Biodiversity

1 Biodiversity Protection Programme

1.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress

Reporting Period Target Measure YTD % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Actual *1 New high priority wetlands under active 0 0 0 0 3 0% management *2 New high priority wetlands under partial 0 0 0 0 NA NA management New high priority bush remnants under 0 0 0 0 6 0% active management *2 New high priority bush remnants under 0 0 0 0 NA NA partial management Environmental Grants supported *2 3 7 10 25 40% Environmental Grants completed (paid out) 0 2 2 25 8%

1.2 Targets - Life to Date Progress

Reporting Period LTD LTD Measure % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Actual Target Total high priority wetlands under active 0 0 0 56 59*3 95% management *2 Total high priority wetlands under partial 0 0 0 24 NA NA management Total high priority bush remnants under 0 0 0 110 118*3 93% active management *2 Total high priority bush remnants under 0 0 0 28 NA NA partial management *1 Annual target *2 AP/LTP targets *3 Life to date target

1.3 Activity Report

General:

1.3.1 During this reporting period staff inspected more actively and partially managed bush and wetland sites to check fencelines and ascertain the requirements for pest plant control this season. Some of these sites were treated for pest plants. REAs (Rapid Ecological Assessments) were completed on several bush remnants and a wetland. The wetland and most of the bush remnants will eventually be added to the list of managed sites. There are enough sites poised to enter the managed lists to meet the annual targets.

Community/private biodiversity:

1.3.3 Ten biodiversity-related Environmental Grant and Biodiversity Support applications have been approved so far this year. Two have been claimed on.

High priority wetlands:

1.3.4 No new high priority wetlands were added to the managed list during this period. The total number of high priority wetlands under active management is 56 and the number of sites under partial management is 24.

High priority bush remnants:

1.3.5 No new bush remnants were added to the list of actively managed sites during this period. The total number of high priority bush remnants under active management is 110 and the number of sites under partial management is 28.

Aaron Madden ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR – BIODIVERSITY

Bill Martyn MANAGER – BIOSECURITY & BIODIVERSITY

2 Community Biodiversity

2.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress (% complete)

Reporting Period YTD Measure Target 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Actual Totara Reserve Regional Park Totara Reserve Regional Park (Manawatu) 10% 20% 25% 55% 100%

Collaboration Projects ( and 5% 20% 30% 55% 100% Tararua) Pukaha/Mt Bruce (Tararua) 15% 15% 20% 50% 100% Kia Wharite (Ruapehu) 15% 15% 25% 55% 100% Save Our River Trust (Horowhenua) 5% 20% 25% 50% 100% (Horowhenua) 5% 20% 20% 45% 100%

Community Projects (10 supported)

Massey Hill (Palmerston North) 0% 20% 40% 60% 100% PN Weedbusters (Palmerston North and 5% 10% 50% 65% 100% Manawatu) Rangitikei Environment Group (Rangitikei) 5% 15% 35% 55% 100% (Horowhenua) 5% 10% 55% 70% 100% Bushy Park (Whanganui) 0% 20% 30% 50% 100% Tawata Mainland Island (Ruapehu) 10% 20% 25% 55% 100% Kitchener Park/Awahuri Forest (Manawatu) 10% 20% 20% 50% 100% Moawhango Community Project (Rangitikei) 0% 30% 20% 50% 100% Reserve (Palmerston North ) 10% 20% 20% 50% 100% Te Potae o Awarua (Rangitikei) 0% 25% 40% 65% 100% Lower Kahuterawa Stream (Palmerston 10% 15% 20% 45% 100% North )

New community projects supported as resources permit

Gate Pa Bush Restoration (Manawatu) 0% 20% 20% 40% 100% Ohau Beach Walkway (Horowhenua) 0% 15% 20% 35% 100% Friends of Waitoetoe Park (Palmerston 0% 30% 20% 50% 100% North)

2.2 Activity Report (Community Projects)

2.2.1 A lot of these projects have a large weed control component and the excellent summer weather has been very welcome.

Waitarere Beach (Horowhenua):

2.2.2 Most of this season’s weed control work on the dunes has been completed. Planning is underway for a winter planting of the spinifex that has been grown at School.

Rangitikei Environment Group (REG – Rangitikei):

2.2.3 Roadside programme is near completion. Rangitikei District Council has increased its annual contribution to $20,000 and has employed a Parks and Reserves Manager. Both of these actions should speed up progress on the reserves and roadsides.

