From night vision technology to kauri protection protocols, Northland’s local communities were treated to good yarns and amazing wild kai all in the name of community engagement and activation.
The Wild Kai and Kōrero event was a chance to hear some inspirational words from well-known outdoor recreationists and conservation specialists.
Attendees were kept engaged and puku (stomachs) kept full with wild kai delicacies flowing throughout the night. Dishes such as horopito infused pork, and spicy goat bao buns were served to inspire local hunters to become the next MasterChef in their family.
Wild Kai and Kōrero attendees | Alannah Lett
Engaging communities
Threats to our ngāhere (forest) are growing and ever changing. They should challenge us to think differently about our behaviours in the bush.
The Wild Kai and Kōrero event highlighted the need for communities to work together, share local knowledge and values for collaborative conservation efforts to succeed. The event connected hunters, community groups and local hapū, to share important and valuable messages from trusted sources.
Sam “the Trap Man” Gibson opened the night, encouraging everyone to reconnect with the ngāhere, highlighting the damage wild pigs and wild goats cause to our forest ecosystems.
Our conservation experts shared crucial biosecurity insights including the latest information around kauri protection, bird flu and sea spurge.
Out in the bush and see a kauri tree? Attendees were encouraged to “Give Kauri Space” and clean your boots. Each attendee received a Tiakina Kauri pack, full of kauri hygiene gear, enabling all attendees to help protect kauri while out in the ngāhere.
Geoff “Woody” Woodhouse shared his journey from humble beginnings as a local goat hunter to international predator control expert. He showcased the latest in ZIP’s (Zero Invasive Predators Ltd) cutting-edge predator control technology utilising night vision drones and thermal monoculars.
With wild goats and wild pigs damaging forest understory vegetation across Northland, engaging and collaborating with local hunters to help manage pig and goat populations is a priority for the region.
Out pig hunting and see a goat? Hunters were encouraged to target goats and enter your goat’s tail into the National Wild Goat Hunt competition.
Wild kai delicacies
The event featured a mouth-watering wild kai buffet with dishes crafted by local far north Chef Josh Tatu, showcasing wild goat and wild pig delicacies.
Community Ranger Kylie McDowell and Chef Josh Tatu unveiled DOC’s Wild Kai recipe cards – inspiring attendees to control wild pig and wild goat numbers and then turn them into a delicious meal for your whānau. Download the Wild Kai recipe cards.
Chef Josh Tatu’s wild kai buffet delicacies | Alannah Lett
Community activation
Overall, Wild Kai and Kōrero created a unique opportunity to connect people and encourage Northland’s communities to make achievable behavioural changes to help protect and restore our local forest ecosystems.
So, the next time Northlanders are out in the bush and see wild goat, wild pig or a kauri tree – they will give kauri space, target the introduced species, and get them out of the bush and into their belly!
There are 37 long-finned pilot whales stranded at one location. Two whales have died and 35 remain alive.
DOC is working with Project Jonah and volunteers on site to keep the whales wet and as comfortable as possible until a refloating can be attempted.
“The plan is to try to refloat the whales either on the incoming tide tonight before it gets dark or at high tide tomorrow at about midday,” says DOC Operations Manager Ross Trotter.
“The team are assessing to see if a refloat attempt is possible this evening before it gets dark. However high tide isn’t until 11.30 pm so this may not be possible. Once it’s dark, the team will stand down, as it’s unsafe to continue to work.
“A team will return to the site at dawn.
“Currently, we have enough support onsite, and no extra volunteers are needed at this stage. We appreciate the support of the volunteers who are assisting.”
Date: 02 December 2024Source: Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou, Te Papa Atawhai Department of Conservation, Tūhura Otago Museum, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka University of Otago
The 5-metre-long male spade-toothed whale that washed ashore at Otago’s Taiari Mouth in July will undergo dissection at Invermay Agresearch Centre in Mosgiel for a week from Monday.
