The Chatham Islands are among Aotearoa New Zealand’s most important conservation places, with unique wildlife like karure / kakaruia / Chatham Island black robin, tāiko/ Chatham Island petrel, and parea /Chatham Island wood pigeon. However, the remote location of the Chatham Islands creates challenges for DOC, both in delivering its work and ensuring the wellbeing of its team.
The operational restructure of DOC’s Chatham Island District team will merge it with the Wairarapa District Team. This change is intended to address existing issues and improve our resilience in delivering this critical conservation work.
This change is hoped to strengthen our partnerships on the islands, allowing us to work in a more integrated way with imi, iwi, and key stakeholders, and improve how we engage with and work alongside the community. It will also improve connectivity between the local team and the rest of DOC, enabling the island leadership to readily work with national experts to ensure best practice delivery of work programmes, strongly aligned with our strategies, policies, and priorities.
Instead of the 10.5 FTE (11 people) currently working in the Chatham Islands District team, there will now be 7 full time roles on island year-round under the new structure, who will share space with the Chatham Islands District Council. Office-based roles will be located off-island as part of the wider district team.
Over the busy summer months from October to April, the on-island team will be bolstered by an additional seasonal team of approximately 20 people comprised of secondments, contractors, and volunteers. While the new operating model is not being driven by funding or cost savings, this larger team of highly skilled and motivated workers on island over summer will be able to provide the best conservation outcomes we can for this unique environment, for the same level of financial investment.
DOC has worked to ensure all staff currently working in both the Chatham and Wairarapa teams have similar jobs available to them, and has engaged in discussion with stakeholders, staff who have worked on the Chatham Islands, and the Public Service Association (PSA).
The rangers were examining the success of predator control in protecting pekapeka from threats like stoats, rats and possums, as part of DOC’s National Predator Control Programme.
DOC Biodiversity Ranger Sarah Wills says the size of the roost – 275 individual pekapeka – was staggering.
“Our rangers were buzzing at the discovery of such a massive roost. Being there and seeing the roost was a real privilege.”
A typical pekapeka roost holds up to 100 individuals. The record of 358 bats was from a roost in a cave in the Te Kuiti-Waitomo area, monitored in the 1990s. The latest find is the largest recorded for a tree roost.
“We couldn’t ask for a better demonstration of predator control benefitting our critically endangered pekapeka,” says Sarah.
Pekapeka are only found in Aotearoa New Zealand. They most often shelter in trees during the day, usually choosing the oldest trees with large cavities to roost in. Colonies regularly move between different roost trees, so predator control needs to take place over large areas to protect them.
An intensive predator control programme has operated across Whirinaki Te Pua-ā-Tāne Conservation Park for more than 20 years, with DOC and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whare working in partnership to protect the species and ecosystems of Whirinaki.
“Predator control has made all the difference for species normally vulnerable to predation or browsing by stoats, rats and possums,” says Sarah.
“We already know predator control is benefiting native species like whio, kiwi, and tōtara in Whirinaki, and it’s fantastic to see it paying off for pekapeka across the wider area.”
The programme includes aerially applied 1080 bait, as well as ground control methods.
The next aerial predator control operation, scheduled for winter this year, is expected to give native birds and pekapeka a greater chance to breed successfully in spring and summer.
In a systematic search covering 82% of the 78,000 hectare national park, the high-resolution thermal camera detected no goats.
Follow-up eDNA testing at several waterways – aimed at detecting genetic material of any species in the area – also failed to detect goats.
DOC Biodiversity Supervisor Danial van der Lubbe says the recent surveys have given a baseline for wild goat numbers in the park.
“The results attest to the effectiveness of our ongoing goat control efforts in surrounding areas; but we know by their nature aerial surveys can’t spot everything,” says Danial.
“Thermal cameras can’t detect animals in dense, forested areas, so there may be the odd goat hiding away in these spots.”
A long-running wild goat control programme in neighbouring Tongariro Forest and Erua conservation areas aims to minimize the opportunity for invasions into the national park.
“It will be an ongoing challenge, monitoring and preventing any establishment in the national park,” says Danial.
“We had a sighting of a goat near the boundary of the national park in April, so it’s always possible one will turn up.
