The Department of Conservation’s Regional Operations Director for the Northern North Island, Sue Reed-Thomas, says this is a significant milestone because it is the first CMS specifically dedicated to caring for, managing and protecting conservation lands and waters in the Te Hiku region.
The draft Te Hiku CMS is the outcome of the four Te Hiku o Te Ika-a-Māui iwi’s Treaty Claims Settlement Acts and is the first in Aotearoa/New Zealand to be co-authored by iwi and DOC.
“Nature in Te Hiku o Te Ika-a-Māui is incredibly special, a unique mix of species and ecosystems, many found nowhere else in Aotearoa New Zealand or anywhere else on the planet. The land holds many stories of our beginnings as a nation, and it’s a place of outstanding natural beauty people want to connect with in different ways.”
“Together, we’ve worked to describe how special Te Hiku is and what we think it will take to protect these treasures on the conservation lands and waters referred to in the CMS as Te Korowai lands. People and organisations are invited to have their say on what is important to them, what activities should be allowed on conservation lands and waters, and how important matters like climate change should be recognised,” she says.
The draft Te Hiku CMS covers an area described in Treaty settlements as ‘Te Korowai’, extending from the Hokianga and Rangaunu Harbours northwards to Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua, including Manawatāwhi (Three Kings Islands).
The strategy sets the priorities and direction for DOC and iwi in the management of Te Korowai lands and waters to deliver over the next ten years, including the care of special places and wildlife. It also outlines permissible recreational and commercial activities such as guiding, vehicle access, hunting, and aviation.
Ms Reed-Thomas says the CMS has new policies that reflect the emerging issues the region is facing, such as the threat of climate change on whenua and species and the direction of the Treaty Claims Settlement Acts. Together they provide a new pathway for managing Te Korowai lands and waters in the region. This includes:
Climate change: Identifying climate change as a significant challenge, setting approaches to adapt to these challenges, and applying mitigation measures to increase resilience.
Tikanga Māori: Recognising tikanga Māori practices and procedures that connect people to their ancestral lands and waters.
Preference: Identifying circumstances where a reasonable degree of preference should be given to Te Hiku iwi in line with legislation.
“Te Hiku region is full of beautiful places and special species, and rich in Māori and European history which means a lot to those who live here, as well as our many visitors. The development of the Te Hiku CMS is a unique opportunity for the public to contribute to how Te Korowai lands and waters will be managed.”
“If you are passionate about natural heritage, climate change, historic places, cultural heritage, or if you engage in activities like bird watching, hiking, hunting, mountain biking, kayaking, or any other recreational activities, your input is invaluable.”
“By making a submission, you can be part of this groundbreaking process and help shape the future management of these lands and waters,” she says.
Individuals and organisations can submit online through the DOC website.
The competition will take place over the same dates from 1 August to 26 November.
Wild goats are prolific breeders, and DOC cannot manage numbers alone. The competition aims to encourage hunters, agencies, and landowners to get involved and help reduce the damage they cause to the environment.
“Over 10,000 wild goats were removed last year – we are keen to up the ante and make wild goat hunting a regular feature in the hunting calendar,” says Ben Reddiex, Director National Programmes at DOC.
The competition takes place during a quieter period in the hunting calendar, after the roar and duck shooting.
Callum Sheridan, President of NZDA says, “the timing gives recreational hunters an extra reason to get out into the back country and refine their hunting skills – all while doing their part to control wild goat numbers”.
Competition entrant Jesse O’Gorman made the most of the 2023 competition. Jesse dropped flyers into the letterboxes of local landowners around his hometown Wellington. This led to gaining permission to hunt wild goats on QEII blocks and a large forestry block.
“I saw a flyer in the local Hunting & Fishing NZ store and thought it would be a good thing to give a go,” says Jesse.
“It’s good exercise and fun to get out in the bush, while knowing what you’re doing is helping the environment. I collected 54 tails from properties around the Wellington region. I also shot hares for the forestry manager.”
