohua, Yellowhead, bush Mohoua ochrocephala canary, mohoua, houa South Island Kaka, bush Nestor meridionalis parrot, brown parrot, kawkaw meridionalis Chalinolobus tuberculatus Long-tailed bat (South Island) (South Island)

Threatened species Common Name Scientific Name Blue duck, Whio, mountain Hymenolaimus duck, blue mountain duck malacorhynchos Chalinolobus tuberculatus Long-tailed bat (South Island) (South Island) South Island Kaka, bush Nestor meridionalis parrot, brown parrot, kawkaw meridionalis Mohua, Yellowhead, bush Mohoua ochrocephala canary, mohoua, houa Bush falcon, Karearea Falco novaeseelandiae "bush"

Kea Nestor notabilis

Geographical location The Te Maruia is situated 3 km South of . TREATMENT BLOCK DETAILS: Treatment block Te Maruia North Vegetation type Predominantly Red and Silver Beech forest. Bioclimatic zone sub-montane Climate characteristics: Rainfall 2439 mm Temperature: Average Summer 15.0 Average Winter 4.4

Snow level 1300 m

Pestlink Ref: 1314GRY03 Page 4 of 13 Date Printed: 19 Mar 2015 Altitude 470-1300 m Station creek provides access to private land located at the head of the catchment. Lake Daniell is regarded as an important self sustaining Rainbow Trout fishery by Nelson Marlborough Fish Community and Iwi and Game. The numerous old forestry roads in the Station Creek interests area are used by hunters. Tramping tracks within the operational area include Lake Daniell, Klondyke Trail, Lake Stream, Duffy Creek. Historic route used by Maori between the East Coast and West Historic sites Coast. Treatment block Te Maruia South Predominantly Red and Silver beech with sub-alpine vegetation Vegetation type above the bush line. Bioclimatic zone sub-montane Climate characteristics: Rainfall 2439 mm Temperature: Average Summer 15.0 Average Winter 4.4

Snow level 1300 m Altitude 470-1800 m Lake Christabel tramping track and Mount Haast and Rough Community and Iwi Creek tracks. Hunting, tramping and fishing are popular within interests the area. Historic sites -

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

3 Outcomes and Targets 3.1 CONSERVATION OUTCOMES Maintain low rat densities throughout the operation area during a beech mast which saw rat density increase dramatically. This is to provide protection to vulnerable native bird and bat species during their breeding season, allowing them to successfully fledge their young. This operation is expected to control Possums as a by catch and will help maintain the already low possum densities protecting vulnerable plant species in the area. 3.2 TARGETS 3.2.1 Result Targets The result targets for the treatment area were: • Maintain rat densities to < 5% tracking tunnel index during the native bird and bat

Pestlink Ref: 1314GRY03 Page 5 of 13 Date Printed: 19 Mar 2015 breeding season. Maintain possum densities to < 5% RTCI.

3.2.2 Outcome Targets The outcome targets for the treatment area were: • Maintain predator densities to levels that allow long-tailed bat populations to stay stable or increase

4 Consultation, Consents & Notifications 4.1 CONSULTATION Consultation commenced in May 2014 when all immediately adjacent landowners were consulted throughout operational planning and implementation period. With many absentee landowners face to face consultation impossible. Consultation was undertaken via mail or email as the landowner dictated. All mail sent through this period was tracked via registered mail. Many recipients could not be traced and the letters were returned to the Greymouth Office. Many recipients did not return their consultation record but evident that they had received the mail, having signed for it. All landowners, emergency services, concessionaires and interested parties were provided with information packs as well as those adjoining landowners. Schools known to frequent the treatment area received consultation packs also. These were predominantly in and Murchison, with Maruia school included.

Consultation outcomes There was a mixed reaction to the operation from fully supportive, opposed and those who supported the outcome targets but were opposed to the ongoing continued use of 1080 as a tool to achieve this. There was a vast number who would like to see funding increased to find alternatives. Lessons learned Nil 4.2 CONSENTS Consent Consent date File Reference Permission ID DOC 27/08/2012 NHT-02-16-79 dm-1041167 MOH - TM North 06/10/2014 NHT-02-17-01 dm-1493770 MOH TM South 06/10/2014 NHT-02-17-01 dm-1492425 Resource Consent -Tasman 06/08/2014 NHT-02-17-01 dm-1478435 Resource Consent - WCRC 13/08/2014 NHT-02-17-01 dm-1478424

Lessons learned MOH permissions need to be prepared and sent well in advance of the proposed application dates when there are multiple operations planned to occur on a national

Pestlink Ref: 1314GRY03 Page 6 of 13 Date Printed: 19 Mar 2015 scale, including TbFree operations.

4.3 NOTIFICATION In August 2014, the 2 week prior notification was posted to all land owners and affected parties immediately adjoining the treatment area. In addition, Emergency Services in Westport, Murchison and Reefton included police, fire, ambulance, veterinarian and hospitals and emergency centres also got the notification. A further 2 week notifications was completed as treatment was delayed and the previous notifications fell outside conditions of consents and permissions. Two week notifications were also sent to WCRC and Tasman District Council, as well as MOH for West Coast and Nelson - Marlborough as per permission expectations.

