Mihi Takahia mai ra Te tupuna whenua o Aorere Ka rere taku reo tongi Mai i Mārahau ki Wainui Whakatau mai Whakatau mai Traversing the ancestral lands My voice soars and declares From Mārahau to Wainui Welcome, welcome. Pied stilt, Awaroa. Ruth Bollongino, www.fernphotos.com Cover: Whio/blue duck. Ruth Bollongino, www.fernphotos.com Project Janszoon Annual Report 2019 Contents Milestones 2 Tomorrow Accord secures ecological gains 4 Chair and Director’s message 5 Secure 6 Predator control tested by beech mast 9 Possums targeted near the coast 9 Controlling stoats … the next steps 9 The ones that get away 11 A24 network extended 11 Trapping popular with volunteers 13 Wilding pines first Tomorrow Accord target 13 Rule changes protect weed work 15 Collaboration important for controlling goats 15 Protecting the halo 16 Restore 18 First kākā chicks fledged in park for decades 21 Abel Tasman exceeding expectations as pāteke recovery site 23 First whio released into park 25 Comprehensive kākāriki survey undertaken 27 Will kiwi be the next species to return to the Abel Tasman? 27 Weka on the rise 29 Canaan snail population increasing 29 Hadfield Clearing—a gradual transformation 31 Volunteers big part of beech planting project 31 New beaches being added to Firesmart programme 31 Myrtle rust risk being closely watched 33 Climate change challenges coastal peppercress 33 Keeping the backyard in order 35 Future proof 37 Education programme extends 39 Abel Tasman Youth Ambassador programme growing 41 New website launched 47 Webcams help improve public safety in Anchorage and Awaroa 47 Abel Tasman App enhanced 47 Down the Bay—A natural and cultural history of Abel Tasman National Park 49 Video tells story of pou whenua 49 Project Janszoon board 50 Project Janszoon team 51 Financials 53 Project Janszoon Annual Report 2019 1 Milestones JUL-2011 FEB-2014 Proposal presented to First wasp Hutton Wilson Nominees Ltd control trial OCT-2011 FEB-2014 Project approved Awaroa to Anchorage in principle stoat network activated DEC-2011 MAR-2014 Project Janszoon Tomorrow Accord signed Trust formed with Conservation Minister JUN-2012 APR-2014 Heads of Agreement Education programme signed with DOC launched AUG-2012 APR-2014 Weed survey First planting at commenced Hadfield Clearing SEP-2012 MAY-2014 First bird survey First kākāriki released completed at Wainui Hut JAN-2013 MAY-2014 Canaan/Wainui stoat Beech trial started on network activated Motuareronui/Adele Island JUL-2013 SEP-2014 Firesmart dune Tīeke/saddleback released by ATBT programme started on Motuareronui/Adele Island NOV-2013 OCT-2014 Wi-Fi trial commenced and Initial strike of pine Abel Tasman app launched control completed DEC-2013 DEC-2014 1080 consent Wi-Fi network and Abel Tasman granted by TDC app extended across park Sand patterns, Te Pukatea Beach. Markus Baumann 2 Project Janszoon Annual Report 2019—Secure FEB-2015 SEP-2017 Abel Tasman Youth Ambassador Last stand of mature wilding programme launched pines controlled at Bark Bay JUN-2015 DEC-2017 Won Supreme and Philanthropy and First pāteke/brown Partnership awards at Green Ribbon Awards teal chicks born SEP-2015 FEB-2018 Rātā planting Education scholarship programme begins announced OCT-2015 APR-2018 Wins Green World Heads of Agreement for international conservation award Tomorrow Accord signed NOV-2015 JUN-2018 First kākā Beech trial extended release to Anchorage MAR-2016 SEP-2018 Internet access available in New website Awaroa and Torrent Bay launched APR-2016 SEP-2018 Toutouwai/robin translocated to Pitt First whio Head by Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust release NOV-2016 DEC-2018 Native snails monitored Down the Bay with transmitters book launched JAN-2017 JAN-2019 1,000th stoat First kākā chicks trapped fledge in park MAY-2017 MAR-2019 First pāteke/brown teal Two new schools join release at Hadfield Clearing education programme Project Janszoon Annual Report 2019—Secure 3 Tomorrow Accord secures ecological gains The NEXT Foundation and the Government Lou Sanson. This document outlines the trans- signed the Tomorrow Accord in 2014, as a formational outcomes that will trigger the way to ensure the ecological gains achieved accord in the Abel Tasman National Park. by philanthropic trusts like Project Janszoon will be preserved for future generations. Throughout this annual report you will notice the Tomorrow Accord The restoration of the Abel Tasman is the first symbol which outlines the target project to benefit from the accord. indicator for the agreed transfor- mational outcome. As the project In 2018 a Heads of Agreement was signed continues, the Department of Conservation by Project Janszoon chair Gill Wratt and will gradually take over maintaining the eco- Department of Conservation Director-General logical gains made by Project Janszoon when the target for each is achieved. Kererū/New Zealand pigeon. Ruth Bollongino, www.fernphotos.com 4 Project Janszoon Annual Report 2019 Chair and Director’s message We are pleased to report another exciting year Efforts to control pest plants continue to show for Project Janszoon in partnership with the success, with good