Weedbusters (Palmerston North and Manawatu):

2.2.4 Weedbusters is progressing well in the Palmerston North and Feilding areas with 320 sites revisited. The majority of old sites are clean and the others have been re-treated.

Massey Hill (Palmerston North):

2.2.5 This site is looking good following a recent sweep for weeds.

Aaron Madden ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR – BIODIVERSITY

Bill Martyn MANAGER – BIOSECURITY & BIODIVERSITY

3 Collaboration Projects – Horizons / DOC

3.1 Activity Report (Collaboration projects)

Kia Wharite (Ruapehu/ Whanganui):

3.1.1 Four out of five whio surveys for the season have been completed; a good number of pairs have been seen on both rivers. It looks like we are on track for a good fledging rate with a large proportion of the chicks we have seen over the surveys reaching fledging class. Results will be reported at the conclusion of the survey season.

3.1.2 Stoat and cat trap catch data at the Whio Security Site is now recorded using a smartphone app called ‘Walk the Line’. This app replaces the use of trimbles to record data and has the advantage of being available for community groups undertaking predator control.

3.1.3 Final post-operational 1080 monitoring using tracking tunnels is scheduled for March. Results will be reported after the March monitoring period.

3.1.4 Annual summer weed control on the Whanganui River trench began over December, predominantly targeting tutsan, Japanese walnut, wattle, pampus and African feather grass. Of note was a higher occurrence of tutsan and African feather grass than previous years, and a good kill has been achieved on these species. Further spraying in the river trench is scheduled for February.

3.1.5 The Tutsan Action Group (TAG) has been granted permission to release two species of biological control agents in the Taumarunui area. This tool has the potential to assist our future control efforts.

3.1.6 Wanganui Aeroworks has been awarded a contract to undertake aerial spraying of Himalayan and Japanese honeysuckle in the Mangapurua Valley this summer and a contracted team will also be undertaking ground control in the area.

3.1.7 Goat control of the 16,817ha Matemateāonga block of the Whanganui National Park commenced in November. The majority of this work is completed and 1,894 hours of goat hunting has been carried out, with 750 kills averaging 2.5 hours per kill as at January 19 2016. Hunters have been audited throughout the period by Department of Conservation (DOC) staff. Hunters are recording their distance covered each day using track logs, as well as that of their dogs; this ensures accurate mapping of the areas hunted. The hunters have also been contracted to undertake minor track, hut and helipad maintenance in the area.

3.1.8 We are experiencing a bumper season on the Whanganui Journey with evidence that visitor numbers have increased from previous seasons. This is a significant achievement given the damage sustained to infrastructure last year through the June flooding. High visitor numbers means greater exposure to the Kia Whārite project area.

3.1.9 We have commenced conversations to seek funding for additional biodiversity work through the Air NZ Biodiversity Fund. This fund currently assists on-ground biodiversity projects alongside four Great Walks.

3.1.10 A proposal has been prepared to host a group of Air NZ executives on the Whanganui Journey as part of a series of Great Walk familiarisation trips. We see this as a great chance to display the work undertaken in the Kia Whārite partnership; confirmation of this trip is pending.

3.1.11 DOC will be supporting Horizons staff in coming months with the Councillors’ visit and potentially Ministers attending. 3.1.12 The traps in the Retaruke catchment were serviced five times over the reporting period, with 31 stoats, 10 weasels and 261 rats destroyed. The 350 traps in the Aramahoe Reserve have been serviced twice with 9 stoats, 37 weasels and 125 rats caught.

3.1.13 A new project area has been established in Ohorea Bush, a 340 hectare bush block on Ohorea Station 10km south of Raetihi. This new initiative is a partnership between Horizons, Atihau Whanganui Incorporated and Ngā Whenua Rāhui, and is aimed at protecting populations of brown kiwi that live in the area. A network of DOC 250 traps have been established and will be serviced on a four-weekly rotation. Ngā Whenua Rāhui manages a very successful goat culling programme throughout the area and on surrounding farmland, which has resulted in low goat populations. Atihau Whanganui Incorporated has arranged a contractor to open some of the old logging tracks and repair crossings to allow better quad access for trap servicing and other pest control activities.

3.1.14 Over the coming months we plan to establish a network of bait stations throughout the Ohorea Bush area for possum control and also arrange to have some vegetation monitoring plots established.

DOC Community Fund Updates in Whanganui area

3.1.15 DOC Community Fund recipients Castlecliff Coastcare and Bushy Park Trust have worked with local DOC staff to prepare monitoring and reporting frameworks. Bushy Park Trust has received its first grant payment while Castlecliff Coastcare is awaiting signoff from DOC.