“Thermal imaging, eDNA – these are all tools to help us detect them, now and into the future, but we also do rely on people who are out there all the time to keep an eye on it.”
Wild goats can cause significant damage to New Zealand’s alpine and forest ecosystems. They heavily browse native plants and eat seedlings which can change the number and type of plants present in an area and takes food and shelter from native animals.
People encountering goats in Tongariro National Park are encouraged to report the details, including the location, time, and number of goats, to 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468). A photo or video would be helpful if possible.
Background information
Wild Animal Management Programme
DOC’s programme manages wild goats, deer, pigs, tahr, and chamois at priority conservation sites to protect native plants and habitats.
We aim to maintain or achieve wild-animal-free areas, prevent the spread of wild animals into new areas, and manage numbers elsewhere to maintain functioning ecosystems.
Managing wild animal numbers helps to increase forests’ health and resilience in dealing with climate change.
eDNA testing
Environmental DNA, or eDNA, refers to all the tiny traces of genetic material that are left behind as living things pass through water or soil. eDNA testing can provide a snapshot of the plants and animals in a local area at a specific point in time.
DOC, Ngāi Tahu and Coal Island Trust moved four male kākāpō to the Fiordland site in a bid to investigate whether the 1163 ha island could one day support a larger breeding population.
DOC Operations Manager for Kākāpō Deidre Vercoe says the move is the next step towards solving the kākāpō habitat shortage.
“With a breeding season predicted for 2026, we are looking at new sites to relieve population pressure on the islands that kākāpō currently live on.”
Coal Island, with its similar habitat and proximity to existing breeding islands, could be our next key site, says Deidre.
“The Coal Island Trust has done incredible work over the last couple of decades removing predators to turn the island into a haven for many native species.”
Coal Island Trust chair Ali King says the kākāpō transfer is one of the highlights of the Trust’s 20-year focus on reintroducing native birds to the island.
“So many trustees and volunteers have worked tirelessly for the past twenty years to help make this day possible – this is a huge milestone in our history and will also have deep significance for our iwi partners. We’re proud to have fostered such a strong partnership with DOC, local iwi and other Fiordland entities.
“We have already seen Haast tokoeka/kiwi reintroduced in 2009, followed by yellowhead/mohua and New Zealand robin/toutouwai in 2015 and now these young male kākāpō will call Te Puka-Hereka their home – I couldn’t be happier.”
Ngāi Tahu representative on the Kākāpō Recovery Group, Tāne Davis, says, “A lot of planning and thought from Ngāi Tahu has gone into this decision to introduce kākāpō to Te Puka-Hereka since we first investigated this whenua as a potential new habitat for this taonga species in 2017.”
“Ngāi Tahu acknowledges the important predator control work that has occurred on the island over the past twenty years.
“This mahi gives us hope that this trial will be successful and will extend the available habitat for kākāpō in future,” Tāne says.
As with any new site, there are some unknowns with this translocation, says Deidre Vercoe.
“As long as there are predators such as stoats on the mainland, there will be a risk of reinvasion to any new island site. Coal Island’s extensive trapping network keeps most predators at bay, but stoats do arrive occasionally and there are currently estimated to be one or two individuals present.”
Enhancing stoat monitoring and trialling new control techniques is a focus for the island, which has great potential as a future breeding island for kākāpō, but females won’t be introduced at this stage, Deidre says.
“Ultimately, we need more predator free sites to give kākāpō the best chance to thrive. In the meantime, with the population increasing each breeding season, we need to investigate other options. The males involved with this transfer are fully grown, weighing between 2-4kg, which we believe to be at low risk of stoat predation.
“This new site trial provides us the chance to understand more about the island and the risk of low stoat density to kākāpō, and maybe open the door to more sites in the future.”
The move is part of the Kākāpō Recovery Programme’s future sites plan. As part of this plan, a separate trial investigating whether kākāpō can thrive in a fenced sanctuary is currently underway at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari.
The Kākāpō Recovery Programme has been supported since 2016 by National Partner Meridian Energy, which provides funding as well as electrical infrastructure, technology and volunteering support to the programme.
Background information
The kākāpō released were: Elwin, Kanawera, Manawanui, and Motupōhue.
