Category: Conservation

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  10 December 2024 Source:  Te Papa Atawhai Department of Conservation and Mahi Mō Te Taiao Waikanae Jobs for Nature

The Waikanae Mahi mō te Taiao project was established four years ago as part of the Government’s Jobs for Nature programme, building on an existing environmental partnership between mana whenua, Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai, Kāpiti Coast District Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, and the Department of Conservation.

The project aimed to train and develop kaimahi in skills like environmental restoration, pest control, sustainable land management, and riparian planting.

The injection of Jobs for Nature funding boosted the partnership’s work to restore the health of the Waikanae River and achieve social outcomes. An independent review of Jobs for Nature has found that around $4 of benefits have been delivered for every dollar invested across the DOC-funded projects.

The project has been managed by local firm Groundtruth. Kristie Parata, Iwi Coordinator for Groundtruth, says a key aim of the project has been enabling rangatahi to train and work as kaitiaki on their awa and whenua.

“Through this work, we have achieved so much for our people and for our taiao,” says Kristie. “Our kaimahi have learned a wide range of skills, including plant nursery, environmental monitoring, fencing, track cutting, and pest control. Many have also reconnected with their past and heritage, and discovered new life paths and future goals, which is incredibly rewarding.

“We have learned to appreciate that a healthy taiao requires a lot of boots on the ground. The hard mahi of weed control and planting, contributing as kaitiaki, has brought our whole whanau on a journey of wellbeing.

“As a community, we all have aroha for this place we call home.”

The outputs from the project include over 22,000 riparian plants and over 100,000 other native plants planted, 2000 hectares of goat control, and around 600 hectares of possum control. 67 trainees across 10 groups graduated through a 3-month course, receiving unit standard training and hands-on learning. Many of these tauira have gone on to become kaimahi on project work, and to find employment in the conservation sector and beyond.

Kāpiti Coast District mayor Janet Holborow, Chair of the governance group, said the great success of the partnership has laid the foundations for future collaborations.

“It shows how we can all do better together,” says Janet. “The skills and connections gained by kaimahi have wider ripples far beyond themselves and this project. They’re able to go on to make significant contributions to their whānau, iwi, and the wider community. That’s something we can all benefit from.”

Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai is now looking to transition this project into an iwi-led environmental business to support continued delivery of employment and environmental outcomes at Waikanae.

The legacy also continues on the more than 2000 hectares of the catchment supported by property or work plans guiding their restoration over years to come.

Background information

More on the cost/benefit assessment – Jobs for Nature impact assessment 

Contact

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  09 December 2024

Tēnā koutou katoa

Today I am joined by my senior leadership team:

• Henry Weston, Deputy Director-General Regional Operations
• Stephanie Rowe, Deputy Director-GeneralBiodiversity, Heritage and Visitors
• Ruth Isaac, Deputy Director-General Policy and Regulatory Services
• Mike Tully, Deputy Director-General Organisation support
• Tame Malcom, Deputy Director-General Treaty Relationships
• Sia Aston, Deputy Director-General Public Affairs

I want to set the scene of what DOC’s achieved, what the challenges are and where we’re heading – will take the full 10 minutes.

This year we refreshed our strategy, and our new purpose is Toitū te Taiao – we protect and restore nature.

We are focused on being the best we can be and mobilising others to take action for nature.

I’m really proud of what DOC staff have achieved this year, in challenging circumstances.

Biodiversity

Our National Predator Control Programme achieved its best ever results.

We adapted quickly to an unexpected beech mast and delivered 28 aerial 1080 operations across 735,000 hectares. Monitoring shows rats were consistently reduced to undetectable or very low levels, stoats and possums were effectively controlled. Mice were also routinely reduced to low levels, giving relief to native insects and lizards.

Our interventions have seen bumper breeding seasons for tara iti, kākāriki, northern Royal Albatross, kakī, and sea lion pups in Dunedin.