3.1.16 Total funding for Bushy Park is $146,100 over two years and for Castlecliff Coastcare it is $15,000 over three years.

Coastal Reserves in Whanganui

3.1.17 Strategic marram grass control is being undertaken along dune slacks at the high value Tapuarau Reserve to promote the natural movement of sand and the preservation of ephemeral wetland habitat; marram grass threatens this habitat by stabilising dune systems.

3.1.18 The Nationally Critical Pimelia actea was planted at five sites during spring in the Tapuarau wetland habitat through the DOC threatened plant programme.

Ohakune

3.1.19 Visitor numbers to DOC-managed sites have been strong over the summer. An update on numbers will be provided to the meeting.

Pyp grass and white bryony in Rangitikei

3.1.20 The MPI-led National Interest Pest Responses (NIPR) aim to eradicate selected established pests from . The pests on the list are selected for national response because of their potential to have a significant impact on our economic, environmental, social and cultural values.

3.1.21 DOC undertakes work for MPI in the Rangitikei on two of the plant pests – pyp grass and white bryony. Both work programmes are proceeding well. A summer team has been undertaking work on white bryony and is on schedule to complete its programmed eradication work. Most plants the team is coming across are younger plants. Two rounds of searches for pyp grass have occurred with none found. Two full rounds and a full compartment search will occur before the end of the financial year.

Old man’s beard (OMB) Rangitikei

3.1.22 Horizons and DOC continue to work well to co-ordinate agencies efforts targeted at OMB in the Rangitikei District and restrict it from entering Ruahine Forest Park. Support is also being provided to the Rangitikei Environment Group (REG) as it works through the additional funding provided through the DOC Community Fund, and the increased engagement from landowners.

Whio protection – Ruahine Ranges

3.1.23 Ruahine Whio Protection Trust and Aorangi Awarua Trust have both undertaken additional work as a result of funding and support from DOC, Horizons and others. Another volunteer trapping line is scheduled to be placed in the eastern side of the range in February. The re- population of whio in the range contributes to overall efforts and messages regarding the health of rivers in the region, particularly in the Catchment. He Tini Awa has previously provided funding for whio programmes.

Manawatu Estuary

3.1.24 Horizons and DOC funding has enabled work on the new $179,000 culvert at Whitebait Creek, , to commence. The current culvert under Seabury Avenue poses a significant migration hurdle to whitebait. The site of the culvert is significant as it is just outside the Ramsar area and the creek goes through to significant wetland areas in the Horowhenua.

3.1.25 Work on spartina has continued as part of the weed plan for Manawatu Estuary created last year. Volunteer uptake for certain parts has not been as high as expected. We will be reviewing our approach.

3.1.26 Horizons is extending the mustelid trap network by installing 40 more traps around the Foxton Beach township. Foxton Beach School students have created artwork for every trap and a small sign, including two students’ names, will be placed at every trap site in the hope that it will reduce vandalism. Horizons staff will train 30 keen locals who have volunteered to carry out daily checks on every trap.

Totara Reserve

3.1.27 Work on Phase 1 of the Fern Walk upgrade was completed before Christmas. The highlight is 700 metres of new track that means walkers no longer have to share the track with the neighbouring farm or even leave the forest.

3.1.28 Phase 2 of the upgrade is the installation of two pedestrian bridges and a number of boardwalks. Both of the bridges required building consents and one – to be placed within the road reserve adjacent to a road bridge – required approval from Manawatu District Council. All approvals have been given and tender documents for this phase will be out soon.

3.1.29 The playground replacement is another step closer thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Mainland Foundation. This adds to the $20,000 grant from Eastern and Central Community Trust. We have had a rejection from the Harcourts Foundation but are waiting to hear from five other potential funders.

3.1.30 With all the fine, settled weather we have enjoyed this summer the campgrounds have been popular. Numbers will be confirmed in the next report.

Te Apiti Manawatu Gorge

3.1.31 The first on-the-ground weed work on old man’s beard commenced in January, following a number of years of aerial spraying. Work is scheduled to be completed for the season by early March. The focus of the ground work is the core part of the southern side of the Manawatu Gorge Scenic Reserve adjacent to the walking track and on the top terraces. This work should reduce seeding of old man’s beard over this part of the reserve which is also the least modified part of the reserve.

3.1.32 Volunteer pest control for stoats has continued and two bait-fills for rats and possums will occur prior to the end of the financial year.

3.1.33 Indicators are that visitor numbers have been very strong over the summer. Data is scheduled to be downloaded in late February.

