Category: Conservation

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  12 February 2025

After travelling from Burwood Takahē Centre near Te Anau and Orokonui Ecosanctuary Dunedin, takahē rangers paused briefly at Glenorchy Primary School for children to wave the birds on to the release site.

Mana whenua Ngāi Tahu welcomed takahē with a mihi whakatau before they were released.

The decision to release takahē into the Rees Valley was made after takahē released into Greenstone Valley in 2023 showed early signs of successfully adjusting to their new environment – raising offspring and remaining in a healthy condition.

Thought to be extinct for 50 years, takahē are a taonga of Ngāi Tahu, unique to New Zealand and the largest flightless species of rail bird in the world. They were famously rediscovered in the Murchison Mountains in 1948.

DOC’s Takahē Recovery Senior Ranger Glen Greaves says existing wild sites in the Murchison Mountains and the Greenstone Valley are reaching capacity, so the focus is now on establishing more wild populations elsewhere.

“Finding wild sites with the right habitat, and with predator numbers low enough for takahē to thrive is a challenge – but the Greenstone, Rees, and wider Whakatipu areas likely provide high-quality habitat for takahē.”

Glen says predator control has been a significant factor in ensuring the translocation can go ahead. However, like other large wild sites, predator threats and dispersal into less-protected areas remain.

“Setting up new wild populations takes perseverance, and success is not guaranteed,” says Glen.

“We hope people walking the Rees-Dart track and Routeburn tracks will soon have a good chance of seeing takahē thriving in their natural wild habitat.”

Ngāi Tahu representative on the Takahē Recovery Group, Gail Thompson says the release of takahē into the Rees Valley is a welcome next step towards the goal of increasing the number of takahē roaming free in the wild.

“It is my hope the manu will thrive in this valley as they have so far in the Greenstone Valley and that current and future generations will have the opportunity to see takahē in their natural environment.

“Our tīpuna inhabited the valley to the west of Puahiri/Puahere awa/Rees River and this whenua was part of a well-known network of ara tawhito/trails to pounamu sources. It is heartening that these takahē can now make this place their home,” says Gail.

Today the total takahē population is more than 500 and growing at about five percent a year. More than half the birds now live at wild sites.

Kaiwhakahaere/co-chair of Southern Lakes Sanctuary, Greg Lind, says their organisation’s work has been to prepare the Rees Valley for takahē to hopefully thrive upon their return to this special area.

“We have been servicing a network of more than 500 traps in suitable takahē habitats and have been focused on intensive feral cat control,” says Greg.

“This takahē release is a great example of the power of collaboration, with each party making vital contributions to make this a reality. This includes everyone from donors, iwi, landowners, community groups and DOC.”

A further two takahē releases into the Rees Valley are planned for later this year, with the aim of establishing a population of up to 80 takahē in the Rees Valley in 2025.

DOC’s Takahē Recovery Programme, supported by National Partner Fulton Hogan and New Zealand Nature Fund, together with Ngāi Tahu and Southern Lakes Sanctuary have been working together to create one large self-sustaining population of takahē in the Upper Whakatipu – with the shared goal of restoring takahē to whenua they likely inhabited centuries ago. 

Acknowledgments

Ngāi Tahu

Takahē have special cultural, spiritual, and traditional significance to Ngāi Tahu. Ngāi Tahu value takahē as a taonga (treasure) and continue to act as kaitiaki (guardians) of takahē by working with DOC to protect this precious species.

Seven of the 18 Ngāi Tahu Papatipu Rūnanga have a shared interest in and around Whakatipu Waimāori, Tāhuna and the inland Ōtākou region. Those seven rūnanga are: Te Rūnanga o Moeraki, Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki, Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou, Hokonui Rūnanga, Oraka Aparima Rūnaka, Te Rūnaka o Awarua and Waihōpai Rūnaka. The release had their full support.

DOC and the Takahē Recovery Programme

Fulton Hogan joined with DOC as a national partner to the Takahē Recovery Programme in July 2016. The New Zealand Nature Fund has a long-standing association with the programme and joined the DOC and Fulton Hogan partnership in July 2016, providing administration and advocacy support. DOC and the Takahē Recovery Programme are also supported by Air New Zealand, and 18 sanctuary sites throughout the country that provide safe breeding places for takahē to grow their numbers to feed into wild sites.