Thanks to the proximity of State Highway 6, high rainfall, and an abundance of streams and culverts, West Coast sites are serving as “laboratories” to test how well baffles and floating ramps improve fish passage.
“Many of our freshwater fish species are in trouble, with 76 per cent threatened or at risk of extinction. Barriers to fish passage contribute to this statistic,” says DOC Freshwater Science Advisor Nixie Boddy.
“Barriers in waterways, including culverts and pipes, are in place so streams can pass underneath pathways and roads, but they stop some freshwater fish from swimming upstream to feed and grow into adult fish.”
“When culverts and pipes are narrower than the natural stream bed, the water flows too fast. There’s nowhere for the weaker swimmers like īnanga and bullies to rest and recharge.”
“Weaker swimmers often end up congregating below fish passage barriers where competition for food and resources is high. The fish may starve or get eaten by predators.”
Nixie Boddy says clever solutions such as baffles and floating ramps are designed to help fish make their way upstream.
“Baffles added to the bottom of culverts create eddies and slow flows, so fish can rest before swimming again. They also trap rocks, making a more natural stream bed.”
“Floating ramps help fish climb scoured out “plunge pools” and the small waterfalls that tend to develop at the bottom of culverts.”
“Problem is, scientific testing in the field has been limited. Our research aims to quantify how well these solutions work in the real world.”
A DOC team, led by Nixie Boddy, has established eight West Coast study sites in 2021, from Karamea in the north to Harihari in the south.
“We’ve counted fish above and below culverts, before and after baffles were inserted and then after ramps were added.”
“We don’t know how effective baffles are on steeper, sloping culverts and culverts of different lengths so we’ve looked into that too.”
“It’s important to keep an eye on modified culverts so we know what ongoing maintenance is required and how long the different types of baffles and ramps last.”
Nixie Boddy says final results are a few months away, but the results so far are exciting.
“Following the installation of ramps and baffles at five test sites known to be home for īnanga, we’re now finding īnanga upstream of the culverts at four of the sites. Previously, īnanga were only found downstream – they simply couldn’t pass the culverts.”
Nixie Boddy says understanding how different fish passage products help the fish will inform the national Fish Passage Guidelines used by landowners and industry.
In the meantime, individuals can do their bit to improve fish passage, and now’s the perfect time with World Fish Migration Day coming up on 25 May.
Department of Conservation Kākāriki Karaka Operations Manager Wayne Beggs says the translocation adds genetic diversity to the existing kākāriki karaka population of about 95 birds that call the predator-free Marlborough Sounds island home.
“Forty kākāriki were released in four releases in February, March, April and May. They were raised at The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust and Orana Wildlife Park in Christchurch before being transported to Oruawairua and acclimatising in aviaries for two days.”
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu kākāriki karaka species recovery representative Yvette Couch-Lewis says she is happy to see kākāriki karaka from Ngāi Tahu takiwā going to support and supplement the existing wild population of this taonga species on Oruawairua.
“I also want to acknowledge the kaitiaki rangers on Oruawairua who are working hard to ensure the manu thrive there.”
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Kuia Trust Kaiwhakahaere -Team Lead Wairau Ruihana Smith says this endeavour is about restoring the mauri and uplifting the mana of the motu.
“This is part of our ongoing involvement in this kaupapa. Returning ngā manu is a crucial piece of this puzzle. As kaitiaki, it’s our responsibility to care for the whenua and its taonga. A huge mihi to Te Papa Atawhai, DOC, for their tireless mahi in restoring te taiao – we’re immensely grateful for their support.”
Te Ātiawa o te Waka a Māui Kaitohutohu Taiao Renēe Love says the iwi “values our strengthened relationships with DOC and extended iwi with the translocation of the kākāriki karaka.”
“The DOC rangers show their passion for their mahi with every translocation we attend. Enabling this mahi in Totaranui and Kura te Au ensures our kaitiakitanga duties are respected and encouraged. The guardianship of Te Taiao is paramount for Te Ātiawa which Te Papa Atawhai enable with their endless support.”
Wayne Beggs says earlier in the breeding season, nine wild eggs from two clutches were also successfully collected from Blumine Island and have hatched at The Isaac Conservation and Wildife Trust facility.
“These young birds will become part of the captive breeding programme to help improve its genetic diversity.”