Jesse won some great prizes at his local NZDA branch. This year, there are over $70,000 worth of prizes are up for grabs donated by the hunting and outdoor sector.
Entrants could be in to win a huge range of prizes from Hunting & Fishing NZ Ltd., outdoor apparel from Huntech, thermal products from InfiRay, a professional guided hunt, a Traeger Ironwood series grill, binoculars from Bushnell, and much more!
Can the G.O.A.T of 2023 be beaten?
Competitors can enter at NZDA branches, Hunting & Fishing NZ stores, and some DOC offices across the country. Check out the website for more information on how to enter.
Te Tari Pūreke Firearms Safety Authority is supporting the 2024 competition and would like to remind all competitors to handle, transport and store their firearms safely, and always identify their target beyond all doubt.
The competition is also supported by Hunting & Fishing NZ Ltd., and Federated Farmers of NZ.
Thanks to our 2024 sponsors:
Background information
Date: 1 August – 26 November. Entries close at midnight on 26 November 2024.
Location: Nationwide – on both public and private land.
Entry locations: NZDA branches, some DOC offices, and Hunting & Fishing NZ Ltd. stores.
Competition categories: Large national prizes, spot prizes, and NZDA branch prizes.
Category
Criteria
Got Your Goat
Enter just one wild goat tail and go in the draw to win a prize pack from Hunting & Fishing NZ Ltd.
Great Goat Round Up
The more wild goat tails entered the more chances to win.
NZDA’s G.O.A.T (Greatest of all Time)
Wild goat head with the largest Douglas Score.
Junior Goat Round Up
18 years or under more wild goat tails entered, the more chances to win
Junior G.O.A.T.
18 years or under wild goat head with largest Douglas Score
Monthly Spot Prizes
Enter just one wild goat tail and be in to win
The Goat-Free Zone
Landowners who register their interest for their land to be hunted go in the draw to win an epic spot prize.
Over 10,000 wild goats were removed in the 2023 competition.
The competition promotes safe firearms use, keeping safe in the back country, and ethical and humane hunting.
In Budget 2022 the Government invested an additional $30 million to increase deer management and goat control.
The national wild goat hunting competition is one tool to encourage more wild goat removal, build relationships across sectors, and raise awareness about the impact of wild goats on farmlands, and native plants and habitats.
DOC aims to protect native plants and habitats. DOC’s priorities for goat control work are:
Maintaining or achieving wild goat free areas in areas of high biodiversity value.
Preventing the spread of wild goats into new areas.
Controlling wild goat numbers elsewhere to reduce pressure on priority native ecosystems.
CCTV footage of the incident, which occurred on 26 July, shows a dark coloured four-wheel drive vehicle being driven along the beach at Dotterel Point at approximately 12.20 am. The vehicle driver’s actions cause the gulls to scatter, before the driver and vehicle are seen looping back along the beach.
Department of Conservation Principal Investigation Officer Hayden Loper says the carnage was quite confronting for rangers.
“The deaths of these protected birds were entirely avoidable, and it’s hit our team quite hard.”
The number of gulls killed suggests the birds were either resting or young and naïve enough to have had slow reactions to the threat posed by the driver and their vehicle.
“Red-billed gulls may seem commonplace, but they are listed as ‘at risk – declining’ and are absolutely protected under the Wildlife Act 1953. There is no excuse for this kind of behaviour,” says Hayden.
Extending from Pukehina Surf Rescue to the mouth of the Waihi estuary, Dotterel Point is a coastal dune providing habitat to many vulnerable species including New Zealand dotterel, variable oystercatchers, gulls, and lizards. Local community group Maketu Ongatoro Wetland Society have been working since 2012 to protect the fragile sandspit ecosystem.
The actions of the driver also violate Western Bay of Plenty District Council bylaws for appropriate vehicle beach access.