Southern Lakes Sanctuary

The Southern Lakes Sanctuary Trust is a consortium of six local groups that collectively represent 84 community groups, landowners, and businesses, who in turn have been working for many years to protect and restore the declining biodiversity of the Southern Lakes region. The consortium relies on the mahi of hundreds of committed and dedicated volunteers, throughout the district. Their tireless work, which has been quietly ploughing on for many years, is the foundation upon which the Southern Lakes Sanctuary is built. The group’s extensive predator trapping work in the Rees Valley has been supported by RealNZ, Impact100, Lotteries, Stout Trust, Patagonia, QLDC, CLT, AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand and Heli Glenorchy.

Takahē thrive in new wild home on Ngāi Tahu whenua in Ōtākou/Otago: Media release 15 August 2024

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Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  10 February 2025

Arowhenua Native Nursey was developed in 2021. Since then, staff have raised and planted more than 600,000 plants, all eco-sourced and native to the area.

Tony Doy, the nursey’s restoration supervisor, says the team is proud to be helping increase numbers of threatened plants in the local area, with the nursery cultivating 50 different species, ranging from common to rare and threatened.

“Many of the nursery’s plants have gone into wetland areas beside the Rakitata River to help reduce nutrients and sediment entering the water. Wetlands increase the resilience of land around them by reducing the impacts of extreme events of flooding and drought.

“Our plants will become seed sources along the river, and birds will spread them into new areas to create a native corridor. Hopefully, in the future landowners will realise the benefits of such native areas, and maybe plant some on their land,” Tony says.

Jobs for Nature funding has enabled many organisations, like Arowhenua, to kickstart their operations and get established as sustainable businesses working in the environmental sector.

The project started out at the marae but moved to larger commercial nursery premises on the outskirts of Temuka as it quickly outgrew its initial site. The nursey is now transitioning to a commercial wholesale model, with the Jobs for Nature funding finishing at end of last year. 

The nursery’s general manager Lex Evans died suddenly in late 2023, but the nursery has tried to carry on his ethos. 

Tony says Lex was an amazing role model.

“His favourite saying was, ‘We not only grow plants, we grow people’. Staff who joined through Jobs for Nature have gained valuable skills and love what they do. The work is outside, and they can see they’re making a real difference. Lex worked incredibly hard to ensure the success of the project. He was, and still is, an inspiration to the staff here to continue his Kaupapa.

“Under Jobs for Nature, 15% of the time was spent on training, so we did first aid, Level 3 horticulture, chainsaw use, herbicide application, predator control, 4WD and light utility vehicle driving. 

“We have also undertaken a river safety course, because a lot of our work is beside waterways. To build staff confidence when using chainsaws, our former restoration manager Matt Rudd organised an arborist to spend a day with us.

“Our people loved it. They now have great CVs that will give them an advantage on others who are also at the beginning of their careers. We look forward to seeing them on their journey.

“The Jobs for Nature project also offers our kaimahi the chance to gain skills in planting, weeding, maintenance and pest control on a daily basis.”

Nursery General Manager Felicity McMillian says, “I whakapapa to Arowhenua, so the Rakitata is extremely significant for me and our whānau. It was an awa that our tīpuna gathered kai and resources from. 

“Experiencing the awa and its diversity when collecting seeds is very good for our wairua. It’s like a full circle. We gather seeds from the Rakitata and once they are ready, we plant them there again to restore the health of the awa.” 

Felicity says the nursery grows native plants that are particularly suitable for conditions at the project’s restoration sites.

“We want to replicate what would have been there in the past. The main plants we grow are Carex secta, tī kōuka, harakeke, mānuka and kānuka. These plants will restore the Rakitata awa, improve the quality of the water, and encourage native manu (birds) and insects to return to the river.” 

DOC River Ranger Brad Edwards says the funding has supercharged conservation work in the catchment through DOC’s Ngā Awa river restoration programme. 

“Funding of $11.45 million from Jobs for Nature went to projects focused on the lower Rakitata, managed by Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua. The Upper Rangitata Gorge Landcare Group received a $7.3 million grant to lead restoration work in the upper river, including planting a lot of what’s grown at the nursery and carrying out extensive fencing and pest control.”

Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) also provided funding for pest and weed control in the Rakitata catchment as part of its biosecurity programme.

Background information

Rakitata is the preferred name for the Rangitata River as it recognises the local Kāi Tahu (Ngāi Tahu) dialect, which replaces ‘ng’ with ‘k’. So ‘taonga’ becomes ‘taoka’ for example.

