Waikato Biodiversity Forum Newsletter September 2018 Number 59 Kia Ora/Greetings An update on some of the work undertaken over the past three months: Waikato - Provided article to Raglan Chronicle to summarise Raglan forum event - Responded to enquiries from 0800 BIO DIV service - Chaired biodiversity focus group meetings - Authored forum event report - Edited, formatted and gathered articles for Forum September Newsletter - Authored the Annual Report - Planning for Waipa Biodiversity forum event - Planning for Bio-control workshop - Interviewed on Free FM to promote the forum Coromandel - Providing ongoing assistance to the Predator Free Hauraki Coromandel Community Trust. Project Manager on the ground with the stocktake of community groups’ work - Prepared article for the Mercury Bay Informer on Predator Free 2050 and Backyard trapping - On interview panel for the DOC B Band community ranger position - Updated Coromandel community database and checking Nature Space for accuracy - Responded to three enquiries from Forum members Trapping at Lake Serpentine/Rotopiko North The newly formed Hunter User Group (HUG) is made up of the dozen regular season hunters Lake Serpentine North is part of the Serpentine (including surrounding landowner/farmer Rob complex, situated alongside SH3, 4kms south of Mourits) who hunt ducks on the North, South and Ohaupo. Lake Rotopiko (Serpentine East) is Winter Lakes. They operate a Trapping Roster on a enclosed by a predator proof fence as part of the 2 person, 3 weekly basis in co-ordination with National Wetland Trust project to build a National Hamilton Fish & Game Assn. Inc. (Ken Parker and Wetland Centre.Volunteers (coordinated by Dave Malcolm) with support from Eco-Fx. Nardene Berry of Landcare Trust) are trapping the other lakes in the complex in order to reduce the There are 40 traps – 19 DoC 200’s; 2 DoC 250’s; external pressure of predators on the exclusion and recently 10 Timms; 2 Goodnature A12’s and 7 fence and to provide wider advantages outside the Goodnature A24’s, and a shed that houses paper fence. lists for recording trap-catch data, spare bait and tools etc. The traps have now been in operation for a year for a large tally of rats and hedgehogs with a few cats, but no mustelids or possums yet. We plan The group has been fortunate enough to secure to run a chew card survey soon to see how effective total grants of $40,000 in the current year, which we have been, the results look promising for the has allowed significant progress. A sum of $30,000 coming breeding season. Hamilton Fish & Game was allocated by the DOC Community Fund, a Association Inc. Ken Parker program with a budget of $28 million. available over four years, and to be contested by projects focused on eliminating wilding pines. A further $10,000 was generously provided by Pub Charity, the second time they have supported the group’s work. Walkers traversing the main track along the ridge above Matarangi will be aware of the sweeping vistas recently revealed, overlooking Rings Beach and beyond to the Mercury Islands, no longer obstructed by dense pine growth. To pursue the group’s objective of completely eliminating wilding pines in the block within the next two years, a further grant from Waikato Regional Council has been approved for a total of $90,500, which includes $10,500 for further Goodnature self- Dave Malcolm, Chairman Hamilton Fish and Game Association, setting traps. servicing one of the new Goodnature A12 possum traps. Ambitious Objectives for Rings Beach Wetland Project The August newsletter from Waikato Regional Council reporting on progress in the Whangapoua Harbour catchment made particular mention on the NZ Plant Conservation Network award for the conservation activities of the Rings Beach project group. The group’s lofty ambitions for the total restoration of the Matarangi Reserve, administered by DOC, to recreate in the long term a sample of what our landscape looked like before our pioneers exploited it to destruction have reached new heights. In order to clear an initial area of wilding pines the group embarked in 2010 on a limited program to fell all pines within 100 metres of the wetland, an area of about 37Ha. In 2017 this expanded into an objective of eliminating all pines over the entire 270Ha reserve over 3 to 4 years, with the vital assistance of funding agencies. The wilding pine felling program for the current year commenced 23rd April. Helping NZ get rid of predators CPS (NZ) LTD is proud to be supporting the government’s bold ambition for a predator-free New Zealand by 2050. So far, we’ve donated $20,000 over five years to help fund an important ecology project on the Coromandel. This money will go towards more trapping and pest control equipment – such as DOC 200 stoat traps, Goodnature A12 traps and the new NZ Autotraps – as well as removing invasive