He says it’s a good time to reflect on the success of the kākāriki karaka programme in recent years, while acknowledging there’s still lots of work to do to ensure this critically endangered species’ recovery.
“It wasn’t long ago that kākāriki karaka was right on the brink of extinction, but we’ve made some meaningful gains. In the last few years, we’ve seen a new kākāriki population established in Nelson’s Brook Waimārama Sanctuary, which is increasing steadily, and reintroduced kākāriki karaka back into Hawdon Valley in Arthur’s Pass National Park, with breeding already taking place.”
“Every time we successfully establish a new population, we move a step closer to a secure future for this fragile species.”
Wayne says the Kākāriki Karaka Recovery Programme is working towards Pukenui/Anchor Island in Fiordland as the next proposed release site, and all going well kākāriki karaka will begin to be released there from next summer.
“Kākāriki karaka populations naturally fluctuate based on environmental conditions, so overall numbers aren’t as significant to the species’ survival as established populations at new sites, but our latest modelling suggests the wild population has also increased to more than 500. When you think there were less than 250 back in 2019, it’s remarkable progress in just a few years.”
“We still have a long way to go before kākāriki karaka will be self-sustaining without the intensive management of the recovery programme, but the species is in a much better position than it was just a few years ago.”
Background information
Kākāriki karaka, New Zealand’s rarest mainland forest bird, is a critically endangered parakeet species about the size of a korimako/bellbird.
Once commonly found throughout New Zealand, there are now only populations in Hawdon Valley and the Hurunui South Branch in Canterbury, Oruawairua/Blumine Island in Marlborough, and the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary in Nelson. The species has twice been declared extinct (in 1919 and 1965) before being rediscovered in the late 1980s.
The recovery programme is run by DOC and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and works closely with partners like The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust, Orana Wildlife Park and Auckland Zoo. Their captive breeding programme work is vital to the survival of the species. MainPower, Christchurch Helicopters, RealNZ, Canterbury University also support the programme.
The programme’s work includes managing existing populations through monitoring and predator control, establishing new populations, captive breeding for wild release, and research.
A video shared to Instagram in February, and reported to DOC, shows the man jump from a pleasure boat into the sea off the coast of Devonport, Auckland – in what appears to be a deliberate effort to touch or “body slam” the orca.
DOC and the Harbour Master had been receiving calls that weekend from concerned members of public about how close people were getting to the mammals. DOC was subsequently tipped off to this video by a member of the public.
DOC Principal Investigation Officer Hayden Loper says the 50-year-old Auckland man showed reckless disregard for his own safety – and that of the adult male orca with a calf swimming near the vessel.
At one point in the video the man yells “I touched it” to other people on the boat, before asking “did you get it?”, in apparent reference to the filming of his antics. Other people aboard the vessel laugh and cheer as they watch.
“The video left us genuinely stunned,” Hayden says. “As well as the initial attempt to dive onto the animal, the man stays in the water and then swims toward it again in a second attempt to touch it.
“This is stupid behaviour and demonstrates a shocking disregard for the welfare of the orca. It is extremely irresponsible.
“Orca are immensely powerful animals, and this really could have ended horribly – with either the startled whale being injured, or the man responsible being harmed by the aggravated animal.
“It’s a very clear breach of the Marine Mammals Protection Act. Orca are classified as whales under conservation legislation and it is illegal to swim with, disturb or harass any marine mammal.”
DOC marine science staff say there have been incidents in which wild orca have been perceived to have attacked humans – including recent incidents off the coast of Spain, where orca have sunk several small vessels – and any sudden moves near orca significantly risk the chance of people being harmed.
Orca are an apex predator and the species’ population found around the waters of New Zealand is estimated to be between 150 and 200 individuals. Disturbance by vessels, including recreational boats, is identified as a threat to orca due to noise pollution and boat strike.
Hayden urges New Zealand social media users to continue alerting DOC to content they believe breaches legislation protecting New Zealand wildlife.
“This is the third case in recent years in which social media content has led to a successful prosecution for DOC and we greatly appreciate the tip-offs we get from the public.”
Anyone who sees an incident they believe may breach conservation legislation can call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).
The Routeburn Track is one of the highlights of New Zealand tramping. It offers dramatic mountain views, alpine lakes and sparkling waterfalls.