The Rakitata River Revival Programme began as a partnership between Te Rūnaka o Arowhenua and DOC through the Ngā Awa river restoration programme. It now includes Environment Canterbury, Toitū te Whenua Land Information New Zealand, Central South Island Fish & Game and Timaru and Ashburton District Councils.

Rakitata River revival programme

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Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  10 February 2025

There have been some expressions of interest in the facility from other parties, and DOC will further investigate these opportunities alongside key stakeholders.

Great South Southland Regional Development Agency will support DOC in the evaluation process given their involvement with Te Punanga Manu over the years.

The sanctuary will keep operating as usual while alternative management options are explored further.

The review found work at Te Punanga Manu, although important for conservation, is not critical to the advocacy or protection of the species it houses – and is therefore not considered high priority biodiversity work for DOC.

The sanctuary also requires substantial investment in infrastructure and staffing to make it sustainable, says DOC’s Southern South Island Operations Director Aaron Fleming.

“One example is the takahē enclosure, which needs significant investment, with 2023 costings sitting around $100,000.”

DOC faces its own financial challenges and must prioritise its investment into conservation – which means it is not currently in a position to fund the upgrades needed at Te Anau Bird Sanctuary/Te Punanga Manu.

“Locally DOC’s high priority biodiversity work also needs investment, such as critical infrastructure to maintain predator-free Fiordland islands that are home to critically endangered species, including kākāpō, tīeke and mohua,” says Aaron.

“We know Te Punanga Manu is much loved by the Te Anau community and visitors alike, which is why alternative models to fund and operate the sanctuary will be considered.”

Currently Te Punanga Manu holds a small number of South Island takahē, kōwhiowhio/blue duck, pāteke/brown teal and Antipodes Island kākāriki.

“The well-being of manu will continue to come first no matter the outcome of the review,” says Aaron.

“We will keep the community, sponsors and stakeholders informed as things develop.”

Background information

DOC started the review of Te Anau Bird Sanctuary/Te Punanga Manu o Te Anau (Te Punanga Manu) in June 2024 and completed it in October 2024. The review assessed its current condition, purpose and sustainability. The decision to withdraw from management was made in January 2025.

Great South was established as the Southland Regional Development Agency in March 2019. Committed to driving economic, social and cultural growth, Great South has a clear mandate to leverage opportunities for Southland in the areas of economic and business development, tourism and events.

For more information: About Us | Great South

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Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  10 February 2025

Spartina is a fast-growing, salt-tolerant grass that can grow to two metres tall.

Although it was originally planted in locations across New Zealand in the 1940s to stabilise land for reclamation, it has become an aggressive and persistent invader of inter-tidal mudflats – like those found around Coromandel Harbour

Spartina traps silt and sand, impacting the open mudflats needed by many migratory protected birds like kuaka/bar-tailed godwit, moho pereū/banded rail, and tūturiwhatu/dotterel, as well as some shellfish varieties.

DOC’s Coromandel Biodiversity Ranger Jamie Carey says the infestation of the plant in the Coromandel Harbour needs to be addressed, prompting an aerial herbicide operation his team has planned for February.

“When it comes to spartina, ‘do nothing’ is not an option,” says Jamie. “We need to control this plant, or it will spread and further compromise the biodiversity values in the harbour. 

“If we don’t address this infestation quickly, we’ll lose valuable habitat for our native species.”

The operation will involve using a helicopter to apply the herbicide (Halyoxfop), which will rely on a patch of good weather with minimal wind. Jamie says this will be visible to people in and around the harbour, but there is no need for concern.

“We want to be transparent about this work; even though the aircraft will only be deployed for a few hours, people may wonder what it’s doing flying at such low levels.

“In short, it’s helping us protect native species habitat by addressing the spartina issue in the harbour.”

Monitoring will be undertaken after the operation to ensure water quality in the harbour has not been compromised, as per DOC’s consent to use the product.

Background information

Spartina is an aggressive and persistent invader of inter-tidal mudflats.

It invades mangroves, mudflats and estuaries taking over the inter-tidal zone. It forms big clumps that hold mud (sediment).

This raises the level of the land and can change coastal ecosystems. Bird and fish habitat is damaged by spartina.

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Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  07 February 2025

This research, conducted every five years, uses a proven genetic mark-recapture method to estimate the Maaui dolphin population along the west coast of the North Island. DNA samples will be collected from live, wild dolphins using a small biopsy dart, providing essential information about population size, genetic diversity, and movement patterns.