weeds like wild ginger, elaeagnus and barberry in the Opoutere area. This project is guided by the Opoutere Residents and Rate Payers Association, which looks after about 200 hectares in Opoutere and Ohui – a small settlement halfway between Pauanui and Whangamata. Riverlea Environment Society Welcomes Tasked with removing stoats, possums, rats, wild New Coordinator cats and hedgehogs from the area, the project has been running for around three years with great To help Hammond Park flourish, we need to success. At least 52 stoats, 111 rats, 53 possums eradicate the exotic plants, manage pest and 75 hedgehogs have already been removed animals and plant native vegetation on private from the area. properties adjoining the park. Adrienne Grant pioneered this role for two years, but leaves us Opoutere is a very special place that contains an due to her other work commitments. She estuary and wetland of national and international worked with about 26 landowners to develop significance. Since 1967, the wetland has been a planting plans for their sections, and helped Gazetted Wildlife Refuge under the Wildlife Act establish Pest-free-Riverlea. 1953 – the only one in the Coromandel. It has outstanding bird numbers and is a significant In June we welcomed Paula Smith, who looks habitat for indigenous fauna. Of the 43 native bird forward to maintaining Adrienne’s momentum species found at Opoutere, 21 (49%) are by working with more residents. She has 20 threatened or at risk. For example, it is the single years of landscaping and horticultural most important site in the Waikato Region for the experience, a diploma in Arboriculture, is threatened New Zealand dotterel. studying environmental planning at Waikato University, and is restoring her own The area has recently been identified as both an Mangakotukutuku gully property. ‘Outstanding Natural Feature and Landscape’ and an area of ecological significance in the Waikato “There are many fantastic people contributing Regional Policy Statement and the Proposed to the achievement at Hammond Park. It will be Thames Coromandel District Plan. Due to the rewarding to see this continue. I feel privileged area’s importance for New Zealand’s native wildlife, to have a role working with those who are CPS (NZ) LTD has come on board to support the enriching our natural environment,” says Paula. project – helping to achieve a predator-free New Zealand. We’re excited to be playing a part in this vital work. Learn more at predatorfreenz.org Adrienne Grant (left) with new Coordinator Paula Smith Pirongia lineage kōkako moments from being released Pirongia Kōkako Return Home T42 Multi Sport Event - Owhango Alive Saturday May 5th saw the annual T42 sporting At a special ceremony in July, 14 Pirongia event held again, with the finish line for all lineage kōkako were translocated from Tiritiri events at the Owhango Domain. This is a great Matangi Island to their ancestral home, bringing community fundraiser and Owhango Alive our kōkako population on Mt Pirongia to 44. volunteers run a “stall”, in conjunction with Five of them were spotted when the national DOC. It’s a great opportunity to chat to lots of Kōkako Specialist Group meeting was hosted folk about the plight of our unique flora and at Pirongia in August and extensive monitoring fauna, especially in the Ohinetonga Scenic of them will start in October. Reserve, which all competitors walk/run/bike through. Each year DOC provides us with their Our usual pest control using Pindone in bait special trailer, which is a pretty clever affair. It stations began on August 25 with more planned looks like a back country hut, and opens up to over spring and new volunteers are welcome. reveal a few of our specials – kiwi and whio, but Please email our volunteer co-ordinator Dianne also some of the nasties – ferrets and June on [email protected] if interested. We ‘possums. also have baiting weekends at Okahukura in Northern Pureora Forest starting from This year more than 600 competitors took part September 15 for which we’d appreciate more in the T42 event, along with their supporters. helpers, and we have been thrilled that kōkako This gives us a great opportunity to promote and whio there are noticeably more abundant. Owhango Alive and the wider conservation cause to folk from all over the North Island. We Lastly, huge thanks to the Len Reynolds Trust take along various “props” including a DOC 200 and RNZ’s Critter of the Week for their recent trap, which is set off using a mock rat (think a grants. Our facebook page has other news piece of hose with a canvas rat on the end). updates. Triggering the trap is always a crowd pleaser, as it makes such a satisfying “THWACK” when it goes off! One of the vollies, who will remain nameless, is a dreadful um, screamer, in these situations, much to the embarrassment of herself and her colleagues.