Great Barrier Island Biosecurity Report

Prepared for the Great Barrier Local Board 20/08/2019

General Biosecurity Update Inspections: Recent inspections by biosecurity inspectors have resulted in a number of interventions which have prevented high risk loads being transported to islands. A load of gravel and bark was stopped until adequate biosecurity measures were adopted, and a very dirty digger was prevented from loading for Waiheke – and will reschedule its trip for when it is clean. Pest Free warrants: Three new Pest Free Warrants have been issued in the last month, including the Harbour Master, Department of Conservation Aotea/Great barrier, and Apex Surveyors. These are all key warrants, as they include vessels that visit islands regularly, all over the Gulf. AC36: Planning is underway to prepare for the America’s Cup. This includes operational planning (coordinating the activities of Heathy Waters, Waste, Schools, Biosecurity, comms), and also includes improving the cleaning facilities on the waterfront at key departure points. ES is also contributing to Leverage projects and leading the process for Legacy for AC36. Projects are currently being identified. Boaties Behaviour Change: Behaviour change research to understand how we best communicate with private boat owners and what behaviours we should focus on influencing is close to being completed. A comms plan will be developed for summer, incorporating relevant findings to sharpen up the planning and delivery to this key category of Gulf visitor. Ambassadors: Planning and recruitment is underway for the summer programme of waterfront Ambassadors at key departure points for the islands, in coordination with biosecurity inspectors and dog team. Locations include Wynyard Wharf, Downtown ferry terminals, Halfmoon Bay. A biosecurity trailer is also being branded up so it can be used at marinas and boat ramps for marine and Island biosecurity, alongside Ambassadors and biosecurity dogs. Dog Programme: One of the new Council dogs (Rosie) has recently been certified under the Conservation Dog programme for rodent detection. This is interim certification, which enables her to be used on the waterfront. She will need to become fully certified before she is permitted to go to pest free islands.

Great Barrier Island Pest Animal Programs

Rabbits • Contractor report received for June 2019 control with recommendations for future control operations. A total of 770 rabbits shot across 10 sites with a total of 10 warren systems fumigated. • Rabbit control via shooting has been planned this month. Operations to occur from September 9th-16th. • Locations: Kaitoke, Awana, , • Rabbit infra-red surveillance is planned to assess reported building rabbit abundance in the following areas: Mulberry Grove, , Island Bay Feral Cats • Feral cat control has continued this month in Kaitoke, Whangaparapara, Awana, Harataonga, windy Canyon & Okiwi • Traps have been installed on Station rock and Kowhai valley tracks but are not yet active. Broken Islands-Rodent control • The Broken Islands group rodent stations were serviced this month by biosecurity staff. • Track cutting undertaken to facilitate access to rodent stations Argentine ants • Annual TAG meeting was held here on Island. A review on the previous season’s operations and recommendations were made for the 2019/2020 season. • Letter to all landowners has been sent out providing operational intentions and a timely reminder of the potential to transport this pest to/within the Island community – a few key things to look out for are listed as well as encouragement to contact us with any questions any time. • More reminders/information is planned to be released into the community once the season starts and the islands visitor numbers start to increase for summer. • Surveillance carried at Claris recreational reserve on land surrounding beehives before they were moved off the site Myna trapping • Peegee Myna trapping has concluded for the time being at Okupu with a total of 115 birds captured and euthanised Plague skinks • The plague skink containment fence is being removed from Shoal Bay wharf • Trial cell fencing has been left onsite to ensure all trials can by competed this financial year. • The work plan for this financial year will include the complete disestablishment of the Shoal Bay containment fence, plague skink surveillance at high risk sites, Genetic testing of plague skinks across New Zealand to test for genetic relatedness which may gain knowledge on risk pathways and vectors of this species, completion of Insect Sticky Trap trials and bio-control trials at Shoal Bay wharf. • Project managers have submitted a final report which is currently under review by Auckland Council and the Department of Conservation.