Pukaha

3.1.34 Trapping for ferrets, stoats and weasels continues on a four-weekly rotation. Bait is being adjusted in mid-February in response to the expected spike in mustelid population as juveniles leave the nest. The December 2015 mustelid monitor provided a 0% track rate for mustelids (relative abundance). Trapping in the buffer has been proceeding well and contributing to the low tracking rate within the Pukaha Reserve.

3.1.35 Catch tally from 1 November 2015 to 31 January 2016:

Organization Ferrets Stoat Weasels Cats Rats Hedgehogs Others Horizons RC 8 2 57 49 32

3.1.36 The new innovative chimney houses for catching cats (Timms traps) are in place and ‘weathering in’ (an expression used for describing the process of the trap gaining a neutral scent in the field). These traps continue to be checked as part of our monthly trapping schedule.

3.1.37 Kiwi species management is proceeding well with eggs hatching in December in January and a number of health checks carried out on adult kiwi.

3.1.38 Kokako surveys have been undertaken over summer as weather has allowed, in order to gather new recordings to support understanding of population size.

3.1.39 DOC Community Fund has contributed funding for Pukaha to hold a BioBlitz (biodiversity inventory) on 26-27 February. This event has the dual purpose of gathering experts in order to increase understanding of the biodiversity at the site and engaging the general public in discovering its values. The findings will contribute to future management plans.

3.1.40 The visitor centre has had a strong summer visitor period and good progress is being made on the new walkthrough aviary.

Conservation Management Strategy (CMS)

3.1.41 The Wellington Conservation Board is scheduled to consider a new format for the Conservation Management Strategy at its meeting on 20 February. An updated timeframe will be advised at the meeting.

DOC change

3.1.42 DOC has completed the roll-out of the revised structure in the Lower North Island. As part of the roll-out the Director General is strongly encouraging DOC staff to be focused on how DOC does and can contribute to the social, economic and cultural health of the New Zealand success story.

Bill Martyn ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER – BIOSECURITY & BIODIVERSITY

Allanah Irvine DOC Partnerships Manager (Acting) – Palmerston North

Biosecurity Activity (Animals)

4 Possums (Possum Control Operations - PCOs)

4.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress

Reporting Period YTD Measure Target % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Actual Maintenance PCOs (by 3 6 15 24 69 35% count) Initial operational areas (by - - 2 2 15 13% count) Overall programme control 3 6 17 26 84 31% (by count) Control maintenance 157,938 75,620 147,567 381,125 725,687 53% operational areas (by area) Control initial operational 138,192 0 8,407 39,386 47,793 35% areas (by area) *1 116,000*1 Overall programme control 157,938 84,027 186,953 428,918 863,879 49.6% (by area) *1 AP/LTP targets

4.2 Activity Report

4.2.1 Good progress continues to be made in the 2015-16 PCO operational work, with just under half of the overall programme completed. Fifteen maintenance operations and two initial jobs have been completed, with work underway on a further 27 programmes. All operational work is on schedule to be completed by the end of the financial year.

4.2.2 Landowner cooperation continues to be good with no major issues over the reporting period. All service providers are supplying GPS data and post-operational reports to the required standards.

4.2.3 TBfree NZ has provided us with ‘draft’ information of the areas that it is likely to be provisionally ceasing over the next five years. Approximately 26 operational areas totalling 291,000 hectares of rateable land have been identified for cessation. Most of these operational areas are located in the Ruapehu District with the balance in the Whanganui and Rangitikei districts. With these operations included, the PCO area will total approximately 1,550,000 hectares, which is 389,000 hectares greater than estimated in the 2006-07 implementation plan.

4.2.4 TBfree NZ has indicated that a final decision on cessation will be made in February.

Eric Dodd ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME COORDINATOR (ANIMALS)

Map 1: 2015-16 PCO (Year 10)

5 Rooks

5.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress

Reporting Period YTD Target % Measure Actual 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th a. Existing rook colonies (rookeries) 84 69 - 69 Record 0% b. New sites - - - - Record 0% Total rook colonies (rookeries) (a + b) 84 69 - 69 Record 0% Aerially treated rookeries *1 0 67 - 69 100% 97% Ground based rook control operations 0 0 2 2 -

Report ground control efficacy (% NA - 90% 90% 90% estimated kill) Contract Ensure all contractual obligations are signed completed before annual rook control Yes - - Yes 100% with aerial programme begins provider *1 AP/LTP targets

5.2 Activity Report

5.2.1 Following reports of rook damage to recently established winter feed crops, Regional Response staff investigated and initiated ground control on three properties in the Ohakune and Waiouru areas.

