Volunteer/Staff Development Programme

Participants Information Brief 2018/19

Introduction to the Chatham Islands These notes are designed to give participants some background information on the Chatham Islands, the threatened species programmes, and the expected living and working conditions on Rangatira (South East), Mangere and Chatham Islands. It also outlines the preparations participants should make before arrival and highlights health and safety issues.

This programme offers a unique opportunity to work in one of ’s most important flora and fauna sanctuaries. Participants should be prepared to work hard in a remote and demanding environment and live in basic but adequate communal hut conditions. In return the programme offers participants the opportunity to develop and share technical and conceptual skills in threatened flora and fauna management.

The Chatham Islands lie 800km east of New Zealand. The islands are serviced by air from Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland. Air travel takes around 2 hours, depending on the weather, the airline being locally owned and operated. It is a good idea to ring Air Chathams (ph 03 3050 209) on the day of your departure to ensure there are no delays. The local time on the Chatham Islands is 45 minutes ahead of New Zealand (an important consideration when phoning).

The landscape is highly modified. Although much of the original vegetation has gone, the remnants of coastal forest and wetlands reveal a rich diversity of endemic flora and fauna. The landscape is spectacular, with rugged sea cliffs, white sandy beaches and old volcanic cones enhancing the island’s distinctive character.

The two larger islands are inhabited: Chatham and Pitt. The total population is approximately 630 people and land area 96 000 ha. The main centre is Waitangi, which has an ANZ bank/ post office (open between 10:00am and 2:00 pm most week days), medical centre, hotel, police station, general store, cafe, hardware store and a range of accommodation. Money can be obtained by EFTPOS at several local outlets. The price of consumables is high so visitors are advised to stock up on luxury/ personal items in New Zealand. Natural Heritage tourism is emerging as a new economic interest and many tourist interests require access through private land. Public conservation land makes up less than 5% of Chatham Island, therefore all visitors should check land ownership and gain permission if necessary before visiting any sites of interest.

CHTAO 22000: Chatham Islands Volunteer Participant Brief 2018/19 (revised 5/7/18) 1

Chatham Island

Waitangi

Pitt

Mangere Rangatira

The Chatham Islands from the International Space Station (NASA)

The Outer islands Rangatira/South East and Mangere Islands are among several small volcanic islands lying off Chatham and Pitt. Both have been modified by a history of farming (burning and grazing) but were gazetted nature reserves in the 1960s and allowed to regenerate. Rangatira (218ha) and Mangere (118ha) Nature Reserves are situated either side of in the south-east of the Chathams group. Rangatira has a series of sprawling forest remnants and is well advanced in the process of recovery from burning and grazing. Mangere has a small remnant of forest (7 ha), established plantings of Chatham Island akeake and flax, and reducing areas of introduced grasses which are the focus of the revegetation programme to restore the island’s ecological communities. Both islands are free of introduced mammalian predators and other significant ecological pests. As a consequence, they hold very important populations of threatened endemic animals, particularly birds and invertebrates. A good description of the Chatham’s environment and history is provided in Butler and Merton’s book The : Saving the World’s Most Endangered Bird (1992) and in The Chatham Islands: Heritage and Conservation 2008 (Canterbury University Press and DOC).

Some of these and other publications are available for purchase at the DOC office along with local brochures and information.

Several threatened bird programmes operate on Rangatira and Mangere over the breeding season. Most are focused on monitoring of population health; however some programmes include an active management and research component. Work on both islands can include some night work.

CHTAO 22000: Chatham Islands Volunteer Participant Brief 2018/19 (revised 5/7/18) 2

Rangatira/South East Island (Dave Houston) Mangere and Little Mangere Islands (Dave Houston)

Programme Organisation Programme participants will be advised of their trip logistics and travelling arrangements to the Chatham Islands prior to departure from New Zealand. Participants should organise their own travel to the Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch transfer points for their scheduled flight to the Chatham Islands. Air Chathams has a weight limit of 23kg so pack carefully or be prepared to pay for your excess baggage charged at $3.50/ kg. The team leader will meet you at the airport, sort out your accommodation and brief you on the preparations for your trip. Basic but comfortable accommodation is provided in the DOC A-frame until the boat trip to the outlying islands. Weather may delay departure. Please note there is no cellphone reception on the Chatham Islands.