Great Barrier Island Pest Plant Programs

Strategic Weed initiative (SWI) Ground Truthing of possible Royal fern waypoints recorded by the drone surveillance spectral analysis project have determined that these finds were not the target weed species Auckland Council and the Department of Conservation - Great Barrier Island Weed Programmes meeting • An overview of current and historical weed programs between the two organisations was held with the intention of sharing information that may assist future operations in any way. • Site locations, priority species vs. RPMP (Listed eradication weeds in RPMP within DoC estate), methodologies and disposal (CRC changes), surveillance and response, Drone surveillance results, Incursion target risk assessment - National vs. regional. Some key points of discussion • A late September catch up is planned to go over all site locations and fill in any ‘Gaps’ between sites (See example below) North Kaitoke (Palmers)

Woolly Nightshade

Boneseed

Key: Red polygon: AC area searched for Boneseed and Kahili ginger Green polygon: DOC search areas

Surveillance response • Confirmation of an anemone and not Australian Droplet Tunicate (Eudistoma elongatum) at Gibbs landing. See image below

Community, Education and Advocacy

Great Barrier Island Ecology Vision • The ecology vision facilitator proposal has gone back to market as none of the submitted proposals fit within the required project parameters. • The outcome of the second RFP will be Known by the end of September. • The biosecurity Advisor is continuing to support the Medlands ecovision initiative by organising regular meetings. Together the group have planned to start rodent indices monitoring as part of conservation week, this will include a community workshop on fauna footprint identification and a BBQ Aotea Community Native Plant Nursery • A seedling/seed depot was erected outside the native plant nursery to assist with afterhours plant collection.

• The official opening day is planned for the 30th of August 2019 • ACNPN is collaborating with Auckland Council to deliver conservation week by providing a seedling ID workshop. Okiwi Community Pest Coordinator • A community meeting was held for the Okiwi Biodiversity Community project on the 10th of August to assess the success of the project.

Next month (August-September 2019) • Rabbit shooting 9th-19th September • Glenfern full peninsula rodent monitor • Conservation week on Aotea 14 – 22 September 2019

Nature needs us! Conservation week on Aotea 14 – 22 September 2019 Auckland Council, Glenfern Sanctuary, Windy Hill Sanctuary, Sustainable Aotea and the Department of Conservation have teamed up together to deliver the best conservation week Aotea has seen. Ten FREE conservation-based events are being held across the island to motivate, excite and inspire us to make a difference together. The events provide an opportunity for all ages to get involved, win awesome prizes and learn more about nature and how we can help it! Film: Fools and dreamers - Regenerating a native forest Tryphena Club, Saturday 14 September 2019, 5.30pm - 6.30pm

A 30-minute documentary about Hinewai Nature Reserve, on New Zealand’s Banks peninsula, and its kaitiaki/manager of 30 years botanist Hugh Wilson. When, in 1987, Hugh let the local community know of his plans to allow the introduced ‘weed’ gorse to grow as a nurse canopy to regenerate farmland into native forest, people were not only skeptical but outright angry – the plan was the sort to be expected only of “fools and dreamers”.

Now considered a hero locally and across the country, Hugh Wilson oversees 1500 hectares resplendent in native forest, where birds and other wildlife are abundant and 47 known waterfalls are in permanent flow. He has proven that nature knows best – and that he is no fool.

Conservation quiz Tryphena Club, Saturday 14 September 2019, 7.30pm - 9.30pm

Are you a bird brain or a conservation buff? Get together your green team and test your knowledge on our natural world.

Trivia, fun challenges, and spot prizes! You could win a family trip to Tiritiri Matangi, a once in a life time behind the scenes Auckland Zoo experience, conservation books and a stunning harakeke print by Sarah Mathew. Don’t miss out!