We completed the largest and most ambitious marine fieldwork season ever undertaken in subantarctic region.

We ramped up our wild animal management to give forests more chance to regenerate. We delivered over 1.2 million hectares of wild goat control in 23/24 and 140,000 hectares of wild deer control.

Visitors and recreation

We built and repaired a lot of visitor assets, including huts, tracks and bridges, after repeated storm damage and Cyclone Gabrielle.

We’ve recently opened a new great walk at Tuatapere Hump Ridge, and reopened Cathedral Cove. We said we would open it in early December and despite interruptions with bad weather and people ignoring track closures – we did it.

Auckland’s Te Henga walkway’s been reopened, Godley Head has been cleaned up, and we have a new visitor centre for Punakaiki.

We are ready for summer visitors.

Treaty partnership

We’ve achieved more for conservation by working with our Treaty partners. For example:

• With Ngāti Porou and Te Whanaū a Apanui, we’ve delivered pest control in Raukūmara, to help protect over 117,000 hectares from pests.
• On Matiu Somes Island in Wellington, we worked with the kaitiaki board to replace a wharf on time and on budget. And to ensure sustainable visitation to the island.
• And alongside Te Roroa we’re protecting kauri by replacing infrastructure.

Internally, we’ve set up a specialist asset management unit and made big improvements to our IT systems and network.

We have done all this while achieving savings of $47.2 m in the past year, and keeping our staff engaged.

The Minister of Conservation has given us four clear priorities

• Targeting investment in high value conservation areas
• Improving the regulatory system
• Exploring new revenue options so we’re financially sustainable
• And maintaining and building positive working relationships with Māori.

In terms of high value conservation areas – the first thing we did is work to better understand the value of nature.

Research shows the ecosystem services that public conservation land provides, such as fresh air, quality soil, clean water and pollinators are worth around $11 billion per year.

The natural and physical capital on conservation land is currently worth $133 billion, with National Parks worth $12.6 billion to New Zealanders.

On top of that, tourism on public conservation land is worth around $3.4 billion a year and supports regional economies through jobs and visitors spending money in communities.

These numbers are significant and yet they only cover the third of NZ’s land area that we currently protect.

This suggests to me that nature is New Zealand’s biggest asset. It’s vital for the economy. It’s also our insurance policy against climate change.

Healthy forests will prevent downstream impacts on urban areas during severe storms.

Nature is also important of course, for its own sake, and because spending time is good for us physically and mentally.

New Zealand thrives if we preserve, protect and restore nature.

We have a new approach to the way we do our biodiversity planning.

As you know, native species are in trouble – we’ve worked out it would cost $2.3 billion to manage all threatened species to persistence, which is way beyond our means.

So we are getting smarter and deliberately targeting our investment towards efforts that make the biggest difference. That means:

• Investing more money into species at the top of the cliff, the ones we could lose if we don’t take action
• Focusing on protecting our offshore islands from pest incursions – because they’re safe havens for vulnerable species
• Shifting more into managing threats across representative ecosystems and landscapes – we need more space for species to thrive – and they don’t pay attention to boundaries
• Developing new tools, techniques and carrying out research to support our decisions.

We have developed a new biodiversity planning tool that guides us on where we need to invest and will help us measure how successful our management is.

• This will be a game changer once it’s fully implemented in the next year.
• It maps our current spend, gives us clear priorities against the key work programmes (species, threats, ecosystems, obligations and research)
• It will help us develop clear target and objectives that will flow through to multi-year plans
• This tool will give us more information on the tough choices and trade-offs that need to be made to protect native plants, birds, insects and taonga species.

In terms of improving our regulatory system – we have put out a discussion document about making the conservation management system simpler.

We have agreed clear key performance targets with the Minister, and already, we’ve had an 80% increase in the number of permissions applications we’re processing each week.

While we’ve been modernising the way we work, we’ve also been inputting into the Fast-Track legislation and standing up how we will implement it.