Biosecurity Biosecurity considerations are important for entry to the Chatham Islands as well as for the outer islands. All your gear should therefore be clean before you leave New Zealand. Please check for seeds and insects especially if you come from an area with argentine ants, wasps and white-tailed spiders. Rangatira and Mangere maintain their very high ecological values because they are also free of rodents and some damaging weed species. Please pay specific attention to soles of shoes, seeds/insects on woolly socks, linings of jackets, in pockets and on Velcro. Clothing such as over trousers, jackets and overalls should be washed with the disinfectant Trigene. This is especially important if these garments have come in contact with soil, domestic chickens or other fauna.

Trip preparation on Chatham Island includes packing personal gear, food and equipment into rodent-proof 20L buckets in a quarantine room after inspection. No personal packs or gaiters are allowed to be taken to the islands but there are good quality daypacks available on the islands along with sets of gaiters. You will need to have one or two sets of clothes and shoes to wear on main Chatham Island that can remain behind while away on the outer islands. Normally, there are a few days in between quarantining gear and travel to the islands so please consider this when packing.

Travel to Rangatira and Mangere Islands Before the boat trip all participants will receive a detailed health and safety briefing outlining the expected hazards and safety precautions Landing on Rangatira ()

CHTAO 22000: Chatham Islands Volunteer Participant Brief 2018/19 (revised 5/7/18) 3 associated with the boat trip, the landing and the general living and working environment on the offshore island. Travel to the islands is by chartered fishing boat from . Boarding the boat involves either clambering down the side of the wharf on tyres surrounding the piles or climbing up a ladder from the beach. Everyone is expected to help with loading gear on and off the boat and transporting to the hut. The trip duration depends largely on the sea conditions which can be rough and can take 1–2 hours. Bring your own seasick tablets if you are likely to get seasick.

Conditions of Employment / Volunteer Engagement A team leader will supervise participants. The work environment, particularly on the offshore islands of Rangatira and Mangere is demanding in terms of isolation, rugged terrain and close quarter living conditions. At times participants will be required to work in wet and cold weather and over steep, muddy or rocky terrain. The exact nature of the work will depend on the time of year of your trip and the nature of the season. Generally, a 6-day working week (8–10 hour days) is adopted to make the most of the time on island, however for reasons associated with weather, travel demands or the projects themselves shorter or longer days and nights may be worked. The Chatham Island District Office will cover all food and accommodation while participating in the programme. Staff development participants or technical staff should confirm work hours/ allowances and internal flight costs with their managers before coming.

Accommodation Accommodation on Mangere and Rangatira is in basic but comfortable backcountry huts, and in houses on Pitt and Main Chatham. Each hut has two bunkrooms, which sleep six on Mangere and eight on Rangatira. There is a communal living/kitchen area, food store and a shower cubicle (battery powered bucket shower) in a separate shed. There is no heating in the huts, which can be cold at times, and the Pitt and Main Chatham houses each have a fireplace. Hut shoes are therefore recommended on Mangere and Rangatira.

Lighting is provided by solar power, and cooking by gas stove.

Mangere and Rangatira each have a long-drop/composting toilet located 100-200 m away from the hut. Water supply is from rainwater runoff from the hut roofs. The supply can be limited (especially in summer) so should be used conservatively. Drinking water straight from the tap is generally of good quality but can be boiled or filtered. Clothes are hand-washed in buckets.

Food Food is provided by DOC and is basic, although the variety is reasonable. There is a small solar- powered fridge/freezer in all huts/houses, and a good stock of dried and canned foods. Fishing provides fresh variety to the diet.

If you have specific dietary requirements, you will be asked to let us know beforehand and you may be asked to bring your own specific food items if not available from the DOC food store. Participants should bring their own ‘luxuries’ (cheeses other than tasty/mild, alcohol, excess chocolate, etc) appropriate to personal consumption. DOC does not provide these goodies.

Participants may bring fresh fruit and vegetables for the first days they are on Chatham and take any leftovers to the island after they have been through quarantine.

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Bedding/Cutlery Mattresses, mattress covers and pillows are provided and all cutlery and cooking utensils are provided. Programme participants should bring their own sleeping bags, single sheet and pillow cases.

Smoking Smoking is prohibited on both Mangere and Rangatira Island.

Communications There are no telephones or internet on Mangere or Rangatira, and cell phones cannot be operated in the Chatham Islands (no repeaters) however internet (wifi) can be purchased at the Chatham Hotel. Daily radio schedules are maintained with DOC base via VHF radio. Emergency messages can be passed to/received from New Zealand via the office and by satellite phone.

