Category: Department of Conservation

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  10 August 2023

The maximum length of whitebaiting gear used on the West Coast will be six metres, bringing it in line with the rest of the country. This change will mainly affect fishing gear used from whitebaiting stands.

Department of Conservation Freshwater Species Manager Emily Funnell says the new regulations, which DOC began rolling out in 2021, were developed to ensure a sustainable whitebait fishery.  

“The new regulations mean whitebaiting will remain an option for recreational fishers, the rules are more nationally consistent, and fishing pressure is reduced.

“Whitebait are taonga and mahinga kai for Māori and provide a much-loved recreational pastime for New Zealanders. But four of the six whitebait species are classified as threatened or at risk of extinction from a variety of causes including habitat loss and barriers to their migration. We want to ensure the decline is reversed.”

The new West Coast regulation will also help to address equity issues. Up until this year, West Coast stand-holders could potentially harvest significant amounts of whitebait using extensive net and screen lengths. Whitebaiters without stands were disadvantaged.

As well as following the whitebait regulations, Emily Funnell urges whitebaiters to help reduce the spread of invasive freshwater pests, particularly gold clam this season.

“No matter where you whitebait, be sure to follow Biosecurity New Zealand’s updated Check, Clean, Dry advice. As an extra precautionary measure, if you are fishing in the Waikato, stick to whitebaiting in only one river for the season to reduce the risk of your gear and waders spreading gold clam.”

She also recommends teachers and young whitebaiters and their families check out a new education resource for children that explores the fascinating life cycle of whitebait species.

“The resource includes a boardgame, word-find and lots of fun and interesting facts. It’s now live on our website, right on time for Conservation Week, 14–20 August.”

Visit DOC’s website for the whitebaiting regulations including information on West Coast net length changes, and the children’s whitebait education resource and activity brochure: www.doc.govt.nz/whitebaiting. 

You can also email whitebait@doc.govt.nz for free printed copies of all whitebaiting brochures.

Visit Biosecurity New Zealand’s website for up-to-date Check, Clean, Dry information on freshwater gold clam: www.biosecurity.govt.nz/clam.

The whitebaiting season takes place from 1 September to 30 October.

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Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  10 August 2023

The predator-free island, in Fiordland’s Tamatea/Dusky Sound, is proposed as a site for a fifth wild population for the critically endangered taonga species, with hopes kākāriki karaka could be released there from spring 2024.

With the support of Kaitiaki Rōpū ki Murihiku, representatives from the Kākāriki Karaka Recovery Groupwill soon visit Pukenui to assess the forests and infrastructure, as part of the mahi underway to check the island’s suitability for the taonga species.

It would be a significant step forward for the species’ recovery programme, run in partnership by DOC and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

Kaitiaki Rōpū ki Murihiku represents the four southern Ngāi Tahu Papatipu Rūnanga who hold mana whenua over Pukenui. Kaumātua Michael Skerrett says the rōpū is very supportive of the proposal to explore the island as potential habitat for kākāriki karaka.

“Habitat loss and predation by introduced mammals has contributed to the extinction of too many native manu species already. We must do everything we can to exercise our kaitiakitanga and explore habitat opportunities like Pukenui to ensure the ones who remain can thrive.”

DOC Kākāriki Karaka Operations Manager Wayne Beggs says establishing more self-sustaining wild populations is a crucial part of the plan to ensure the species’ recovery.

“The captive breeding programme, run by The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust and Orana Wildlife Park, does a fantastic job of raising lots of chicks for wild release each year, but we need more safe sites to release them.

“Our goal is to see kākāriki karaka thriving in the wild. The predator-free beech and rimu forest on Pukenui/Anchor Island should be a great site for kākāriki karaka to succeed.”

Wayne Beggs says this news is a fantastic lead up to Conservation Week, which runs from August 14.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu kākāriki karaka representative Yvette Couch-Lewis has been working with the manu (birds) for more than twenty years. She hopes a potential move to Pukenui will help to stabilise the overall population.

“We are grateful for the support of our Murihiku whānau who tautoko our dream to create a safe haven for our taonga on Pukenui.”