Most people hike the track during the Great Walks season, which runs from the start of November to the end of April.
Outside the Great Walks season, conditions on the track change dramatically. Winter blankets the track with snow and ice. There are avalanches and the streams and rivers flood often.
The Routeburn Track in late October 2023. Photo:Josefin Westdahl
The track remains open, but anyone attempting the track through this period needs winter alpine skills, equipment and experience.
If you’ve only seen photos of the Routeburn Track during the Great Walks season, it’s hard to imagine how the landscape changes in winter. The local DOC team have put together these photos to help bring it to life.
(Left)The Routeburn Track in late October 2023. Photo: Josefin Westdahl. (Right) Lake Harris on 27 April 2024. Photo: Niall Bullock
Conditions on the Routeburn Track change often during the off-season, so always contact the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre or the Queenstown Visitor Centre before departure to discuss the current situation.
The track is often buried in deep, unstable snow over winter
Snow tends to start accumulating in the alpine section of the Routeburn Track from mid to late May. By winter, Harris Saddle is usually covered in snow.
Snow can make sections of the track treacherous. It can also make it hard to navigate and even cover the marker poles.
Photo: Sophie Carty
Low visibility makes navigation even more challenging.
Spot the marker pole. Photo: John the Hut Ranger
Hiking in snow is much slower and more difficult than hiking in normal conditions. You will need to carry alpine equipment and walking times will be longer than signposted.
The Routeburn Track in late October 2023. Photo:Josefin Westdahl
The snow causes avalanches that can cross the track.
The Routeburn Track has a lot of Challenging and Complex avalanche terrain. There are over 32 avalanche paths, some of which can bring debris to the valley floor and across the Routeburn Track.
DOC does not manage avalanche risk on the Routeburn Track outside the Great Walks season. If you are going then, make sure you:
• have the skills for the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) class you are going into • have checked the NZ Avalanche Advisory • have talked to the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre or the Queenstown Visitor Centre about the current conditions • take and know how to use an avalanche transceiver, avalanche probe and a snow shovel.
September and October is avalanche season. Avalanches start high above the track, so even if there is little or no snow on the track, people walking it could still be hit by an avalanche.
Harris Bluffs in October 2018, with the Routeburn Track and an area of avalanche risk marked. Photo: Mike, Track Hopper
It is common to get ice covering the track
Water on the track freezes and becomes very slippery ice. The Hollyford Face and Harris Saddle can be extremely dangerous when covered in ice and snow.
Ice on the Routeburn Track. Photo: DOC FiordlandIce on the Routeburn Track. Photo: Anna Morley(DOC)
Sometimes the alpine lakes freeze over. They are beautiful but are dangerous to walk on. Thin ice can be covered by snow, which could break when walked on.
It is very cold and there can be storm damage on the track
Very cold temperatures are common in winter. Daylight hours are short and the high mountains let little sunlight into the valleys. Anyone attempting the track needs to carry lots of warm, waterproof clothing, as hypothermia is a real risk.
Storms are common in winter. There can be fallen trees over the track, making it impassable.
Windfall on the Routeburn Track after a storm. Photo: James McQueen, DOC.
Side streams can flood and two bridges are removed
DOC flies out two avalanche-prone bridges in early June. They are re-instated when the avalanche risk dissipates in late October to early November.
Unbridged side streams can flood, becoming swift, icy and dangerous to cross.
Wash Creek in flood on the Routeburn Track. Photo: OrMoshe
Hut facilities and transport services are reduced
Facilities are reduced in the Routeburn Track huts in winter. For example, there is no gas provided and running water is turned off inside the huts. If the outside tanks freeze, hikers need to get water by melting snow or collecting it from streams. It is very cold in the huts.
Routeburn Falls Hut. Photo: DOC Whakatipu.
Track transport shuttles don’t operate to the Glenorchy area out of season.
There are safer winter tramping alternatives than the full Routeburn Track
If you want to experience this track in winter, the local Visitor Centre team recommends an overnight return tramp to Routeburn Flats Hut or Routeburn Falls Hut.
This is a safer trip than the full Routeburn Track, though you still need to be well prepared and equipped for winter conditions, and ready for reduced facilities at the huts.