For the priority about generating revenue – we have put out a discussion document about charging access to some areas and are doing a car-parking trial.

We’ve launched a nature prospectus to encourage business and philanthropists to invest in projects that extend or accelerate the core work we are already doing.

We are future proofing our visitor network, so it meets the changing needs of visitors and is more affordable, and we’re working on a mobilising for nature programme to get all New Zealanders to invest in nature.

The final priority is about maintaining and building positive working relationships with Māori.

DOC has over 3380 Crown monitored settlement commitments – 89% of them are either on track or have been completed.

We are holding 20 hui before Christmas to discuss the consultation documents to modernise the conservation system.

To sum up

It’s been a challenging year, but we have delivered against our priorities.

We expect to have more challenges next year – like all Government departments we’re being asked to absorb inflation and salaries, which means our baseline is dropping.

We will continue to prioritise our work carefully.

And we are focused on becoming a more innovative organisation, that achieves great things for nature, energises our people, and mobilises others to care and invest in nature too.

I look forward to discussing this work with you further.

No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa,

Contact

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  06 December 2024

It’s a stark reminder of the impact introduced predators like feral cats have on New Zealand’s vulnerable native wildlife, especially during breeding season.

Predator control, island enhancement for nesting, and bird monitoring has been undertaken in the area for about a decade. The project is funded by Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury), DOC and Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), and much of the work is carried out by Wildlife Management International Limited.

DOC South Marlborough Senior Biodiversity Ranger Pat Crowe says a single male feral cat reached a large island with 95 nests, eating several adult birds, chicks, and eggs, and disturbing the colony to the point where almost all nests have been abandoned.

“The devastating incident has destroyed the largest colony on the river despite extensive predator control in the area. It highlights how difficult it is to trap feral cats, which are intelligent and wary.

“The timing is particularly bad as most nests had chicks, or eggs that were about to hatch, which means they won’t have the time or energy to nest again this season.

Pat Crowe says it’s a real kick in the guts after all the work that’s been put into protecting these threatened birds, and the steady gains made over the past decade.

Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) Principal Biodiversity Advisor Frances Schmechel says it’s essential the work continues as Canterbury provides vital habitat. About two-thirds of their nesting habitat occurs in the braided rivers of this region.

Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) Biosecurity Manager Tracey Burton says the incident highlights the importance of predator control in helping native species have a fighting chance.

“It’s sad to hear that one feral cat has decimated nearly an entire colony of these special birds that we’re all working so hard to protect. It’s a horrible reminder of the impact predators can have and why controlling their numbers is vital.”

Burton says LINZ is working closely with DOC and Environment Canterbury to control predators along the Waiau Toa/Clarence River and other braided rivers.

LINZ has been supporting predator control work on the Waiau Toa/Clarence River over the last five years.

Background information

Black-fronted terns are endemic and have a conservation status of “Threatened – Nationally Endangered”. They have a national population of 5-10,000 birds, which is declining.

Feral cats are opportunistic and skilled hunters, and among the top introduced predators across many New Zealand’s ecosystems. With their high prey drive, they have a major impact on native birds, bats and lizards. They can weigh up to 7 kg and measure up to a metre long (including the tail).

Braided rivers like the Waiau Toa are dynamic and globally rare ecosystems which face pressures from weed encroachment, introduced predators and land use changes, in addition to human disturbance.

Contact

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  05 December 2024

Department of Conservation Senior Biodiversity Ranger Ben Gordon says each year kiwi are caught in leg-hold traps set for possums, causing injury and often death for the unfortunate birds.

“A kiwi can easily be caught by the leg or beak in a leg-hold trap, often causing injuries the bird can’t recover from.

“We’re asking the trapping community to help kiwi by setting these traps at a kiwi-safe height of more than 700 mm off the ground.”

Kiwi are ground-based birds not given to climbing. A simple 1 m long wooden board secured from a tree at an angle of 45 degrees to the ground allows access for target species while effectively deterring kiwi.