5.2.2 At two of the sites the rooks took the pre-feed bait readily and the toxic application was successfully completed. At the other site, the rooks appeared to have been upset by a helicopter that was working in the area and didn’t return to the crop so the poison operation was aborted. The landowner was advised and agreed to let us know if the birds returned.

5.2.3 Subsequent ground inspections of the two areas that were treated indicated a good kill with no live rooks observed and a number of dead birds found under nearby plantations.

Eric Dodd ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME COORDINATOR (ANIMALS)

Map 2: Rook distribution post control November 2015

6 Amenity Pests

6.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress

Reporting Period YTD Measure Target % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Actual Manage and record all amenity pest enquiries using Frontline corporate 88 164 203 455 Record 100% database *1 Respond to all enquiries within 48 hours of 88 164 203 455 100% 100% receipt *1 Close out or action all enquiries within 88 164 203 455 100% 100% 5 working days of receipt Report on all amenity pest enquiries Reported below *1 AP/LTP targets

6.2 Activity Report

6.2.1 A total of 203 enquiries were received during the reporting period.

6.2.2 The highest percentage of enquiries were from landowners in the Manawatu District, followed by Palmerston North City and the Whanganui and Tararua districts.

6.2.3 All landowners making enquiries were contacted / visited within the prescribed timeframes and provided with advice, equipment (traps etc) or small amounts of toxins to help them deal with their particular pest issue.

Pest Animal Enquiry Summary by Pest Type for Period November 2015 - January 2016 70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0 Possums Mustelid Magpie Rabbit Rook Cat All Other This Year 63 43 9 50 4 13 21 Last Year 42 29 16 53 13 16 11

Graph 1: Pest Animal Enquiry Summary – by Pest Type for Period July 2015 - August 2015 60

50

40

30

20

10

0 Palmerston Manawatu Tararua Rangitikei Wanganui Ruapehu Horowhenua North District 55 40 20 18 37 8 25

Graph 2: Pest Animal Enquiry Summary – by District

Photo 1: Possum caught in a live capture trap. (R Wilman)

Eric Dodd ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME COORDINATOR (ANIMALS) 7 Monitoring

7.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress

Reporting Period YTD Measure Target % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Actual Monitor agreed sample of ex-TBfree 0 0 2 2 5 40% PCOs Monitor agreed sample of new (initial) 0 0 5 5 14 36% PCOs RTC of sampled ex-TBfree PCOs *1 - - 2.5% - <5% RTC of sampled maintenance PCOs - - 5.9% - <10% *1 *1 AP/LTP targets

7.2 Activity Report

7.2.1 Seven monitors were completed over the reporting period.

7.2.2 Six of the seven monitors met the predetermined targets, the exception being the Cheltenham PCO which returned a slightly higher result (a 10.8% Residual Trap Catch Index (RTCi) against a 10% target). Control will be intensified in the areas where higher possum populations were identified.

7.2.3 The last of these years’ monitor designs (nine in total) have been completed and we are in the process of tendering these jobs.

Monitor results for the life of the Possum Control Operation Average RTC results (June 2006 to January 2016) Ex-TBfree operations 5% target Initial operations 10% target 2.22% average (35 monitors) 4.38% average (48 monitors) Overall average 3.47% (83 monitors)

Eric Dodd ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME COORDINATOR (ANIMALS)

Map 3: 2015-16 PCO monitoring map.

7.3 Biosecurity Activity (Animals) Summary

Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date . 2015-16 operational work has commenced Operational implementation . Tender process has been completed. . MOH permits obtained for 2015-16 Possum Control Success indicators Operation . Seven monitors completed

. Eleven post-operational reports have been received Data management . GPS data uploaded into the GIS database Aerial nest baiting . The 2015-16 aerial programme has been completed. . Two ground operations have been successfully Rook Management Ground control completed. Rook database . Reviewed and updated . Frontline database reviewed daily Respond to . Individual enquiries actioned enquiries/complaints within agreed timeframes. . Database updated regularly . Environment Committee Report

Assist landowners with . Ongoing – advice provided as appropriate advice on appropriate pest . Loan trap and other equipment supplied Amenity Pest control techniques. Programme Initiate appropriate enforcement action against . No action required to date land occupiers who do not comply with strategy rules. Ensure that information on control methods for amenity . Ongoing (updated as required) pests is available on Horizons’ website. . The 2015-16 monitoring plan has been completed Possum Control Operation . Seven of nineteen monitors have been completed. Animal Pest Monitoring RPAMS (Regional Pest Programme . Rabbit night count prep work underway (monitors will Animal Management be undertaken in April-May 2016). Strategy) Monitoring Report