“The Maaui dolphin is critically endangered, and every sighting or sample contributes to our understanding of the species and its future survival,” says Cara Hansen, DOC Ranger.

The most recent abundance estimate, completed in 2021, indicated there were approximately 54 individual Maaui dolphins over the age of one year in the water off the North Island’s west coast (the animals’ known habitat). This new survey will provide an updated estimate to help track changes in the population and inform conservation efforts.

The survey will be carried out over two summer seasons, in 2025-26 and 2026-27, with field teams operating between the entrance of Kaipara Harbour and the Mokau River in Taranaki. Staff from DOC’s Taranaki, Auckland, and Waikato districts, the Marine Species Team, the University of Auckland, and Ngaati Te Ata will collaborate on this important project.

The public can also play a role in conservation efforts by reporting any sightings of Maaui dolphins and being aware of the threat that toxoplasmosis has on Maaui dolphins. The dolphins have a distinctive round dorsal fin, often likened to an ear from the cartoon character Mickey Mouse.

“Real-time reports help our field teams understand where the dolphins are being seen and improve the success of our survey,” says Cara.

Sightings can be reported through DOC’s hotline at 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) or online Marine mammal sighting form.

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Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  05 February 2025

Mouse numbers have been tracking consistently high in the area where the skinks live. Mice are small enough to enter the small holes and burrows where the skinks live and eat them alive.

This operation, in Victoria Forest Park, will protect the only known population of the Alborn skink, which is at high risk of extinction. It’s classified as Threatened – Nationally Critical with the population estimated to be 30 individuals.

DOC Operations Manager Chris Hickford says that the 10-hectare pest control operation is an interim measure to protect the skinks, until a predator proof fence can be built.

“We are working with the New Zealand Nature Fund (NZNF) to raise funds to build a predator proof fence for the skinks. Once we can enclose an area, and remove any predators inside it, we’ll be able to protect the skinks without needing to use toxins.

“The pest control operation will utilise the toxin brodifacoum, placed in bait stations. Brodifacoum is the most effective toxin to control mice and is less likely to lead to bait shyness than other toxins.”

Map of caution zones
Image: DOC

Because brodifacoum persists in the environment, an area around the operation will become a “caution zone” for three years due to the risk of game animals consuming sub-lethal amounts of the toxin, which could then enter the food chain. There is a five-kilometre radius zone for pigs, and two-kilometre radius for deer.

Hickford says, “We have designed the operation to minimise this risk as much as is practical. We have evidence that pig and deer numbers are very low in the treatment area and will monitor for interactions with the bait stations throughout the operation.”

You can donate to this project to build a fence for the Alborn skink through DOC’s partner, New Zealand Nature Fund (NZNF). NZNF is a charitable trust responsible for funds donated to this project. Visit NZNF to secure the future of the Alborn skink

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Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  04 February 2025

So far, 10 chicks have fledged in the wild meaning the tiny juvenile shorebirds have grown strong enough to fly and survive on their own. Crucially, another eight chicks have been successfully hand-raised at Auckland Zoo through DOC’s ongoing partnership with the facility.

Although this is promising progress for tara iti, the breeding season still comes with challenges. DOC staff remain vigilant, keeping an eye out for threats like off-leash dogs, predators, and extreme weather.

With fewer than 40 individual tara iti remaining, every nest, egg, and chick is critical to the survival of the species.

“We’re pleased with how the season is progressing, but there’s still a long way to go.” says DOC Ranger Nikki Hartley.

DOC staff attribute the season’s progress to a combination of management techniques and collaborative conservation efforts, including:

• enhanced predator control – hundreds of traps have been deployed to safeguard nesting sites from predators such as cats, mustelids, and rats
• chick-rearing techniques – egg collection and chick rearing at Auckland Zoo continue to support population recovery
• research initiatives ongoing studies help DOC understand tara iti population dynamics and threats, guiding conservation strategies
• habitat protection protecting and maintaining key nesting sites provides safer environments for tara iti to breed.

Tara iti now breed at only four key sites north of Auckland: Papakānui Spit, Pākiri Beach, Waipū, and Mangawhai sandspits.

“Auckland Zoo is proud to provide the expert husbandry support to DOC in recovering this rarest of New Zealand’s breeding birds,” says Richard Gibson, Head of Animal Care and Conservation.

“When a species has declined to such a precarious low, intensive management techniques like incubation, hand-rearing and head-starting are critical to helping to significantly increase productivity and hopefully turn the tide of decline to see tara iti flourish once again”.