Brown kiwi are doing well, and the population in Coromandel has grown significantly thanks to long-term predator control programmes run by DOC and the wider community.

“The great success of Coromandel kiwi means they’re moving into more areas, and are at greater risk of encountering traps,” says Ben.

As with all trapping regimes, target animals should be treated humanely and not left to suffer – leg-hold traps must be checked daily and animals dispatched quickly.

For more information on how to set kiwi-safe traps contact your local DOC office.

Background information

Key Points to effective leg-hold trapping in a kiwi zone are:

• Trap is minimum of 700 mm off the ground.
• Board is approx. 1 m long and at a 45-degree angle to the ground.
• Trap is attached to the board and the chain is attached as low as possible.
• Board is on the uphill side of the tree.

Legal and humane use of leg-hold traps is described under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 and the Animal Welfare (Leg-hold Traps) Order 2007: Traps and devices: animal welfare and pest management 

More information about using leg traps: Bionet guidelines for leghold traps

Contact

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  02 December 2024

There are 37 long-finned pilot whales stranded at one location. Two whales have died and 35 remain alive.

DOC is working with Project Jonah and volunteers on site to keep the whales wet and as comfortable as possible until a refloating can be attempted.

“The plan is to try to refloat the whales either on the incoming tide tonight before it gets dark or at high tide tomorrow at about midday,” says DOC Operations Manager Ross Trotter.

“The team are assessing to see if a refloat attempt is possible this evening before it gets dark. However high tide isn’t until 11.30 pm so this may not be possible. Once it’s dark, the team will stand down, as it’s unsafe to continue to work.

“A team will return to the site at dawn.

“Currently, we have enough support onsite, and no extra volunteers are needed at this stage. We appreciate the support of the volunteers who are assisting.”

Contact

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  02 December 2024 Source:  Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou, Te Papa Atawhai Department of Conservation, Tūhura Otago Museum, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka University of Otago

The 5-metre-long male spade-toothed whale that washed ashore at Otago’s Taiari Mouth in July will undergo dissection at Invermay Agresearch Centre in Mosgiel for a week from Monday.

Next to nothing is known about the species. Since the 1800s, only 6 other spade-toothed whales have been documented worldwide, and all but one was discovered in Aotearoa New Zealand. This is the first time a complete specimen has been recovered in good condition for examination.

The extraordinary opportunity to examine the mysterious tohorā (whale) will be led by Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou in partnership with Te Papa Atawhai Department of Conservation (DOC), working with Tūhura Otago Museum and Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka University of Otago.

Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou chair Nadia Wesley-Smith says the opportunity to research the tohorā is a significant occurrence for mana whenua.

“The tohorā allows mana whenua to reconnect and apply indigenous knowledge and traditional cultural practices that have been passed down from generation to generation,” she says.

“The hapū of Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou will officially welcome the research team to our Marae in Ōtākou and teach them our customary protocols. In return, they have offered to invite our rakatahi (young people) who work in the taiao (environment) space to teach them about whale dissection.”

“We will also host Hori Parata from Ngāti Wai to share some of his extensive mātauraka (knowledge) on the tohorā with our whānau and scientists.”

A research team made of up international and local scientists will be led by DOC Senior Marine Science Advisor and beaked whale expert Anton van Helden. Scientists from DOC, Tūhura Otago Museum, and Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka University of Otago will be joined by three international marine biologists from the USA: Dr Joy S. Reidenberg, Dr Michael Denk, and Dr Alexander Werth.

Mr van Helden says the dissection will provide baseline information about the species.

“Beaked whales are the most enigmatic group of large mammals on the planet, they are deep divers that are rarely seen at sea, which presents real challenges for researching these marine animals. Most of what we know about these elusive whales comes from the examination of whales that have come ashore and died. This one is the rarest of the rare, only the seventh specimen known from anywhere in the world, and the first opportunity we have had to undertake a dissection like this,” he says.