Biosecurity Activity (Plants)

8 Zero Density/Containment Species

8.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress

Reporting Period YTD Measure % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Actual Survey & record status of all known and new 3,680 - - 3,680 - Zero Density & Containment species New sites 0 - - 0 - Total sites 3,680 - - 3,680 - Zero Density progress (cumulative sites at zero 2,255 - - 2,255 61% density)

8.2 Activity Report

8.2.1 Species worked on during this period include banana passionfruit, blue passionflower, Chilean rhubarb, Darwin’s barberry, Japanese knotweed, mothplant, old man’s beard, Pinus contorta, and purple loosestrife.

8.2.2 Purple loosestrife control around Lake Horowhenua has started and most areas have been treated, with work progressing down the Hokio Stream. The Wanganui site at Virginia Lake is now managed by Whanganui District Council contractors as it is at sufficiently low levels to be handed back.

8.2.3 Knotweed at Ongarue has been treated. This is an ongoing site. Although it is nowhere near as large as when first discovered, the plant is very persistent and we are constrained in the chemical options due to the site being within the town and adjacent to a stream.

8.2.4 Pinus contorta has been targeted in a number of joint programmes on the central plateau. Staff are engaging with KiwiRail, Rangitikei District Council, Hawkes Bay Regional Council, Oruamatua Kaimanawa 1V trust and the Department of Conservation to either highlight work, facilitate work to happen or undertake work in a joint programme.

8.2.5 With a change of staff member covering the Pohangina valley the officer now looking after the area visited most land owners in the old man’s beard (OMB) control area to sign them up for an aerial control operation. We had a very good response with land owners interested in what was happening and all very happy to see the officer and to get the chance to talk about weeds. We had no opposition to the programme. We flew the aerial on 14 January. GoPro video of the event was edited by the Communications team and uploaded to the Stuff.co.nz website 2on January 29 as part of an article about why we control OMB. http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/76243803/horizons-uses-helicopter- spraying-to-address-old-mans-beard 8.2.6 OMB is also being controlled across the rest of the region with historic sites showing good control and numbers of plants reducing; however, new sites continue to be found.

8.2.7 During the OMB Pohangina signups our staff member came across some massive Chilean rhubarb plants at the end of Norsewood Road, adjoining the ranges on Jock Beilski’s property. The garden site was massive, and in keeping with the invasive potential of Chilean rhubarb (Gunnera tinctoria), it had also spread behind a woolshed, down the track and down a bush gully. There were two massive clumps in the gully with dozens of seedlings.

Photo 2: Large Chilean rhubarb taking off from garden site, (J.Keast).

8.2.8 A large block of Chilean rhubarb in the Tararua District was split between staff and contractors to best reflect the type of work required. The map shows the work done in the Kaitawa area.

Map 4: Map showing all control on Beeches and Knox estate

Craig Davey ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR – PLANTS

9 Production Species

9.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress

Reporting Period YTD Measure Target % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Actual Record and treat all known & newly 528 - - 528 NA NA discovered Zero Density species New sites 0 - - 0 NA NA Site total 528 - - 528 NA NA Progress toward Zero Density target 315 - - 315 - 60%

9.2 Activity Report

9.2.1 Complaints or enquiries were received about blackberry, broom and gorse. Species worked on during this period include African feather grass, Chinese pennisetum, and woolly nightshade.

9.2.2 Staff dealt with a number of complaints during the period. We issued a number of Request to Clears (RTC) and three Notice of Directions (NOD).. Issues were mostly between private occupiers but one concerned roads in the Tararua District, the rail corridor and gorse invading river flats during high water from an upstream source/s; this issue is still open as we try to find a workable resolution.

9.2.3 Chinese pennisetum sites were inspected in the Whanganui River corridor during January. This persistent grass weed of pasture has long been under management programmes across two farms at Koroniti. Spread is thankfully limited at this stage but as land use changes and many of the harder farm blocks are left to revert through either managed retirement of transferring from stock to honey, the focus of control and containment needs to be maintained.

9.2.4 African feather grass is another of the threat species to production land for which we manage the control. We have sites in the Tararua, Horowhenua, Wanganui, Ruapehu and Rangitikei districts. All sites are persistent and require annual treatment to keep on top of seedling recruitment. Sites include farmland, forestry, roadside and riverside sites. The Department of Conservation manages sites in the Whanganui National Park and elsewhere Horizons staff and contractors keep the plant at low levels.