The original consultation list initially only saw communication with concessionaires that were grazing livestock. This was remedied prior to treatment to include all companies and individuals holding concessions for area that were within the treatment boundary. The notification of these parties was completed within the required timeframes of both resource consent and MOH conditions.

Public notice was placed in the following news papers on the 18/08/2014 and repeated 24/09/2014:- Greymouth Evening Star, The West Coast Messenger, and Nelson Mail.

24 Hour notification was given to all landowners and affected parties immediately adjoining the block as well as MOH as per conditions. On the day of actual treatment, local police in Reefton were notified in the event that issues arose that may have required their assistance.

Warning signs were in place 24 hours prior to the operation starting, with the exception of 1 sign in back country hut that could not be placed until bait application day due to low cloud obstructing flight capability [Top Waitahu Bivi]. This was not deemed an issue given the distance from the treatment boundary and the extremely low level of use of the bivi. Lessons learned Ensure all concession holders are identified at the start of planning and so notified, not just those that are grazing livestock.

5 Methods 5.1 TARGET SPECIES

Treatment Block Te Maruia North Control method Name Target pest species Pesticide - Aerial Pesticide - Aerial in Te Ship rat Maruia North-(1)

Pestlink Ref: 1314GRY03 Page 7 of 13 Date Printed: 19 Mar 2015 Target Pest Treatment Block Control Method Name Species Te Maruia North Pesticide - Aerial Pesticide - Aerial in Te Maruia Ship rat North-(1) Trade name of pesticide 0.15% 1080 Pellets RS5 Name of pesticide Sodium fluoroacetate Type of bait Cereal pellet Toxic loading 1.5 g/kg Bait quality sampling Conducted Bait Details Pre-feed Toxic

Bait type Cereal pellet Cereal pellet Lure/ mask/ deterrent Cinnamon Cinnamon Lure/ mask/ deterrent 0.30% 0.30% Dye None Green Individual Bait Weight 6.0g 6.0g

Sowing Rate Details Pre-feed Date Rate(kg/ha) Wind Speed Direction 29/09/2014 1.00 Light NW

Toxic Date Rate(kg/ha) Wind Speed Direction 23/10/2014 1.00 Light NW

Time between pre-feed and 24 toxic

End of Caution Period Date 05/03/2015 Aircraft type Hughes 500NT Iroquois Squirrel AS 350

Number of Aircraft 4 Sowing gear details Description Capacity Under slung spinner bucket 300 to 900 kg

Type of navigational guidance Tracmap

system used Loading Method Closed cab John Deere front loader into hoppers.

Complaints and Incidents An unauthorised person was observed on fringe of the Westbank site during loading operations. This person was approached and directed to move away. Discussion informed that he just had an interest in helicopters. No further issues occurred on-site.

Pestlink Ref: 1314GRY03 Page 8 of 13 Date Printed: 19 Mar 2015 Other Details about this method Nil Deviations from planned operation There were several points where helicopter swath lines crossed the planned treatment area in both North and South Te Maruia operations. These were still well within the boundaries delineated by the resource consent and the permissions from the MOH and DoC. The treatment boundary area was designed to be well away from the consented boundaries to ensure that if a minor over-flight occurred it did not threaten public health or safety and well away from public roads and major water bodies. In this instance the breaches were only a fraction of the swath width and were not notifiable to any of the consenting bodies. There were areas inside the treatment areas for both blocks that were not flown. Snow laden areas were excluded from treatment to minimise potential interaction with toxic baits and upper Lewis Pass area (Close to the Thermal Resort water catchment) strong wind conditions encountered by the helicopters sowing bait was curtailed to remove any likelihood of bait straying into the exclusion zone.

Lessons Learned -

Treatment Block Te Maruia South Control method Name Target pest species Pesticide - Aerial Pesticide - Aerial in Te Ship rat Maruia South-(2) Stoat

Target Treatment Block Control Method Name Pest Species Te Maruia South Pesticide - Aerial Pesticide - Aerial in Te Maruia Ship rat South-(2) Stoat Trade name of pesticide 0.15% 1080 Pellets RS5 Name of pesticide Sodium fluoroacetate Type of bait Cereal pellet Toxic loading 1.5 g/kg Bait quality sampling Conducted Bait Details Pre-feed Toxic

Bait type Cereal pellet Cereal pellet Lure/ mask/ deterrent Cinnamon Cinnamon Lure/ mask/ deterrent 0.30% 0.30% Dye None Green Individual Bait Weight 6.0g 6.0g

Pestlink Ref: 1314GRY03 Page 9 of 13 Date Printed: 19 Mar 2015 Sowing Rate Details Pre-feed Date Rate(kg/ha) Wind Speed Direction 29/09/2014 1.00 Light NW

Toxic Date Rate(kg/ha) Wind Speed Direction 13/10/2014 1.00 Moderate NW

Time between pre-feed and 14 toxic

End of Caution Period Date 05/03/2015 Aircraft type Hughes 500D or E Jet Ranger Squirrel AS 350

Number of Aircraft 4 Sowing gear details Description Capacity Under slung Buckets, capacity dictated by 300 to 900 kg helicopter lift capability

Type of navigational guidance Tracmap

system used Hiab into loading hopper then into helicopter Loading Method buckets. Also Nissan loader from hiab into heli

buckets.

