Category: Department of Conservation

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  08 July 2024

This year DOC staff have seen a worrying number of dog attacks on penguins. Since December 2023, of those reported to DOC, a total of eight penguins have been confirmed as being killed by dogs. A further seven birds were unconfirmed as to cause of death, but sustained injuries consistent with dog attacks.

Although Wellington City Council recently erected fencing and a sign warning of fines for unleashed dogs, an eyewitness saw a dog near penguin nesting boxes within the fenced area. They also heard one of the penguins being attacked and, although they attempted to scare the dog away, it was too late.

Angus Hulme-Moir, DOC Operations Manager for Kapiti-Wellington, says the team is shocked.

“There is a whole community who are deeply upset by the deaths of these kororā,” says Angus. “These are beautiful birds whose habitat and home we share, and an easy way for us to do this is to leash dogs in designated areas. If you are unsure about dog access in a particular area, check with the nearest local council or DOC office or before you set out.”

“There are plenty of areas where dogs are allowed to remain unleashed, where they don’t pose a risk to wildlife; if you want to keep your dog off leash, just go there instead.”

“The saddest part is these penguins’ deaths were completely avoidable if people simply followed the rules.”

All three kororā found last week were microchipped, and part of an established colony monitored by Places for Penguins volunteers in the area.

If people ignore dog access rules or conditions, they may be issued an infringement fine or prosecuted. A dog can also be seized and impounded or destroyed if it is found in a controlled dog area without a permit.

The Lead the Way initiative is trying to avoid these situations through advocacy and awareness, by empowering dog owners to share the beach safely with wildlife.

Members of the public can report dogs where they are not allowed to DOC by calling

• 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).

Contact

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  04 July 2024

DOC Central Otago Operations Manager Nicola Holmes says after in-depth engineering, geotechnical, and design assessments, work is now scheduled to begin on the Rob Roy, Blue Pools and Makarora bridges in the coming weeks. A new boardwalk between the Makarora and Blue Pools bridges will also be constructed.

“We’re thrilled to be at a stage where we can confidently begin the next stage of work and get these bridges reopened for our community,” Nicola says.

“This work is a significant undertaking requiring bespoke engineering and logistics – it takes time to achieve but now having done the prep work we’re in a great position to press forward.”

Prefabrication work takes place largely off-site and has begun already. Work on the ground is expected to start in the coming weeks.

While winter is a notoriously difficult time of year for anything construction related, the expert contractors have built that contingency into their time frames and all going to plan, all three bridges are expected to open during the summer, Nicola says.

“We want to thank the community for their patience as we work towards this milestone.

“We know it was disappointing for a lot of people when the bridges were closed. Safety is always at the heart of our decision making.”

Prior to their closure, the Blue Pools and Makarora bridges, both on the popular Blue Pools Track, were visited on average by around 550 people a day in January, with around 75 people per hour crossing during peak time.

Rob Roy Bridge, which is the only access to the Rob Roy glacier track, saw around 180 people per day over summer.

There had been numerous instances where people had been ignoring the load limit signs on the bridges.

Engineering advice was that they could not sustain that level of usage, and with visitor numbers continuing to increase, we needed to make them safer, Nicola says.

The Makarora bridge was also at the end of its operational life.

With work on-site set to begin in the coming weeks people are reminded to stay clear of any construction sites, and follow the directions on all signage.

Contact

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  03 July 2024

The project, a collaboration between the DOC, the marae, and Horizons Regional Council, is creating 500 m additional spawning habitat for atutahi.

DOC River Ranger Jane Taylor says the work began in response to a survey showing just how little spawning habitat was available in the lower Whanganui River.

“Through a series of hui and site assessments the riverbank beside Te Ao Hou was identified as a place suitable for a collaborative restoration project.”

“It has been truly collaborative in the way neighbours and our many contractors have worked closely with the marae to agree on an approach.”

“The first step was to remove willows, pampas and other weeds before reshaping the bank to reduce steepness. A gentler slope means more area is underwater in the big spring tides when atutahi lay their eggs,” says Jane.

The earthworks revealed some surprises.

“When preparing the site, we discovered the area was used in the past as an informal tip. Contractors had to take over 30 loads of rubbish to the dump.”

Despite the setback, restoration efforts continued recently with a community planting day at the marae. Over 2000 native plants will help stabilise the bank and provide spawning habitat.

Geoff Hipango, kaitiaki at Te Ao Hou marae, is excited to see the continuation of riverbank restoration which has been part of their vision for the marae. The involvement of DOC and Horizons Regional Council has helped speed up the work.