Photo 3: African feather grass at Browns beach. Plants are starting to flower at this time of the year, (J.Keast).

Craig Davey ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR

10 Biological Control

10.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress

Reporting Period Measure YTD Actual 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Monitor and report on bio agent release sites 0 3 12 15 - sites inspected Monitor and report on bio agent release sites 0 - 13 13 - new releases/transfers

10.2 Activity Report

Tutsan

10.2.1 The Tutsan Action Group (TAG) held a meeting on December 8 to discuss its application to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for release of two insects in spring 2016. We have now finalised the EPA application and have officially submitted it to EPA. This application is now open to the public, along with DOC, Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) and Maori, for comment. We expect a decision by the end of June 2016 and will know if a public hearing is required by March 2016. We don’t expect any opposition to the application at this time.

10.2.2 Landcare Research identified several potential control agents that could work together for control of tutsan. The application proposes the introduction of two agents, the tutsan moth (Lathronympha strigana) and the tutsan leaf beetle (Chrysolina abchasica). The larvae of the tutsan moth feed on the leaves and stems of the plant in spring, but inhabit the fruits of tutsan when these become available, consuming the seeds inside. The leaf beetle larvae browse on the leaves, in sufficiently large numbers to cause defoliation.

10.2.3 Both insects are being reared inside the containment facility at Lincoln University and there are good numbers of beetles. Landcare is slowly building the numbers of moths ready for release permission to be given next year.

Tradescantia

10.2.4 Staff checked the Landcare Research site of tradescantia leaf beetles twice with Paul Peterson. The first time we collected adults and released them in Palmerston North, and the second time we collected larvae and took them to Whanganui. Five hundred larvae from the Massey field trial site were released at the Quaker settlement on Virginia Rd, Whanganui. This is a significant moment in the tradescantia biological control journey as these two sites are the first to be populated from an existing local nursery site. In response to some publicity, we have a long list of people wishing to receive these agents. The two sites we chose first were with people who had been keen for a long time and had suitably safe and secure locations.

Photo 4: Whanganui Quaker settlement resident Lyneke Onderwater at release site of tradescantia leaf beetle larva. (R.Sicely)

Various

10.2.5 Staff released broom gall mite across the region at 10 sites within the rail corridor. This is part of the joint programme with KiwiRail, which has been sponsoring broom gall mite releases and the Tutsan Action Group (TAG) for the last two years.

10.2.6 The well established green thistle beetle site in the Pohangina Valley was inspected in December. Numbers were low and populations scattered, making harvest unprofitable. We will look again when the insects are likely to be ready in early February. This is also a popular agent following recent publicity about its potential and a programme of extension run through AgResearch, Palmerston North.

10.2.7 Late last year we assisted a Landcare Research scientist to survey a 2004 release site of the old man’s beard sawfly which had long been presumed to have failed to establish. The survey was part of a national survey of historic release sites to relook at the establishment of this agent and whether we should try to once again bring it to New Zealand for another attempt to reduce old man’s beard. Nothing was found, which is what was expected. However, in early January we received exciting news from Landcare Research. The scientists were amazed to find four sawfly larvae and one adult at the Clover Rd West release site, Nelson, where they were released 13 years ago. The site had not been checked since 2006. This news means the sawflies have established after all, but are still incredibly rare. It is suspected that wasps are probably hammering them there, plus the site has been heavily modified with major efforts to restore it in natives. The next steps are to continue to make a concerted effort to check all the other sites that haven’t been destroyed, ideally in late February/early March. The sawfly is unlikely to be an effective agent if wasps are the problem. However, if they are, as we suspect, genetically bottlenecked and we can collect sawflies from other sites, it would be worth mixing them together to create a new population and releasing them at a wasp-free site to see if that makes a difference.

10.2.8 Darwin’s barberry: Horizons made its first release of 200 Darwin’s barberry seed weevils at Parkville Road, Eketahuna. The weevils are very small and may be hard to find in the future, but this is a very exciting step for this intractable weed. Media release of the event: http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/76287031/horizons-releases-chilean- weevils-to-combat-weeds.

Photo 5: Sleeves tied onto Darwin’s barberry plants at Parkville road with seed weevils inside them (J.Keast).