Hayden says it is believed the offending driver was behind the wheel of a dark coloured Toyota Hilux or similar vehicle, with a distinctive bull bar, and the driver may be a local resident.
“It seems they may have left through one of the smaller beach access points, indicating the driver is very familiar with the area.”
Although the footage has the driver and vehicle on the beach for approximately four minutes, covering 500 m, tracks further down the beach had disappeared with the tide; so the exact exit location is unknown.
Killing absolutely protected wildlife carries a maximum penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to $100,000, or both.
Anyone with further information regarding this incident should please call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) or email Investigations@doc.govt.nz quoting incident number CLE-7188.
Background information
Local community group Maketu Ongatoro Wetland Society has been working to protect and monitor the fragile sandspit ecosystem of Dotterel Point since 2012 with a particular focus on vulnerable birds. Dotterel Point, Pukehina – Maketu Ongatoro Wetland Society
Dotterel Point serves as an important nesting area for shorebirds such as the New Zealand dotterel and is a known resting area for migrating birds such as ngutu pare/wrybills from the South Island, and international bar-tailed godwits/kuaka.
The two popular sites had been closed since Cyclone Gabrielle swept across the country in February last year. Senior Community Ranger Lindsay Tallman says the cyclone caused significant damage to the area.
“There were major slips inside Opouahi Kiwi Creche, the lake track became inaccessible, and more than 200 sheep made their way into the creche through two separate openings in the fence,” says Lindsay.
“We mounted a rescue mission into the creche and managed to recover nine kiwi chicks. Fence repairs were prioritized for the safety of the kiwi; these were completed in March 2023 thanks to hard work from the Environment, Conservation and Outdoor Education Trust (ECOED).
“A vigorous stock removal and trapping programme was also undertaken inside the creche to remove the sheep which had wandered inside.”
In December 2023, the first kiwi chicks were returned to the creche, with four more chicks released back into the creche in early 2024.
ECOED, Maungaharuru-Tangitū Trust, and DOC have also been working hard on track repairs, to get the areas suitable for reopening to public.
“Maungaharuru-Tangitū Trust representatives are pleased the tracks at White Pine Bush and the Opouahi Scenic Reserve are reopening,” says Adele Small, Maungaharuru-Tangitū Trust CEO. “Opouahi Scenic Reserve is home to many of our indigenous plant and animal species, including rongoā (medicinal plants) and kiwi.
“This re-opening enables us all to further protect these species, and allows the public to enjoy the Reserve once more.”
White Pine Bush repair work included repairing two bridges, resurfacing tracks, and in some places rerouting tracks as well.
Background information
Within Opouahi Scenic Reserve, surrounded by a 3.3 km predator-proof fence, the Opouahi Kiwi Créche is a safe place where kiwi chicks can live and grow until they reach adult body weight and protect themselves from predators in their natural environment.
Kiwi raised at the crèche are then released into the Kaweka Forest Park to boost the numbers of North Island brown kiwi living in the wild.
The intergenerational project is focused on restoring forest across hundreds of hectares of land bordering the Whanganui River.
Where erosion from some land uses threatens the health of the river, Ngahere Manaaki is returning stability to the whenua with pest and weed control, fencing, and planting.
Pest control across 230 hectares has slashed numbers of possums, rats, mustelids, goats and deer, giving the canopy and undergrowth space to recover.
Project Manager Ron Hough says the health of the forest is linked to the health of the people.
“Kei oranga te ngahere, kei oranga te tangata”
“If there’s no life there, there’s no life for us as a people,” says Ron.
After nearly three years of Jobs for Nature funding, Ngahere Manaaki has become an intergenerational mission.
“We try to introduce all the whānau into it when we’re doing the planting, so there’s collectively mokopuna of 36 doing the mahi,” says Ron.
Together, the whānau have planted tens of thousands of plants from their native nursery and conducted 200 hectares of weed control.
For the Hough whānau, it’s an investment into the future.
