Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari Restoration Plan 2019–2029 Prepared for: Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust June 2019 Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari Restoration Plan 2019–2029 Contract Report: LC3464 John Innes, Corinne Watts Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Bruce Burns University of Auckland With contributions from other members of, and advisors to, the Maungatautari Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel: Aaron Barnsdall (Mana Whenua Trustee) Geoff Churchill (Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust) Professor Bruce Clarkson (University of Waikato) Poto Davies (Maungatautari Mana Whenua) Dr Catherine Kirby (University of Waikato) Cheridan Mathers (Hamilton Zoo) Dr Shelley Langton-Myers (EcoQuest Education Foundation) Robyn Nightingale (Maungatautari Mana Whenua) Dr Kate Richardson (Waikato Regional Council) Tony Roxburgh (Waipa District Council) Alan Saunders (Waikato Regional Council) Dr Andrew Styche (Department of Conservation) Dr Kiri Wallace (University of Waikato) Dr Janelle Ward (Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust) Reviewed by: Approved for release by: Robyn Simcock Gary Houliston Scientist Portfolio Leader – Enhancing Biodiversity Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Disclaimer This report has been prepared by Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research for Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust. If used by other parties, no warranty or representation is given as to its accuracy and no liability is accepted for loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from reliance on the information in it. Contents Summary ............................................................................................................................................................... vii Glossary ................................................................................................................................................................. xii 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Vision and nurturing of the project ....................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Purpose of the Plan ...................................................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Plan period ....................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Links to other plans and documents ..................................................................................................... 4 1.5 What the plan is not ..................................................................................................................................... 5 2 History of Māori connection and relationship .............................................................................. 5 3 European arrival and influence ........................................................................................................... 7 4 Project history ........................................................................................................................................... 8 4.1 Pest-fence project conception and implementation ...................................................................... 8 4.2 MEIT governance, infrastructure, adjacent landowners, staff and visitors .......................... 10 5 Restoration frameworks ..................................................................................................................... 10 5.1 Ecological restoration, ecological integrity, and desired future ecological states ........... 11 5.2 Restoration visions and objectives ...................................................................................................... 14 5.3 Connectivity between Maungatautari and surrounding landscapes ..................................... 15 6 Maungatautari species ........................................................................................................................ 19 6.1 Plants ............................................................................................................................................................... 19 6.2 Birds ................................................................................................................................................................. 21 6.3 Bats .................................................................................................................................................................. 28 6.4 Tuatara, geckos and skinks ..................................................................................................................... 29 6.5 Frogs ................................................................................................................................................................ 33 6.6 Fish ................................................................................................................................................................... 33 6.7 Aquatic invertebrates................................................................................................................................ 34 6.8 Terrestrial invertebrates ........................................................................................................................... 34 6.9 Fungi ................................................................................................................................................................ 37 6.10 Significant species for iwi ........................................................................................................................ 37 7 Maungatautari ecosystems ............................................................................................................... 39 7.1 Defining ‘ecosystems’ ............................................................................................................................... 39 7.2 Historical/past ecosystems ..................................................................................................................... 39 7.3 Current ecosystems ................................................................................................................................... 40 8 Survey ........................................................................................................................................................ 42 8.1 Data collation ............................................................................................................................................... 43 8.2 Palaeoecological survey .......................................................................................................................... 43 9 Biodiversity monitoring ...................................................................................................................... 43 9.1 Biodiversity monitoring to date ........................................................................................................... 44 ~ iii ~ 9.2 Recommended biodiversity monitoring ............................................................................................ 45 10 Social/cultural monitoring ................................................................................................................. 47 11 Research ................................................................................................................................................... 48 11.1 Research completed .................................................................................................................................. 48 11.2 Possible future research ........................................................................................................................... 49 12 Climate change ...................................................................................................................................... 50 13 Using the smaller exclosures for optimum conservation gain ............................................ 51 14 Education ................................................................................................................................................. 52 14.1 Students.......................................................................................................................................................... 52 14.2 Outreach ......................................................................................................................................................... 53 15 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................. 53 16 References ............................................................................................................................................... 54 Appendix 1. Indigenous vascular plants recorded at Maungatautari ........................................... 61 Appendix 2. Birds observed on Maungatautari during 2002 to 2017 .......................................... 68 Appendix 3. Invertebrates recorded at Maungatautari ...................................................................... 69 Appendix 4: Fungi recorded at Maungatautari ..................................................................................... 77 Appendix 5 – Published, available and