Geoff says the restoration project is a win-win for the marae, thanks to the use of Whanganui tribal knowledge systems, science, and collaboration with the community.

“Healing the river is also healing for us. We want to create a paradise,” says Geoff.

“If we lay the groundwork, the next generation will hopefully inherit an awa that’s in better condition. Ko te awa te mātāpuna o te ora – the river is the spring of our wellness. Not just for our people but for the river herself.”

Aerial view of the restoration area on the banks of the Whanganui River
Image: Horizons Regional Council

Background information

DOC is working in a partnership with others to restore the Whanganui River catchment under its Ngā Awa river restoration programme. The programme focuses on restoring 14 priority river catchments around the country.

Contact

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  02 July 2024

Three prominent reserves in and around Whakatane will be temporarily closed to all public access during July for animal control operations to protect and enhance the mauri of the ngahere/forest.

Ōhope Scenic Reserve, Kōhī Point Reserve, and Mokorua Bush Scenic Reserve are scheduled for short, staggered closures between Monday 22 July and Thursday 25 July while contractors conduct wild pig and deer control.

The work is being undertaken as part of the Whakatāne and Ōhope Sites Environmental Programme, a collaborative initiative focused on restoring and improving the biodiversity across the Whakatāne and Ōhope hillscapes.

Nine partners, including DOC, Whakatāne District Council, Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council, landowners, iwi, and hapū, are working together toward the shared vision of a healthy taiao for future generations.

Management of introduced species is core to achieving the vision of the partnership, and the wider Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy. Managing numbers will help protect native species and increase forests’ health and resilience in dealing with climate change.

DOC Senior Community Ranger Jesse Burt says deer and pigs can pose a significant threat to New Zealand’s native forest ecosystems.

“They prevent the regeneration of plant species they eat, which can ultimately change the entire structure and composition of native ecosystems.”

“These reserves are popular and close to urban areas, meaning recreational hunting is not allowed for safety reasons. The planned operation will help to address an overabundance of pigs and deer in a safe manner,” says Jesse.

The reserves will be closed on a staggered schedule to minimise disruption. Kōhī Point Reserve will be closed on Monday 22 July, Mokorua Bush Scenic Reserve on Tuesday 23 July, and Ōhope Scenic Reserve will be closed from Wednesday 24 July to Thursday 25 July.

Warning signs will be placed at track entrances, and main entrance points will be staffed to ensure public safety and prevent unauthorised access during the operation.

The Whakatāne and Ōhope Sites Environmental Programme Working Group coordinating the operation would like to thank community and visitors for their understanding and cooperation during this essential work.

For further information please contact Bay of Plenty Regional Council on 0800 884 880 or info@boprc.govt.nz.

Contact

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  02 July 2024

DOC Director Heritage and Visitors Cat Wilson, welcomes the increase in international visitors exploring New Zealand’s public conservation land.

“We are excited more international visitors are coming to see us again,” says Cat.

“The upwards trend shows we are on our way to pre-COVID international visitor numbers, which is great news for the New Zealand economy and tourism operators.”

The most visited attractions by international visitors were beaches and national parks, including Fiordland, Aoraki Mount Cook and Tongariro National Park. Meanwhile, local New Zealanders gravitated towards sites closer to urban areas, including the Auckland region’s Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve and Rangitoto Island. Short walks remained the most popular activity undertaken by New Zealanders.

“Warmer than average temperatures across nearly all of the country saw many New Zealanders spending more time outdoors,” says Cat.

“Over the 2023/24 summer, around half of New Zealanders visited protected natural areas like our national parks, conservation areas, and marine reserves each month, and almost one-third visited a heritage site, such as historic reserves and places of national significance.

“It’s great to see both nature and our rich cultural heritage continue to excite and draw people, and we hope Kiwis and visitors alike continue to explore New Zealand’s incredible places,” says Cat.

2023/24 Summers Insights Report (PDF, 2,720K)

Background

• In December 2023 the number of overseas visitor arrivals into New Zealand was 418,900, compared to 528,200 in December 2019 (pre-COVID).
• Of these 418,900 overseas visitor arrivals, 40% were from Australia, 13% were from the United States, 7% were from the United Kingdom and 5% were from China.
• There were 2.96 million overseas visitor arrivals recorded in 2023, a post-pandemic increase of 1.52 million from the previous year.
• Between December 2023 and February 2024, the number of New Zealanders visiting protected natural areas each month remained near 50%.
• For the same period, New Zealanders who visited protected heritage places each month remained near 30%.
• The number of New Zealanders visiting protected natural areas was slightly higher in February 2024 compared to February 2023, reflecting the better weather this summer.
• Similar to last summer, short walks (less than 3 hours duration) remained the most popular activity undertaken by New Zealanders.