“Passing those skills down, it’s intergenerational,” says Ron.
“It’s understanding the true value of it all, and what our old people had as a means of survival.”
Background information
Jobs for Nature/Mahi mō te Taiao (JFN) is a $1.19 billion government programme which aims to benefit New Zealand’s environment, people and regional communities.
JFN has been the single largest investment into conservation in this country. It has supercharged community-driven conservation efforts and developed capability.
The funding is administered across five government agencies: DOC, Ministry for the Environment, Ministry for Primary Industries, Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and Land Information New Zealand.
The tree is thought to be several hundred years old and has provided shade for generations of visitors to the picturesque lake about 20 km inland of Hokitika.
Tim Shaw, DOC’s Acting Hokitika District Operations Manager says: “It is very sad to have to remove this much-loved landmark, however its poor condition and position central to one of our most visited locations means it is simply too high a risk to the public.”
“Although the canopy of the tree appears healthy there is a large central hollow and large areas of rot visible at its base,” Tim says.
“We have completed our assessment of the tree and it has been classed as hazardous – basically not enough healthy holding wood in the trunk to give us sufficient confidence in its stability. Given the high public use of the area, the consequence of the tree failing could be catastrophic.
In the summer months the Hans Bay picnic area hosts hundreds of visitors each day. These numbers swell during powerboat, wakeboarding, water-skiing and triathlon events held at the lake. On hot summer days the tree draws people to its shade. Hans Bay Road is within the fall zone of the tree.
The tree will be felled within the next few weeks by DOC staff to take advantage of the quiet time of the year and when birds are not nesting.
The operation itself will be done over the course of two to three days. Traffic control will be in place for the felling, and the part of the picnic area affected will be cordoned off for the duration of the clean up.
DOC will work with the local community on ideas for planting replacement trees in the picnic area.
DOC rangers and community group Owhango Alive were joined by Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton to celebrate the re-opening of the track.
DOC Tongariro Operations Manager George Taylor says the slip which closed the track has now been made safe again.
“The DOC team worked really hard to get these improvements over the line for the community who love this place.”
Owhango Alive spokesperson Marion Johnston says despite the wet and muddy conditions at the opening event, everyone was happy to celebrate the work achieved.
“We even stopped to admire some whio on the river – obviously they were giving their blessing to the day!”
A karakia and short speeches marked the opening of the track, followed by a ceremonial ribbon cutting where Owhango Primary School’s Beau Bryan starred alongside Mayor Weston, Owhango Alive’s Colleen Boston, and George Taylor.
Following the rainy ceremony, attendees enjoyed a warm drink and kai at the blissfully dry pavilion in Owhango Domain.
Popular with locals and visitors alike, the Ohinetonga Track takes walkers through forest and touches on idyllic spots beside the Whakapapa River.
“Walkers can once again enjoy one of the best views over the Whakapapa River into Tongariro Forest Conservation Area,” says Marion.
To access Ohinetonga Track, turn off State Highway 4 at the ‘Walking tracks’ sign in Owhango.
Senior Ranger Community David Lynn says DOC staff have been regularly checking tracks, and have found most of the tracks in the Gisborne, Mahia, East Coast, and inland areas are standing up well after the area’s winter weather events.
“Although some areas remain very wet and muddy, they are still being used by members of the public daily and are safe to walk,” says David.
Tracks open to the public include:
Mahia Scenic Reserve Track on Kinikini Road
Mangaone Caves Historic Reserve Track – 4km north of Nuhaka.
Three Morere tracks – Cemetery, Ridge, and Nikau Loop – remain open, but are only accessible from Tunanui Road.
Gisborne tracks open include Okitu Bush Scenic Reserve, Gray’s Bush, and the Te Kuri Walkway (Te Kuri Walkway will close from 1 August to Labour Weekend for lambing, as it is a working farm).
Cooks Cove Walkway – the region’s most used track – is also open but will close from 1 August to Labour Weekend for lambing.