Talk to the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre or the Queenstown Visitor Centre about the current track conditions and what trips would suit you and your group.
Orca are the second-most widely distributed mammal on earth (after humans), and can be found throughout New Zealand’s coastline. Our waters are home to an estimated 150–200 individuals, which travel long distances throughout the country’s coastal waters, and are considered nationally critical.
One of the greatest threats to orca/whales/tohora is disturbance by traffic like boats and aircraft. While far smaller, flying drones in the vicinity of marine mammals (such as whales, dolphins, and seals) is also an offence under the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978, as it can be highly disturbing to the animals.
Russell Hughes, Ranger Marine Reserves, says these issues are usually down to a misunderstanding of how to interact with these creatures.
“We don’t think anyone is acting maliciously, so we want to help people understand how to enjoy orca without accidentally harming them,” says Russell.
“Operators and individuals alike require a permit to deviate from these specific rules due to the respect and sensitivity of these magnificent creatures.”
“These rules are in place to help us all protect a truly amazing marine biodiversity that we are privileged to have in the waters of Aotearoa. It is amazing to see them, we just need to give them the respect they deserve.”
To avoid disturbing or harassing marine mammals, you must:
fly no closer than 150 m horizontally from a point directly above any marine mammal
not disturb or harass any marine mammal with your drone; eg don’t chase, herd or scatter them
not make any sudden or repeated change in speed or direction
not make any loud or disturbing noises near marine mammals
abandon contact at the first sign of any marine mammal being disturbed.
You should:
take off at least 100 m from any marine mammal on the shore or the land
not fly within 300 m of any marine mammal if there are already three drones, other aircraft, or boats within 300 m of that marine mammal
keep at least 50 m from any other drone.
If you want to fly your drone closer than 150 m horizontally from a marine mammal, whether commercially or recreationally, you must have a permit from DOC.
If you see or experience inappropriate drone use report it to your local DOC office or call our emergency hotline 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).
Thetūturuatu / tchūriwat’ / shore ploveris a bird in need of urgent PR. With just 250 individuals left in the wild on a handful of predator-free islands, it is one of the world’s rarest shore birds, facing issues related to real estate, genetics and a pandemic.
Through collaboration and cooperation with tangata whenua, tchakat henu, community groups, and other stakeholders, the DOC-led Shore Plover Recovery Programme aims to turn the tide on this bird’s fate. The ‘Tūturuatu Telegraph’ takes a closer look at what it takes to bring this unique species back from the brink of extinction.
The Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre (PNWC) has a special legacy with the Shore Plover Recovery Programme, being one of the first facilities to receive wild tūturuatu eggs from Rēkohu / Chatham Islands, in 1981. In this world first, one chick hatched from 13 eggs, surviving for nearly two years. Forty-three years later, the team is looking forward to building a brand new breeding aviary to help ensure the long-term survival of this precious species.
(Left) DOC ranger Alan Munn collecting tūturuatu eggs for transferring to mainland New Zealand from South East Island (Rangatira / Hokoereoro), Rēkohu / Chatham Islands, November 1981. (Right)Banding tūturuatu – DOC rangers Murray Williams and Hilary Aikman.
Researching the early days of the programme, you can appreciate how far we’ve come in terms of the tools of the trade – cell phones weren’t in common use, portable incubators were temperamental, and the Chatham Island flight service wasn’t exactly something to set your watch by. Further, little was known about the translocation and incubation of tūturuatu eggs – whether it was better to get fresh or partially incubated eggs, and what temperature and humidity the eggs required to hatch.
These issues and variables dominated the early years of the programme when the Chathams Department of Conservation (DOC) team translocated eggs from South East (Rangatira / Hokorereoro) Island to PNWC in the Wairarapa to incubate. After three poor seasons and a 9-year pause in the programme, tweaks were made to the temperature and humidity, lifting later-term rather than fresh eggs, and transporting the eggs to PNWC within a day. By the end of the ‘91/’92 season, 14 out of 17 eggs hatched successfully at Pūkaha and the captive breeding programme as we know it was established.
The inside of one of the now demolished tūturuatu aviaries.