Contact

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  30 June 2024

He rāhui

He aitua! He aitua!

A rāhui has been placed on the eastern slopes of Mt Ruapehu above 2,000 m until Tuesday 2 July at 6 am.

On Saturday 29 June 2024 a climber in the vicinity of Whangaehu Hut on Mt Ruapehu passed away as a result of injuries sustained during a fall.

NZ Police, the Ruapehu Alpine Rescue Organisation (RARO) and Tukino Ski Field staff collaborated to rescue the climber.

All involved have expressed their condolences to the family, friends and whānau of the deceased.

To show respect, all hikers in the area are asked to consider refraining from accessing the area during the rāhui.

Contact

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  26 June 2024

The joint Department of Conservation and Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki response began when a DOC ranger spotted a rat on the island in late April.

Based on camera footage, only one rat is suspected to be present, although there could potentially be more. Additional tracking tunnels, cameras, and conservation dogs have been deployed, alongside a variety of baits in and around traps.

As the rat (or rats) is avoiding traps, DOC has adopted another strategy of selectively placing the toxic bait brodifacoum in bait stations or discrete locations around the island.

DOC Inner Hauraki Gulf Islands Operations Manager Kat Lane says it is crucial to keep Motutapu pest-free.

“The island is of high conservation value, and is actively used for threatened species recovery programmes,” says Kat. “Species such as tūturuatu/shore plover, takahē, and Coromandel brown kiwi all rely on Motutapu remaining pest-free.”

“This rat is a threat to the seven critically endangered tūturuatu we have on the island, as the birds are especially susceptible to mammalian predation. A planned translocation of juvenile captive-bred birds on to the island has been paused while we eradicate the rat.”

There is increasing urgency around the response, as a range of sea and shore birds, including the tūturuatu and tūturiwhatu/NZ dotterel, will begin their nesting season from July – eggs and chicks are easy targets for mammalian predators.

Motutapu is also home to other species not commonly seen on the mainland, including tīeke/saddleback, kākāriki/parakeet, korimako/bellbird, and kororā/blue penguin.

While it is unknown how the rat arrived, Kat says Aucklanders play a major role in keeping these islands pest-free. 

“It could have stowed away in a boat, gear or bag, or potentially swam or drifted on debris from the mainland – Norway rats can swim up to 3 km.”

“Boat owners can help keep islands pest free by checking your vessel and gear for rats, mice, ants and skinks before departure. You can also set traps or bait stations on your vessel and in the area it is stored.”

Contact

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  26 June 2024

DOC Operations Director Eastern North Island Jade King-Hazel says a reduction in services would support the completion of essential facility repairs and allow for a re-set in the park due to staffing changes.

“It will also allow staff to take much needed breaks.”

The holiday park has a variety of accommodation options, including self-contained chalets and units along with small cabins and camping options, with shared bathroom and kitchen facilities.

From now until September 30 only the self-contained options will be available to visitors. The remaining holiday park accommodation options will be closed for this period.

The shop and fuelling service will remain open with normal business hours of 8.30 am-4 pm weekdays and 9 am-4 pm weekends and public holidays.

“DOC continues to work closely with Te Uru Taumatua to discuss the current/future shape and nature of the holiday park, and how it contributes to the manuhiri/visitor experience within Te Urewera.”

“This focus supports and aligns with the opportunity to enhance the authenticity of experience within Te Urewera moving forward for all,” said Jade King-Hazel.

Contact

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  20 June 2024

Restore Oakura comprises a group of local volunteers set up to trap predators in their back yards and around the coastal community. The volunteers’ collective effort can be traced back to 2019, when Toby Shanley from Restore Oakura heard the distinctive call of the grey-faced petrel and did some investigation, subsequently finding several of the sea birds and a burrow.

This week is Te Wiki Tūo ā-Motu, National Volunteer Week where those who give their time to the community and environment are recognised – like the Restore Oakura volunteers. Toby, along with other volunteers from Restore Oakura, set about protecting the birds by installing traps around the area.

Proof of the birds’ vulnerability came when the group installed a trail camera to monitor the burrow. What they saw came as a shock: a ferret, stoats, a dog and, most recently cats, visited the borrow with the nesting adults inside.