progress at many sites being Department of Conservation and the Abel Tasman made by DOC staff, volunteers, and contrac- Birdsong Trust. In our 8th year of operation there tors. Successful weed control relies on being able has been noteworthy progress on many fronts. to target all individuals, and we are thankful to With a continued focus on managing negative neighbouring communities for their support. It is impacts like invasive weeds and predators we are pleasing to see the Nelson-Tasman Regional Pest increasingly able to work on restoring native spe- Management Plan recognise the importance of cies and ecosystems in Abel Tasman National Park. controlling certain weeds on private land in pro- tecting the park from re-invasion. With major We faced a significant challenge this year in the stands of mature wilding conifers controlled, we form of a ‘mega’ beech mast. This seeding event are focussing on follow-up control of seedlings was the largest in decades and threatened to ele- with the view to shifting into a maintenance pro- vate predator numbers to levels that could undo gramme under the Tomorrow Accord soon, the much of what has already been achieved. We first project to achieve this milestone. responded with an aerial control programme using 1080 across approximately 11,000 ha to prevent The education programme has taken a major step rats from reaching high numbers. The control area forward with the addition of two new partner was modified to find ways of preventing re-inva- schools, Lower Moutere Primary and Ngātīmoti sion of pests and results will be monitored through Primary, who join Golden Bay High School, the spring and summer. Motueka High School and Motupipi Primary School. It is exciting to see the passion and energy that stu- While challenging, beech masts provide a boost to dents from these schools have for the conservation many native species with some birds such as South work underway. It gives us great confidence for the Island kākā only nesting in mast years when ample future of the park. The teachers and leaders from food is available for raising young. We reached a these schools, and Te Awhina and Onetahua mar- milestone in our efforts to re-establish kākā to aes, have embraced the Adopt-a-Section and Youth the park this year, with successful breeding and Ambassador programmes to provide authentic six chicks fledged from two different nests. The learning opportunities for their students in the park. parents for both nests were females released from At the close of another year, it is our pleasure to captivity, paired with wild males. This is an exciting thank the many people who have joined and sup- outcome showing that our approach to re-estab- ported Project Janszoon in our work to restore the lishing kākā is working. If we keep them safe from Abel Tasman this year. We value the knowledge and predators they can breed and thrive in the park. experience of the DOC Team, the amazing energy The release of 24 more kākā in the spring will put and work of the Birdsong Trust, and the support this species firmly on the path to recovery. and advice from local Iwi, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama The well-established stoat network now covers and Te Ātiawa, in re-establishing taonga species. more than 20,000 ha and continues to keep the Thanks also to the concession operators for sup- pressure on stoats and weasels. The DOC team porting the work, sharing the story of the positive and the Birdsong Trust volunteers keep these traps changes underway, and helping our young people running and our wildlife safe. It is pleasing to see to connect with the park. We appreciate the grow- trapping efforts continuing to evolve in the park, ing support from our neighbours in and around with the Birdsong Trust expanding their A24 trap- the Abel Tasman who are finding ways to contrib- ute to the positive changes underway. The Project ping network up the coast as far as Bark Bay. A Janszoon team has worked tremendously hard over new A24 network funded by Air New Zealand now the last year and their efforts are appreciated. And protects over 400 ha of high-quality forest north of finally, thank you to Neal and Annette Plowman for Awaroa. The impact of these trapping efforts can their generous funding of Project Janszoon. be seen through the successful re-introductions of species like pāteke and whio that appear to be Gillian Wratt Bruce Vander Lee thriving in the park. Chair Director Project Janszoon Annual Report 2019 5 Secure Tōrea/SouthGoodnature IslandA24 self-resetting pied oystercatchers. trap. Amanda Ruth Bollongino, Harvey www.fernphotos.com 6 Project Janszoon Annual Report 2019—Secure 773 new A24 self re-setting traps installed Aerial predator control operation completed over 11,449 ha 7,520 rats trapped* 258 stoats and weasels trapped* 130 volunteer trappers with Birdsong Trust * 2018/19 financial year Project Janszoon Annual Report 2019—Secure 7 8 Project Janszoon Annual Report 2019—Secure Predator control tested by beech mast The mega beech mast has been both a blessing the Abel Tasman, we received permission to sow and a curse for the park this year.