The Anaura Bay Track is partially open due to track damage.
Other inland tracks, like the Whinray Scenic Reserve Track at Motu and the Moanui-Koranga-Tawa Loop tracks, are also open, with two six-bunk huts on the Moanui-Koranga-Tawa Loop track (Tawa Hut and Koranga Forks Hut) available on a first-come, first-served basis. Branching off the Tawa track is a walk taking visitors to another six-bunk hut (Kahanui Hut).
“It’s important to prepare for your trips before you go,” says David. “For the most up-to-date information visit the Department of Conservation website or email gisborne@doc.govt.nz.”
The shock find came only days after the discovery of a cluster of shortjaw kōkopu eggs in the first ever documented ‘nest’ from Northland.
Freshwater ranger Fern Donovan found the eggs after hours of intensive searching along the banks of a tributary of the Waipoua River. She set up a trail cam on the nest site and checked it daily.
Left: Fern in her waders, with a waterfall the fish travel up to get to the spawning areas | Sarah Wilcox, DOC. Top right: Shortjaw kōkopu nest site | Fern Donovan, DOC. Bottom right: Translucent shortjaw kōkopu eggs on the leaves and rocks beside the stream | Fern Donovan, DOC.
“Each day there were less and less eggs – I assumed they were getting washed away by rain, but when I saw the video my heart sunk, I felt really, sad as I’d spent so much time studying the fish and got to really care about them.”
She describes the eggs as “protein pearls” that would be particularly attractive to the rodents in autumn, with high rat numbers and food supplies starting to dwindle with cooler temperatures.
The rat (or rats) was filmed returning multiple times over several nights to clean out the nest. Within 10 days the only eggs left were unviable or mouldy, and clearly no longer appetising.
Fern’s trail camera captured a rat eating the shortjaw kōkopu eggs | DOC.
A partnership with Te Iwi o Te Roroa
The rohe of Te Roroa is situated on the Kauri Coast and includes the Waipoua Forest, home of Tane Mahuta. Taoho Patuawa, science advisor for the iwi, has been closely involved with the shortjaw research project.
“With the discovery of the eggs has come the discovery of the problem. It’s a clear demonstration of the impact that pests are having on our taonga species. The work that’s been done to get to the discovery has been fantastic, but it highlights the real struggles facing the largely unheralded species.”
Taoho points out that even in a forest with good habitat, there are no guarantees of successful breeding.
“The species is clearly at-risk at this critical part of their lifecycle because of the ongoing pressures we have from pests.”
A pool in Fern’s study stream | Fern Donovan, DOC Short jawed kokopu” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/blog.doc.govt.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/5.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/blog.doc.govt.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/5.jpg?fit=580%2C580&ssl=1″ tabindex=”0″ role=”button” data-id=”53871″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/blog.doc.govt.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/5.jpg?resize=580%2C580&ssl=1″ alt=”” class=”wp-image-53871″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/blog.doc.govt.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/5.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/blog.doc.govt.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/5.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/blog.doc.govt.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/5.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/blog.doc.govt.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/5.jpg?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/blog.doc.govt.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/5.jpg?resize=1536%2C1536&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/blog.doc.govt.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/5.jpg?resize=2048%2C2048&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/blog.doc.govt.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/5.jpg?w=1160&ssl=1 1160w, https://i0.wp.com/blog.doc.govt.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/5.jpg?w=1740&ssl=1 1740w” sizes=”(max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px” data-recalc-dims=”1″/>A shortjaw kōkopu | DOC
DOC and Te Roroa, along with other organisations, have been working together to restore the Waipoua River from mountains to sea for more than 5 years.
“We’re walking this journey together. There’s a lot to do, but it’s the good people who make the relationship successful. We’re working with nature for the betterment of our people and the landscapes we live and work in.”
Bait stations deployed for autumn 2024
Video footage of the rat predation provided evidence for Te Roroa and DOC to put intensive predator control in place ahead of this year’s spawning season.