Craig Davey ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR – PLANTS

11 Non-rateable Land & Crown Agencies

11.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress

Reporting Period YTD Measure Target % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Actual MOU/Liaison progress 1 4 2 7 12 60%

11.2 Activity Report

We liaise with the following agencies: LINZ, DOC, KiwiRail, NZ Defence Force, NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), Palmerston North City Council and Whanganui, Ruapehu, Rangitikei, Manawatu, Tararua and councils. We also meet annually with neighbouring regional councils to discuss boundary pest control issues.

11.2.1 Work continued with multiple agencies in this period, with nothing specific to report..

Craig Davey ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR – PLANTS

12 Surveillance

12.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress

Reporting Period YTD Measure % 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Actual Survey and inspect all nurseries for National 0 - - 0 NA Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) listed weeds Report all discoveries and action taken Reported below Survey & record status of all known and new 26 - - 26 NA Surveillance species sites New sites 0 - - 0 NA Total sites 26 - - 26 NA Zero Density progress (cumulative sites at Zero 18 - - 18 69% Density)

12.2 Activity Report

12.2.1 No new sites were discovered but one reported site of Chilean needle grass was inspected on Maunga Road, Tararua. It turned out to be a similar plant and problem grass called ripgut brome (Bromus diandrus).

12.2.2 Prior to Christmas we received many requests for advice and information on how to deal with field horsetail.

12.2.3 The Rangitikei Horsetail Group has been similarly successful as the Tutsan Action Group in finding potential agents to potentially offer long term management and reduction of field horsetail. The group’s application for release of a weevil has been submitted to the EPA.

Craig Davey ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR – PLANTS

13 Awareness & Promotion

13.1 Targets – Year to Date Progress

Reporting Period YTD Measure 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Actual Report on all awareness and promotional activity *1 45 88 186 319 *1 AP/LTP targets

13.2 Activity Table

Activity What Field Horsetail Field Day, November 6 Talks to groups Totara Reserve kids day Policy team day Gunnera watch; Manawatu Standard, November OMB article; Manawatu Standard, January Darwin’s barberry weevil press release; Manawatu Standard, January Media articles Check, clean, dry; Horowhenua Chronicle, January Pest plan; various media Weed killer risk low, says expert; Manawatu Standard, January Old Man's Beard in Pongaroa; Bush Telegraph, January

13.3 Activity report

Frontlines - November- January 2016 80 68 70

60 48 50 38 40 29 30

20

10 3 0 Production Zero-Density Freshwater Surveillance Non-Strategy

Graph 3: Pest plant enquiries - summary

13.3.1 The main topics of enquiry during this period were as follows:

PRODUCTION Enquiry/complaints about tutsan, gorse and blackberry

ZERO-DENSITY Old man’s beard sightings

FRESHWATER Rapid expansion of pond weeds due to temperature increases, mostly curled pondweed

SURVEILLANCE Staff fielded many enquiries about field horsetail, providing advice on how to manage sites.

NON-STRATEGY Privet and pink ragwort

Craig Davey ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR – PLANTS 13.4 Biosecurity Activity (Plants) Summary

Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date Work with NC partners and other stakeholders to: Nature Central (NC) 1. Form plan Annual meeting held, maps produced, alignment Wilding Conifer 2. Activity planning and tracking with programmes achieved. Implementation Plan sheet 3. Annual meeting scheduled. Waimarino TNP Organise joint work programme Programme underway. We have good Darwin’s barberry alongside DOC. cooperation and alignment with DOC. control programme Decide on the best actions Yellow bristle grass Horizons can take to arrest the Beginning to disseminate best practice (YBG) intervention spread and impact of YBG on the information to road managers. investigation Region. Rangitikei Horsetail Assist group financially and with Successful field day held with more than 60 Group actions as required. people attending at Te Hou farm. Project is nearing completion and host testing of Assist group financially and with possible agents is underway in containment Tutsan Action Group actions as required. facility. Group is readying for EPA application to release agents. 1. Workable structure established for Horizons staff to implement Horizons’ protocol for regional and national Agent assessment 2. Tutsan assessment sites assessment protocol commitments has been project established. established. 3. Other plants planned and criteria established. . Relationship between parties maintained. Annual meeting held in late September, Desert Road Invasive . MOU completed collaborative approach to weed infestation Legume Control Group . Coordinated action in priority management occurring between parties. areas is undertaken against the target species. 1. Establish season plan Check, Clean, Dry 2. Establish register of Programme plan submitted and funding received (CCD) advocacy relationships to be managed to from MPI and confirmation from DOC for funding programme enable wide community uptake a Whanganui catchment focussed effort. of message.