Medlands Ecovision: Ecological monitoring and a BBQ Twin pines Medlands, Sunday 15 September 2019, 10am - 12.30pm

Help us collect tracking cards that have been laid out in the Medlands dune systems, you will learn how to identify the footprints of the critters that roam our island. Enjoy a barbeque with your neighbours and talk about the ecology of our dune systems. Bring sturdy footwear and weather appropriate clothing.

Seedling identification workshop Aotea Community Native Plant Nursery (end of Garden Road, Mulberry Grove), Sunday 15 September 2019, 2pm - 4pm

What is that plant in my garden? Which natives grow best in which areas? How can I grow from seed? Come down to the community nursery workshop and find the answers to these questions! Participants will have the opportunity to learn plant identification and propagation techniques and gain a better understanding of suitable natives for your area. Windy Canyon: From a tree-nerd’s perspective Sandi Van leeuwan (Conservationist) Windy Canyon Track, Wednesday 18 September 2019, 3.30pm - 4.30pm

Sandi will guide you through this endangered cloud forest ecosystem. You will learn how to identify some of the unique flora including plants only found on Aotea! Don’t forget to bring a notebook and camera along with good walking shoes and some snacks. *Bookings are essential for this activity! Contact DOC 09 429 0044

Plants and their habitats John Ogden (Ecologist) Thursday 19 September 2019 at Great Barrier Golf Club 1.30pm - 1.50pm; and Kaitoke Hot Springs Track 1.50pm - 5pm

Meet at the Great Barrier Golf course to learn about the Kaitoke weltland and years of research on its function and inhabitans (20 minutes). You can then choose to join John on a tour of the Kaitoke hot spring track where you will learn about the shy native birds that hide in amongst the reeds and the unique plants that define this environment. Bring a camera, notebook, sturdy shoes, warm clothes and some snacks. Night walk Chris and Sarah (Sanctuary Managers, Glenfern Sanctuary) Glenfern Sanctuary, Saturday 21 September 2019, 7pm-8pm

Experience the sanctuary by night and discover the wonderful native species that come out after sunset. Glenfern Sanctuary is home to glow worms, weta, banded kōkopu and short finned eels. Finish up with an unbeatable view of the stars. Bring warm clothes and sturdy shoes for this night time adventure!

Kererū: A keystone species Professor Mick Clout (University of Auckland) Claris Club, Sunday 22 September 2019, 1.30pm-2.30pm

The Kererū, (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) is arguably our most beautiful native bird. These large fruit pigeons are keystone species, dispersing the seeds of many important plant species, including tawa, taraire, miro, puriri and nikau. For some of the larger-fruited trees, Kererū are essentially the sole seed dispersers. However, Kererū have a slow reproductive rate and their eggs and chicks are highly vulnerable to introduced predators such as rats. In this talk, Mick Clout will describe results of his research on Kererū diet, movement patterns, breeding success, and responses to mammal control. This will be related to long term conservation on Great Barrier Island. * Afternoon tea will be provided free of charge between Mick and Taryn’s talks. Freshwater fish of Aotea Taryn Wilks (Freshwater Scientist, Sustainable Aotea) Claris Club, Sunday 22 September 2019, 2.45pm-3.30pm

What lives in our waterways? Did you know that whitebait are the juveniles of five species of fish from the Galaxiidae group, so called because of the patterns on their skin which resemble a galaxy of stars! We are also the only country in the world that have Longfin eels / tuna. Longfin eels / tuna breed only once, at the end of their life (greater than 25 years old). When they are ready to breed, they leave New Zealand and swim all the way to the sub-tropical Pacific Ocean to spawn. Fascinating stuff! Come learn all about these amazing eels and be prepared to fall in love with our native fish.

Kids conservation activities Claris Conference Centre, Sunday 22 September 2019, 1.30pm -3.30pm

While you learn about Kererū and freshwater fish at the club, send your kids down to us at the conference centre. We will entertain them with a series of conservation activities including making Kererū protectors, colours by nature murals and some super fun conservation competitions. We have some awesome kids prizes to give away so don’t miss out!