With 14 tūturuatu to suddenly rear, and more importantly, breed, the PNWC team faced a steep learning curve. The first captive pairs formed and produced eggs, and suddenly the feisty nature of territorial males became apparent. Stalking each other between see-through flight divisions resulted in the poor incubation of eggs, and sight screens were placed between pairs to keep them calm.
Gaining experience and momentum, important captive breeding milestones were made in the early days of the breeding programme at Pūkaha. In 1995, the first release of captive-bred tūturuatu was carried out on Motuora Island in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park / Ko te Pātaka kai o Tikapa Moana. The following season, in a captive-breeding first, a pair raised four chicks in one clutch, while in the ‘96/’97 season, all 21 eggs translocated from Rangatira Island successfully hatched.
However, one of the most important developments for the programme was establishing accurate incubation parameters. This was achieved by measuring incubation temperatures in wild nests on Rangatira Island during the 1996 translocation, establishing optimum temperatures to set incubators and provide the best conditions for hand-rearing chicks. This allowed the team to lift and successfully incubate a fresh clutch of eggs, resulting in the captive pair renesting and producing another clutch of eggs. Producing multiple clutches in a season doubled, and in some cases, tripled productivity. The following season, 30 chicks were produced for both Motuora, and for the first release onto Waikawa (Portland) Island in the Hawke’s Bay. At their most productive point, PNWC had eight breeding pairs and produced 42 juveniles in one season.
Waikawa Island in the Hawke’s Bay. Photo: Rose Collen
It hasn’t all been roses for the PNWC team however. Avian pox, which has plagued the national programme, first showed up in 2002 at Pūkaha and significant resources were spent to construct the first insect-proof shore plover aviaries to reduce the risk of them contracting avian pox via biting insects. However, a paradoxical issue for PNWC was the establishment of endangered kārearea / NZ falcons in the 942ha forest the Centre is located in, following predator control. These avian predators swoop low over the tūturuatu aviaries, scaring the birds who react by flying into the hard wire mesh and suffering trauma injuries. Being the first aviary used for tūturuatu, it was not lined with soft mesh as the newer aviaries at ICWT and Cape Sanctuary are. With considerable deaths and injuries caused, the difficult decision was made in 2022 to abandon the breeding aviaries, which has severely reduced PNWC’s capacity to breed tūturuatu.
Fast-forward two years and exciting plans are afoot to build a new breeding aviary at PNWC, with the team nearing the end of the planning and investigation phase. The new aviary will be fitted with a shade cloth ceiling below the roof, to both limit visibility of the tūturuatu to kārearea, and prevent traumatic injuries to birds inside. PNWC Biodiversity Manager, Christine Reed, explains who and what is involved.
Wayne Ratapu releases a tūturuatu after a health check at Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre. Photo: Tara Swan
“To guide us throughout the process, we have established an advisory group consisting of species experts and conservation breeding specialists from DOC, the Pūkaha Mount Bruce Board and our own team. We’ve also visited The Isaac Conservation & Wildlife Trust and DOC’s Twizel facility to see their aviaries and listen to their experience. Landscape architect Megan Walker from Boffa Miskell has worked with us to produce conceptual and detailed plans for the base of the aviary, generously funded through the NZ Nature Fund, The Gift Trust and some pro bono work from Boffa Miskell themselves.”
Once they get the go ahead, their Project Manager, Lester Wolfreys, is confident they can get four breeding compartments built by September this year. This means more capacity in the captive breeding programme for the upcoming season, and more tūturuatu for release onto predator-free islands.
Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre
It’s becoming a tradition to finish these blogs with what our partners love about tūturuatu. Christine, who has a wealth of experience taking the national lead on captive management and the development of wildlife health capacity at DOC in the 1990s, is in a good position to comment.
“Being a small bird, they can be easily overlooked compared with bigger species like the kākāpō or takahē. Despite their size however, they are very endearing with a high level of individuality, and bags of confidence and charisma. We feel privileged to work with this unique and threatened species. With the rebuild of our breeding aviary we are looking forward to getting back up to speed and contributing the numbers of birds for release we once produced for the programme.”
And what does this mean for you, the visitor? As part of the aviary build, Pūkaha are investigating the use of remote cameras to beam live footage of the birds in the aviary back to the Visitor Centre. If you want to stay in the loop of their plans, and learn more about what Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre does for our native species, sign up to their newsletter.