“We will be able to look at the structures used for sound production, its stomach layout, that is unique to each species of beaked whale, even down to confirming exactly how many vertebrae this species has.”

Tūhura will host a panel discussion with representatives from Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou and the research team to discuss the groundbreaking discoveries from the first-ever dissection and the cultural connections and tikaka surrounding the tohorā on Thursday 5 December at 5:30 pm at Tūhura Otago Museum.

The findings of the dissection may have implications for how we manage the human threats these species face in their environment, Mr van Helden says.

“This is a remarkable and globally significant opportunity.”

Following the dissection, Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou has given permission to Tūhura to retain the skeleton but will hold the kauae (jawbone) for cultural purposes. A 3D print will be made of the jaw for presentation purposes by the museum.

Dissection will run from Monday 2 December through to Friday 6 December 2024.

Contact

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  29 November 2024

There will now be more certainty when applying for permission to fly a drone on conservation land, and the time it takes to get a permit is likely to be faster. 

DOC Director of Regulatory Systems Performance Siobhan Quayle says the Conservation Act 1987 requires any aircraft (including drones) taking off, landing, or hovering on conservation land to have a concession (permit). 

“Drones are useful and fun in many ways, but can have adverse effects on people and wildlife, which is why we require people to get a permit before using them on public conservation land. On average, DOC receives 320 drone concession applications per year. 

“The new process introduces a “traffic light system” which makes it easier for people to quickly understand where it is ok to fly a drone and where it is off limits.

“It groups conservation land into easily understandable categories where drone use is either allowed (green), not allowed except in exceptional circumstances (red), or requires further investigation (yellow).” 

Those who are granted a permit can operate at any conservation land that is in the allowed “Green Category”. The new system will provide clear and consistent expectations for operating a drone on conservation land so as to reduce the impact that drones have on other people and wildlife.

The term of a permit is also increasing from three months to a year.  This also means the fee is changing from $65 to $180 for applications in green and red categories. 

Applications in the orange category are in line with the standard non-notified concession pricing of $2065, which is consistent with previous pricing.

Under this new process, drone applications will no longer be accepted at local DOC offices or visitor centres. Applications can be made through the DOC website. Drone use on conservation land: Apply for permits

Background information

Drones are used on conservation land for various purposes, including recreational use (flying a drone for fun), commercial use (taking footage for television shows or feature films) or research use (surveying and monitoring wildlife populations).

These changes apply to any permit granted from 18 November 2024.

Contact

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  28 November 2024

Dirt bikers, quad bikes, and other vehicles are a safety risk on tracks designated for walking and/or cycling, and the recent harassment of a DOC ranger has brought the issue to a head in the southern Ruapehu area.

On Monday 18 November, DOC rangers approached two people who were illegally riding their dirt bikes on the heritage listed Old Coach Road, near Ohakune.

When the rangers explained motorised vehicles are not allowed on the track, the riders became hostile, swearing and gesturing.

One rider started doing wheelies and attempting to push a ranger toward the railway barrier with the front wheel. Fortunately, no one was injured.

Ultimately the pair raced back up the Old Coach Road, leaving the shocked rangers to report the incident to police.

DOC Supervisor Danial Van der Lubbe says although this incident was an exception, all heavy motorised vehicles on paths like this put visitors at risk.

“The Old Coach Road is a family friendly track for walking or mountain biking, petrol-powered vehicles are not allowed for both safety and heritage reasons.”

It is an offence under the Tongariro National Park Bylaws 1981 to drive a vehicle, including dirt bikes and quad bikes, on walking and mountain-biking tracks.

“We’ve seen multiple cases in Tongariro, and across the country, of people thinking they can rip up tracks and endanger visitors, it’s not on,” says Dan.

He adds, “Dirt biking, off-roading, these activities can be great fun in the right places. Check the DOC website for where they can be used on public conservation land.”

DOC encourages people to report any suspected illegal off-roading on public conservation land to the DOC Hotline 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).

Background information