Complaints and Incidents There were no reported incidents or issues related to the aerial distribution of baits. Other Details about this method Pilots were directed to not sow bait where there were white fields of snow where kea could be present. This occurred in several places. Deviations from planned operation See comments under deviations from planned operation under the Te Maruia North section (above). Lessons Learned Nil

5.2 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS 5.2.1 Effects on Non-Target Species The control of rats will reduce predation on native birds, bats invertebrates. It is also expected that the palatable plant species that possums feed on will greatly benefit from carrying out this operation. Many studies to determine the effects of aerial poisoning on native non-target populations have been carried out over the last 20 years. Some of these studies have indicated that Fernbird, Robin and Tomtit are at risk from poisoning from 1080 baits, either directly or through secondary poisoning from consuming invertebrates

Pestlink Ref: 1314GRY03 Page 10 of 13 Date Printed: 19 Mar 2015 that have eaten 1080 baits. However both Robins and were found to increase their nesting success to compensate in sites where the 1080 operation resulted in effective control of pests. Limited monitoring of native frogs, NZ falcon, Kakariki, short tailed bats and Australasian harriers do not indicate any detectable mortality due to aerial poisoning. Aquatic species are not considered to be at risk from 1080 poisoning operations because: 1080 water contamination is rarely found and extremely low level when it has occurred. Fish appear very tolerant of 1080, eels have survived experimental feeding of cereal pellets and possum tissue containing 1080. Performance standard(s) Followed ? Monitored ? Casual Observation when checking boundaries and Yes Yes tracks

Effectiveness of performance standards All performance standards met

Bykill of non-target species There were no reported incidents of by-kill for either treatment area. 5.2.2 Effects on Soil and Water Quality Effects on Soil and Water Quality Not Applicable 5.2.3 Effects on Ecosystems Effects on Ecosystems Not Applicable 5.2.4 Effects on Human Health Effects on Human Health Not Applicable

6 Monitoring Results and Outcomes 6.1 RESULT MONITORING - TARGET SPECIES Result target(s) Maintain rat densities to < 5% tracking tunnel index during the native bird and bat breeding season. Maintain possum densities to < 5% RTCI.

6.1.1 Target Species Monitoring Tracking tunnels Method: Species monitored Ship rat - Rattus rattus in Te Maruia Monitor method details Inked tracking cards in 250 tunnels. Lines also monitored outside of the treatment area. Only 17 lines from treatment area monitored in August.

Deviations Nil Target pest result details Pre During/Post

Monitoring dates 21 August 2014 13 November 2014

Pestlink Ref: 1314GRY03 Page 11 of 13 Date Printed: 19 Mar 2015 Results 67% RTI 41% RTI

Result target met? No Lessons Learned

N il 6 .2 RESULT MONITORING - ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS 6.2.1 Non Target Species Monitoring of: Any non target species - native and exotic

Monitor Method details Staff observation and public notification.

Deviations nil Monitoring dates October 2014 Results No reported non target deaths Lessons Learned Nil

6.2.2 Soil and Water Quality No monitoring of soil and water quality was undertaken. 6.2.3 Ecosystems No monitoring of ecosystems was undertaken. 6.2.4 Human Health No monitoring of human health was undertaken.

6.3 OUTCOME MONITORING Outcome targets Maintain predator densities to levels that allow long-tailed bat populations to stay stable or increase

6.3.1 Outcome monitoring : Blue duck, Whio, mountain duck, blue mountain duck - Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos Bush falcon, Karearea - Falco novaeseelandiae "bush" Kea - Nestor notabilis Mohua, Yellowhead, bush canary, mohoua, houa - Mohoua ochrocephala South Island Kaka, bush parrot, brown parrot, kawkaw - Nestor meridionalis meridionalis South Island Robin, Toutouwai, kakaruai, kakariwai - Petroica australis australis Tomtit - Petroica macrocephala Yellow-crowned Parakeet, Kakariki - Cyanoramphus auriceps Monitoring Method(s) 5 minute bird count Monitoring information due date November 2016 Monitoring contact name DOC,

Pestlink Ref: 1314GRY03 Page 12 of 13 Date Printed: 19 Mar 2015 Method details Five minute bird count Monitoring dates November 2014 Outcome Results Not currently available Outcome target met? Monitoring ongoing Lessons Learned Yet to be notified if applicable 6.3.2 Outcome monitoring : Long-tailed bat (South Island) - Chalinolobus tuberculatus (South Island) Monitoring Method(s) Mark-recapture Monitoring information due date January 2016 Monitoring contact name DOC, Nelson Marlborough Method details Following standard protocol for harp net trapping of long tailed bats Monitoring dates January 2015 Outcome Results Not yet available Outcome target met? Monitoring ongoing

Lessons Learned Yet to be notified if applicable

Pestlink Ref: 1314GRY03 Page 13 of 13 Date Printed: 19 Mar 2015