DOC works closely with partners, including iwi groups Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust Board, Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust, Nga Maungawhakahii O Kaipara Development Trust, Ngāti Wai Trust Board, and Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust, Auckland Zoo, The Shorebirds Trust, NZ Fairy Tern Charitable Trust, About Tern, Birds NZ, Tara Iti Golf Club, NZ Nature Fund and local trapping groups.

Generous support for the breeding season has been provided by organisations such as the Shorebirds Trust, Endangered Species Foundation, Pākiri Beach Holiday Park, Auckland Council, Manāki Whitebait, Tongariro National Trout Centre, and New Zealand King Salmon.

Everyone has a role to play in protecting tara iti. Here’s how you can help:

• stay out of fenced areas and use designated walkways
• avoid nests and chicks while enjoying beaches and estuaries
• keep dogs on leads and out of reserves
• dispose of bait, fish scraps, and rubbish to deter predators
• avoid driving or cycling on beaches
• if a bird swoops at you or appears injured, move away quickly as you’re likely near a nest.

The public can now donate directly to tara iti recovery project.

Over the next five years, the NZ Nature Fund in partnership with DOC is seeking to raise $1.57 million for tara iti conservation from public donors and philanthropists. The funds will be used to accelerate DOC’s tara iti recovery programme and ensure the species survives beyond the next 50 years through a number of initiatives such as:

• developing between three and five new safe breeding sites within the birds existing habitat range, but outside the four main current nesting sites
• creating new habitats with shell patches at the existing and new breeding sites
• expanding the buffer predator control range so all tara iti breeding have sufficient control to ensure protection. 

To donate visit NZ Nature Fund

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Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  31 January 2025

The good news comes just ahead of World Wetlands Day, which celebrates and raises awareness of the significant role wetlands play for the planet and people. This year’s theme is protecting wetlands for our common future.

Aotearoa has seven Ramsar-listed wetlands, recognised as internationally significant sites, including Whangamarino Wetland in Waikato.

The October fire burned through about 1000 hectares of the peatland, one of the few remaining raised peatlands in the southern hemisphere. It stores a significant amount of carbon in its soils, and is home to rare native plants and threatened species like the matuku-hūrepo/Australasian bittern and pūweto/spotless crake.

DOC Whangamarino Ranger Lizzie Sharp says thanks to relatively high water levels in the peatland before the fire, only a shallow layer of the peat soils was burned.

“The wetland is showing signs of hope. The peatland areas of Whangamarino were healthy before the fire as it wasn’t being actively drained and had good vegetation cover dominated by native plants, so we’re more confident about its recovery.”

“Although this is great news, the fire has still caused significant damage to the vegetation and upper layers of the wetland, resulting in loss of 1000ha of critical habitat for threatened species. The loss of biodiversity caused by the fire will likely take decades to recover.

It’s like the peat bog has lost its skin. It is still vulnerable and losing water more easily than it should. The new conditions are inviting for weeds like willow, royal fern, and pampas.”

Lizzie says the recovery plan will focus on controlling invasive weeds which will give the native peat vegetation time to recover from their seed sources which survived the fire.

“Peat bog wetlands are normally low-nutrient environments and the plants living there have adapted to those conditions. The firefighting effort used water from nearby waterways which had much higher nutrient levels, so we want to understand how the wetland responds to this.”

DOC Principal Science Advisor Freshwater Hugh Robertson says other peatland fires in New Zealand have emitted more than 200 tonnes of carbon per hectare, but the loss of carbon at Whangamarino is likely to be only about 50-80 tonnes per hectare because the wet peat soils did not burn. However, further research is needed to confirm the carbon emissions.

“Peatlands are great carbon stores because the vegetation in them, which holds the carbon, decomposes very slowly, trapping it. It’s like the vegetation freezes in time.

“However, peat soils are highly flammable, particularly when they’re dried out. Re-wetting our wetlands will make them less susceptible to the impacts of fires which in turn will reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Hugh says. 

World Wetlands Day, celebrated annually on 2 February, dates back to 1971 when environmentalists gathered in the city of Ramsar, Iran, to reaffirm protection for our world’s wetlands.

The day highlights the influence and positive production wetlands have on the world and brings communities together for the benefit of wetlands. It also raises global awareness of the significant role wetland’s play for the planet and people.  