General Participants are expected to maintain decent personal hygiene and keep the hut in a clean tidy condition. The living and working conditions are at close quarters and reasonably intimate in nature. Sharing cooking and cleaning tasks and being sensitive to the cultural needs, privacy and feelings of others is an essential part of achieving a positive living and working environment and a motivated, cohesive team. The team leader is available to discuss any concerns at any time.

Safety Every precaution is taken to work and live in a safe manner in these isolated, rugged, backcountry environments and this means avoiding unnecessary risks. Rescue operations could put others in danger and in extreme weather conditions, rescue assistance may be delayed.

Potential participants will be required to submit a thorough written medical questionnaire to a DOC- nominated medical professional. Admittance to the program will be dependent on the assessment of the medical professional. Details of this process will be sent to selected participants.

Participants will be given a safety briefing at DOC base prior to their departure to the island and will be expected to ask for clarification if in doubt on any aspect of the briefing please. When you arrive on one of the offshore islands your team leader will run through an orientation and safety checklist.

A comprehensive First Aid Kit is provided on each island and you should familiarise yourself with this on the day of arrival. Each participant is also issued with a field kit to carry in their packs, but they need to bring any personal medication required during their trip. It is critical that any significant medical conditions should be noted beforehand. There are no medivac helicopters and hospital treatment of a serious illness or accident could be delayed if it is not possible to leave the off-shore islands due to bad weather and if needed to be transferred to a hospital in New Zealand.

Each island also has an emergency barrel located away from the hut (in case of fire or similar disaster) which contains basic food, water, equipment and radio for use in emergencies. The team leader will familiarise participants with the location of this barrel during their orientation.

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For safety reasons, swimming and diving (including snorkelling) are not permitted in the open sea. Bathing is acceptable in the large rock pools isolated from the sea and wave action. Fishing and paua gathering should only be undertaken at the designated landings, with life jackets on, in low swell conditions and with more than one person present.

Nature Reserve status Both Rangatira and Mangere have full Nature Reserve status. Please remain sensitive to the fragility of the habitats and welfare of all wildlife (including dive-bombing skuas) and native vegetation. It is a privilege to visit these islands and mainly limited to those people engaged in conservation management. It is illegal for any native plants or animals (whole or part) to be deliberately damaged/ injured/ killed or taken from the islands unless in accordance with approved conservation management programmes.

Personal Equipment/Gear List You will be responsible for providing all the personal equipment listed below. Any weather conditions are possible on the islands within the same day. It is likely to be windy and cold often, wet regularly, humid in summer and occasionally hot and sunny. You can experience wind and sun stroke during all weather conditions. So be prepared!

Electronic equipment: There is the facility to charge rechargeable batteries on the islands and other batteries/electronic equipment via a 12V transformer. Charging is limited to daylight hours, and one piece of equipment at a time, so use conservatively.

You will need the following: • Sleeping bag, sheet and pillow case essential • Torch/headlamp with a supply of spare/rechargeable batteries • Thermal top and long–johns (polypropylene or wool) • Good leather boots or rubber lace-up boots (lace-ups essential for Rangatira as these will be attached to ‘petrel boards’ to prevent damaging seabird burrows) • Safety gumboots are supplied by the office (a non-slip variety suitable for boats but that can be used on the island too) • Spare footwear/ socks for inside the hut (sandals, crocs, slippers) • Thick socks – several pairs • Warm hat and gloves – essential • Water proof raincoat – essential • Water proof rain pants – recommended (we will work in the rain) • Wool shirts and jerseys • Pants (e.g. tracksuit) • Overalls (poly cotton), or suitable comfortable work clothing • Spare warm clothes for the hut • One or two sets of clothes for wearing on main Chatham that can remain behind while on the outer islands • Sunglasses, wide brimmed sun hut and lots of sunscreen – essential • Towel, toiletries and any personal medication (there is a very basic battery-powered shower) • Books/games although there are small libraries and reference books on both islands • Water bottle

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• Watch essential /not a cell phone–for accurate time keeping and use when in field doing transects etc (no cell phone coverage and limited charging capability) • Seasickness tablets if needed • Binoculars are generally provided, check with your team leader re your trip • Camera • Pocket or sheath knife -optional Snore guard and earplugs (!) • Optional – note book, lunch box, treats, music, thermos etc

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