“We were able to move swiftly to put in a line of bait stations 50 metres apart along the stream margins, as well as another line further back,” says Fern.
The bait stations are topped up regularly so they never run out.
Triangles marking the bait line | Tom DonovanA rat caught on one of Fern’s trail cameras | DOC
“It’s a big forest so we’re assuming there will be constant re-invasion into the area. Especially at this time of year when rodent numbers are peaking.”
Tracking tunnels show that the strategy is working, with June 2024 results showing just 3% of the tunnels in the treatment area were visited by rats but 96% visited in the non-treatment area. At a control site (with no bait stations) in an adjacent area, shortjaw nests have been predated by rats.
2024 results looking promising
The 2024 breeding season at Fern’s study site got off to a great start.
“I’ve found three nests so far. The trail cam footage picked up rat predation at one nest but not all the eggs have been eaten – fingers crossed some of them make it. Hopefully they are finding the bait blocks more tasty!”
Shortjaw kōkopu eggs on leaves near the stream | Fern Donovan, DOC
She is also pleased to report that some of the eggs developed tiny black eyes.
“I’ve never seen that before – last year the eggs were all eaten before that stage. I’ve also set up drift nets in the stream so I am hopeful that we might catch some larvae as they’re washed downstream on their way to the sea.”
Fern is waiting for the next big flood to wet the eggs and trigger hatching.
A story that remains incomplete
Taoho says the innovative and dedicated work at-place has led to some pretty immediate conservation strategies.
“What Fern’s found is a neat piece of the puzzle, but the story is incomplete. We don’t know yet what success looks like for this species or what numbers should be present in the catchment.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing what we achieve this year and beyond. It’s good to have such a concentrated effort in our forest. What we’re finding out here will be really valuable for protecting this taonga species both here and in other parts of Aotearoa, and ensuring it can thrive.”
Fern’s story
Fern grew up as a ‘bush baby’ in Hokianga and spent a summer during her undergrad study working for her family business, Donovan Ecological Management.
“We surveyed the reaches of the Waipoua River looking for different fish species as part of DOC’s restoration work. It was an incredible opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful and remote places in the catchment.”
Fern (centre) with her parents Tom and Karina Donovan, getting ready for an evening studying the threatened fish | Sarah Wilcox, DOC
“Shortjaw kōkopu were the fish we saw least frequently. I didn’t have to dig too deep to see there was a whole lot that’s not known about them. I spoke to the DOC scientists who helped me identify the most important knowledge gaps, and these formed the basis of my Master’s research project at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.”
She intensively researched the population of shortjaw kōkopu in the Waipoua River and completed her thesis in early 2024. Fern was appointed to DOC as a freshwater ranger in September 2023.
Studying the nocturnal fish population | Sarah Wilcox, DOCA shortjaw kōkopu at the study site | Sarah Wilcox, DOC
The challenges of studying a rare, nocturnal fish
Shortjaw kōkopu are only found in Aotearoa New Zealand and are the rarest of six species of native fish caught as whitebait. Their conservation status is Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable. Until Fern’s discovery, spawning sites for this species had only ever been observed in Taranaki.
“The fish lay their eggs in moss or leaf litter just out of the water during a flood or high-water event. The eggs sit on the bank for at least 2–3 weeks to develop into larvae and are then carried downstream on the next big rain event. It’s the most bizarre life history with so much room for failure – the eggs could so easily dry out or be washed away before they’ve developed!”
Fern describes the searching as literally looking for a needle in a haystack.
“I go out when the water’s dropped and look above the waterline but below the wetted edge. I use a headtorch even in the daytime as the eggs are so tiny and hard to see – only 1-2 mm in diameter. To me they are like perfect pearls.”
Shortjaw kōkopu ‘nests’ are simply a collection of tiny translucent eggs | Fern Donovan, DOC.