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Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  30 January 2025

In early January, high trapping lines between Dart Valley and the west Matukituki Valley were checked by Matukituki Charitable Trust volunteers and Southern Lakes Sanctuary staff, who found the entrances to all 45 traps blocked off by strategically placed rocks.

Staff have since found all the traps from Shelter Rock hut to Dart hut and down the Rees valley have also been triggered or had rocks placed in front of their doors.

“This means someone has made the effort to disarm more than 150 remote traps in total across two locations,” says DOC Operations manager Whakatipu David Butt.

“At this time of the year this line of traps catches numerous predators, including stoats.

“This is a critical time to have protection for native species through trapping. The people who have done this to the traps will be responsible for an increase in the death of many individuals from our taonga species.”  

An introduced species, stoats are the number one killer of many of New Zealand’s endangered native species.

“We have a team of hardworking DOC rangers, Southern Lakes Sanctuary staff and volunteers who put in a lot of hard graft to ensure our trapping network is effective,” says David.

“It is very concerning someone – or potentially several people – covered challenging terrain and clambered through bush to find these traps and block them off so predators cannot enter. It means we will see an increase in predators.”

DOC’s Takahē Recovery Group is working to establish a new population of the birds on and around Mt Aspiring. There are concerns those birds will be at risk if traps in the area are found to be compromised as well.  

Trapping is considered a humane method of removing introduced predators from our National Parks to protect native birds, lizards, and invertebrates.

Nature in New Zealand is unique and special. Most of it is only found here, and evolved without the introduced predators DOC and other conservation organisations strive to control. Once our species are gone from here, they’re gone from everywhere.

If anyone has any information about the traps that have been targeted, we urge them to call call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).

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Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  30 January 2025

“Up until now, we’ve lacked information on the climate change impact on subantarctic islands,” Drew Bingham, DOC Principal Science Advisor says.

“We knew we had to take a deeper look and identify actions needed to ensure the survival of the taonga species that depend on the islands for their survival.”

The study focuses on 11,300-ha Campbell Island, 740km south of Dunedin. Its terrain is steep, rugged and covered in extensive peat. The highest point is 569m.

“Meteorological observations were made over 83 years, which was an excellent base to start with, and gave us confidence in identifying past trends,” Drew says.

“The pattern we’ve observed is a general increase across all climate indicators related to warmer conditions. This is expected to continue into the future.

“Increases in temperatures, rainfall and wind are projected for Campbell Island. Winter rainfall is expected to be particularly heavy, with a warmer atmosphere storing more water vapour and increasing the severity and intensity of downpours.”

Drew says these climate projections have implications for conservation management on Campbell and other subantarctic islands.

“Extensive rainfall events and slips will potentially have the biggest impact on nesting birds. We’d also like to find out more about how sea level rise and storm surges will affect sea lions.

“Increasing the resilience of the subantarctic islands and keeping them pest-free becomes even more important in the face of climate change, especially given the wealth of biodiversity on many of the islands.

“The project to remove pests from Campbell island’s neighbour, Maukahuka/Auckland Island, is a great example, and will boost the climate change resilience of Auckland Island and by extension, the surrounding Southern Ocean.”

Data from the study shows the following trends and records for Campbell Island’s climate:

• An increase in the average daily temperature over the past 83 years.
• A decrease in the number of cold days over the past 83 years.
• An increase in annual rainfall since 1970 (an additional annual rainfall of 79mm per decade).
• The three warmest years and four wettest years on record were after 2011.

Drew says further research is still needed to assess the impact of the projected weather on Campbell Island’s species in more detail.

“This climate report is a good start as we look at ways to help our taonga species on the subantarctic islands adapt to climate change.”

Visit DOC’s website to download the report on the study.

The climate and weather of Campbell Island/Motu Ihupuku: historic observations and projected changes (PDF, 3,100K)

Background information

Campbell Island is part of New Zealand’s subantarctic World Heritage Site. It is the most southerly of the five New Zealand subantarctic groups.

Campbell Island is home to six species of albatross, including black-browed, grey-headed, light-mantled sooty and a small population of Gibson’s wandering albatross. Several critically endangered birds including the Campbell Island teal and Campbell Island snipe are found nowhere else. It has around 128 native vascular plants, which include several endemic herbs and grasses.

The island’s rat-free status was confirmed in 2006, following rat eradications in the early 2000s.

The Maukahuka project aims to eradicate feral pigs, feral cats and mice from Auckland Island so the island’s animals and plants can thrive. Visit DOC’s website for more information: Restoring Auckland Island – the Maukahuka project.

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