In 2022 a ferret killed a chick in the nest before it could fledge.

“All these different visitors to the same burrow show just how in danger these birds are,” says Toby.

A donation from Oakura local Norton Moller allowed the installation of further traps to protect the burrow and a section of the coastal walkway from Ahu Ahu Road to the Oakura campground where the seabirds were seen.

Grey-faced petrel colonies are dispersed across coastal North Island, but Taranaki’s only other confirmed mainland colony was at Rapanui, a predator fenced area near rural Tongapōrutu.

Grey-faced petrels spend most of their time at sea where they are fast and graceful, soaring on the sea breeze he explains.

 “Returning to land they are clumsy and slow and nest in burrows so they are really vulnerable to predators.”

Every two weeks a volunteer checks the approximately 2km trap line. The hard work paid off when a chick successfully fledged in 2023.

The increase in trapping through the local Oakura and region-wide Predator Free Taranaki.  programmes meant mustelid numbers are being knocked back which could be seeing an increase in coastal birds coming back to the region says Toby.

“We are doing further monitoring around the coast to see if birds are coming in at night and it’s looking promising.”

But the protection needs to continue and grow: “They need ongoing protection in order to help them survive and thrive.”

He’s asking people to help by keeping their dogs in sight and under control when walking them along the Taranaki coast.

Cat owners can have their pets spayed and keep them indoors at night.

People can get involved by setting traps in their back yards or volunteering for a local trapline.

Contact

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  20 June 2024

Their loud chattering joined the steadily increasing chorus of native birds that have benefitted from long-term predator control and been monitored for over 26 years at this South Westland site.

DOC Principal Scientist Colin O’Donnell, who has been involved since the start of monitoring, says bird life has flourished with counts of most native species steadily increasing.

“All native birds were predicted to decline without intervention but regular use of aerial 1080 combined with extensive trapping has turned their fortunes around.”

“Mohua/yellowhead were heading towards extinction at this site but since 2018 have been the most common counted bird.”

Mohua have increased from a low of 14 in 1991 to 479 counted in the 350ha study area in 2023. The Landsborough is now a stronghold for this threatened species.  

The spike in yellow-crowned kākāriki was due to the beech forest seeding (a mast) and fuelling a prolific breeding season in 2023, says Colin O’Donnell.

“When food is plentiful, kākāriki can keep breeding from late summer right through the winter and have up to three nests with an average of five chicks per nest.”

“However, as tree hole-nesters and with noisy nestlings, kākāriki are also a target for stoats and rats.”

Beech masts are also a bounty for rats and mice, and stoats which feed on the rodents. Rising predator numbers in the Landsborough last year triggered the need for an aerial 1080 predator control operation, which took place in January this year. This successfully reduced rats to undetectable levels and would have knocked down stoats and possums.

The outcome for native birds won’t be known until the next bird count this coming spring.

Predator control began in 1994 in the Landsborough and has since expanded to include extensive trapping and aerial applications of 1080 when needed (eight treatments since 1998). The Landsborough’s rich birdlife makes it a priority area for DOC’s national predator control programme.

Central Otago NZDA’s new trapline in the lower Landsborough has added a line of defence, reducing the invasion of rats and stoats into the valley.

The Landsborough bird count is DOC’s longest dataset monitoring bird populations through repeated aerial 1080 applications. Since monitoring began native bird numbers have more than doubled, while introduced birds have halved likely due to increased competition from native birds.

Background information

DOC’s team of bird experts spend several days in early summer each year doing 5-minute bird counts at 112 stations in the Landsborough. In 2023 they did a total of 177 bird counts.

Upward trends were recorded for nine native bird species – mohua/yellowhead, bellbird/korimako, brown creeper/pīpipi, fantail/pīwakawaka, tūī, rifleman/tītitipounamu, grey warbler/riroriro, kākā and yellow-crowned parakeet/kākāriki – although bellbird and grey warbler counts are showing signs of levelling off.

Counts for tomtit/ngirungiru, kea, NZ falcon/kārearea, kererū and shining cuckoo/pīpīwharauroa have remained more-or-less stable or are increasing at a very slow rate.

Two species – silvereye/tautou and long-tailed cuckoo/koekoeā – have declined. Greater competition for nectar from tuī and bellbird may have suppressed silvereye numbers. Long-tailed cuckoo migrates to the Pacific islands each winter and may be being affected by conditions there.

Contact