A kākāriki karaka population was successfully established in the fenced Brook Waimārama Sanctuary near Nelson in 2021, which Yvette says shows the value of releasing the birds at predator-free locations.

“While we would prefer to keep our taonga safe within our Ngāi Tahu takiwā, suitable sites are becoming harder to find. It’s a reminder that we must work together to achieve a predator-free New Zealand where our manu can fly free.”

The kākāriki karaka recovery programme is supported by The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust, Orana Wildlife Park, Canterbury University, Mainpower and the NZ Nature Fund.

Background information

Kaitiaki Rōpū Ki Murihiku represent the four southern Ngāi Tahu Papatipu Rūnanga: Te Rūnanga o Hokonui, Ōraka-Aparima Rūnaka, Waihōpai Rūnaka, and Te Rūnaka o Awarua.

With about 330 left in the wild, kākāriki karaka are the rarest mainland forest bird in Aotearoa.

They were once plentiful across the country, but proved an easy meal for introduced predators and were affected by habitat loss, which saw their numbers dwindle.

Because they nest and roost in holes in trees, kākāriki karaka are extremely vulnerable to rats, stoats and cats.

The species was twice declared extinct in the past (in 1919 and 1965) before being rediscovered in the late 1980s.

Anchor Island/Pukenui is already home to a range of threatened bird species including kākāpō.

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Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  08 August 2023

The hapū and marae of Heretaunga Tamatea Settlement Trust have also placed rāhui in their rohe, as shown on the map below.

These rāhui are supported by Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated, DOC and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council. 

The constant re-sedimentation of habitat and spawning grounds post-Cyclone Gabrielle continues to threaten the ability of whitebait species to rebuild stocks for future sustainability.

As well as affecting whitebait, intensive damage across all catchments is a hazard for river users and includes riverbank instability and exceptionally turbid waters.

DOC’s Hawke’s Bay Operations Manager Tryphena Cracknell says recovery work is underway at some sites.

“The rāhui should come as no surprise to our community and fishers, due to the state of the rivers and banks post-Cyclone Gabrielle,” says Tryphena.

“In fact, many members of our fishing community have raised concerns about the upcoming season with us and are in support of this rāhui.”

This decision is based on the need to recover the environment post-Cyclone Gabrielle, and to maintain and enhance a sustainable fishery amidst the significant sediment and environmental disruption to spawning.

All parties involved agree this rāhui is the best way forward for fisheries and the communities.

About rāhui

A rāhui (physical and spiritual protection mechanism) is a tool to manage human activity around a site where there has been loss of life. It sets a temporary prohibition on activities around the rāhui area and limits access for that period.

By placing a rāhui over the area it:

• acknowledges the death and is a way to express our sympathy to the whānau of the deceased
• ensures that safety mechanisms are in place
• rovides time for tapu (sacredness) to dissipate following the death.

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Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  04 August 2023

This decision comes after the poisoning of approximately large 50 eucalyptus trees in the area, posing potential risks to the public with falling debris.

DOC’s Operations Manager Pēwhairangi/Bay of Islands Bronwyn Bauer-Hunt says: “Our top priority is the safety of everyone who visits this stunning reserve. Weare closing the affected section of the track immediately while we assess and plan our next steps.”

DOC staff are exploring various options in collaboration with hapū, Heritage New Zealand, and other stakeholders.

The proposed alternatives being considered involve felling the trees and removing them, felling them and managing the debris, or potentially letting the trees naturally fall – although this latter option is unlikely.

“We remain open to all possibilities at this stage, and transparency and consultation with our valued partners will be at the core of our decision-making,” says Bronwyn.

“We aren’t ruling anything out at this stage and our priority is to close the track to protect visitors to the area.  The track area that will be closed will have minimal impact on visitors to the area with an alternate route available to loop people around the trees.”

DOC staff have identified a person of interest who is assisting them with enquiries into the matter.

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Source: Department of Conservation – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Help name the latest online sensation

Millions of people have spent the last three years watching her neighbours grow up. Now for the third year running DOC is inviting people to help name the newest Royal cam albatross chick at the Taiaroa Head colony on Otago Peninsula.

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