“The searching is very intensive and quite soul-destroying. There are so many rocky crevices and patches of leaves to look at. You can only spend about 3–4 hours at a time doing it because it’s so intense. But when you do find the eggs, they’re really obvious – hundreds of eggs sitting there. It’s the most amazing feeling!”
Fern takes her cue to start looking for eggs by monitoring the adult fish in the stream. Because they’re nocturnal, the work starts 30 minutes after sunset and finish after midnight in the summer.
“We’ve been studying the fish here for a couple of years and we see the females getting heavier in autumn as their bellies become full of ripe eggs. If they suddenly lose weight and look skinny again, you know they’ve laid eggs, so that’s the time to go out looking.”
A shortjaw kōkopu from Fern’s study site | Fern Donovan, DOCA shortjaw kōkopu being measured | Fern Donovan, DOC
When nests are found, Fern takes 4–8 eggs from each site for DNA analysis to confirm their identity. She also records detailed information about the sites such as the location, slope, canopy cover and what material they were laid in.
“This is crucial information to inform our work to secure the species both in the Waipoua River and other catchments.”
The Waipoua River is also in DOC’s Ngā Awa river restoration programme, which is working in partnership with others to restore the biodiversity of 14 rivers from mountains to sea.
Trail cameras have caught rats in the act of eating shortjaw kōkopu eggs in Northland’s Waipoua Forest. This is bad news for the threatened fish, but Te Roroa and DOC immediately leapt into action to protect the precious eggs.
DOC ranger Fern Donovan discovered three shortjaw kōkopu ‘nests’ – more than 50 eggs in a cluster – in Autumn 2023. This was the first time a shortjaw nest had been documented from Northland.
“I was astonished to find the nests. Until this discovery, the only shortjaw spawning site found in the whole country was in Taranaki.
“I set up a trail camera to monitor the nest and visited it daily. I was gutted to find the nest had fewer and fewer eggs each day.
“When I checked the trail cam, it showed a rat visiting multiples times scoffing all the fish eggs.
“I call the fish eggs ‘protein pearls’, and of course they’re appealing to rodents. After 10 days, the only eggs left behind were rotten, unviable and inedible, even for rats.”
Taoho Patuawa, science advisor for Te Iwi o Te Roroa, says Fern’s discovery is a clear demonstration of pests’ impact on taonga species.
“We now have certainty that rats are putting pressure on shortjaw kōkopu at this critical part of their lifecycle. It’s on us to act.”
The footage was all the evidence needed for Te Roroa and DOC to establish intensive predator control leading up to this year’s shortjaw spawning season, which peaks in May/June.
Rodent tracking tunnels showed the predator control strategy worked. In the predator control zone just 3 per cent of tracking tunnels were visited by rats – compared to 96 per cent in non-treated areas.
Fern found three more nests earlier in the year, and is hoping they’ll fare better than the nests discovered last year.
“Some of the eggs have developed tiny black eyes – a promising sign that they’ll make it. Last year, all the eggs were eaten by that stage.”
Taoho says he’s looking forward to seeing what can be achieved to protect the threatened fish this year and beyond.
“It’s good to have such a concentrated effort in our forest. What we’re discovering will be valuable for protecting this taonga species both here and in other parts of Aotearoa, and ensuring shortjaw kōkopu can thrive.”
Background information
DOC, Te Roroa, and other organisations are working together to restore the Waipoua River from mountains to sea. This project is part of DOC’s Ngā Ika e Heke freshwater migratory fish work to secure populations of shortjaw kōkopu, īnanga, longfin eel/tuna and lamprey across Aotearoa New Zealand.
The rohe of Te Roroa includes Waipoua forest, home of Tane Mahuta.
Shortjaw kōkopu are only found in Aotearoa and are the rarest of the six native fish species caught as whitebait. They have a threat status of Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable. A ‘nest’ of shortjaw kōkopu is 50 or more eggs, found in a cluster.