Next to nothing is known about the species. Since the 1800s, only 6 other spade-toothed whales have been documented worldwide, and all but one was discovered in Aotearoa New Zealand. This is the first time a complete specimen has been recovered in good condition for examination.
The extraordinary opportunity to examine the mysterious tohorā (whale) will be led by Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou in partnership with Te Papa Atawhai Department of Conservation (DOC), working with Tūhura Otago Museum and Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka University of Otago.
Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou chair Nadia Wesley-Smith says the opportunity to research the tohorā is a significant occurrence for mana whenua.
“The tohorā allows mana whenua to reconnect and apply indigenous knowledge and traditional cultural practices that have been passed down from generation to generation,” she says.
“The hapū of Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou will officially welcome the research team to our Marae in Ōtākou and teach them our customary protocols. In return, they have offered to invite our rakatahi (young people) who work in the taiao (environment) space to teach them about whale dissection.”
“We will also host Hori Parata from Ngāti Wai to share some of his extensive mātauraka (knowledge) on the tohorā with our whānau and scientists.”
A research team made of up international and local scientists will be led by DOC Senior Marine Science Advisor and beaked whale expert Anton van Helden. Scientists from DOC, Tūhura Otago Museum, and Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka University of Otago will be joined by three international marine biologists from the USA: Dr Joy S. Reidenberg, Dr Michael Denk, and Dr Alexander Werth.
Mr van Helden says the dissection will provide baseline information about the species.
“Beaked whales are the most enigmatic group of large mammals on the planet, they are deep divers that are rarely seen at sea, which presents real challenges for researching these marine animals. Most of what we know about these elusive whales comes from the examination of whales that have come ashore and died. This one is the rarest of the rare, only the seventh specimen known from anywhere in the world, and the first opportunity we have had to undertake a dissection like this,” he says.
“We will be able to look at the structures used for sound production, its stomach layout, that is unique to each species of beaked whale, even down to confirming exactly how many vertebrae this species has.”
Tūhura will host a panel discussion with representatives from Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou and the research team to discuss the groundbreaking discoveries from the first-ever dissection and the cultural connections and tikaka surrounding the tohorā on Thursday 5 December at 5:30 pm at Tūhura Otago Museum.
The findings of the dissection may have implications for how we manage the human threats these species face in their environment, Mr van Helden says.
“This is a remarkable and globally significant opportunity.”
Following the dissection, Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou has given permission to Tūhura to retain the skeleton but will hold the kauae (jawbone) for cultural purposes. A 3D print will be made of the jaw for presentation purposes by the museum.
Dissection will run from Monday 2 December through to Friday 6 December 2024.
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. This ‘Tūturuatu Telegraph’ we talk to Rose Collen about her time as the Shore Plover Captive Management Coordinator as she hands over the reins.
Rose Collen in her ‘happy place’, overlooking The Clears on South East (Rangatira) / Hokorereoro Island
One of our earliest forms of self-expression are the posters we put on our walls. Sure, that puppy-in-soft-focus might be ripped down in teenage angst, replaced with your favourite music idol / movie / heart throb (Luke Skywalker, guilty as charged). But you can’t underestimate the impact of those early posters and their subliminal messages as you drift off to sleep. For a young Rose Collen, that poster, titled ‘Children of Tāne’, depicted forest birds of Aotearoa New Zealand, leading to a fascination with birds on the brink of extinction and the predator-free islands they were protected on.
Children of Tāne posterTop to bottom: kākāpō on Whenua Hou Island; kōkako at Pūkaha National Wildlife Trust | Rose Collen
It is no surprise then, that after leaving Uni, she was drawn towards volunteer work on predator-free islands to support endangered forest birds. This adventure saw her island-hop from Hauraki Gulf islands Tiritiri Matangi and Te Hauturu-o-Toi / Little Barrier, to Mana Island, Whenua Hou and even the Kermadecs, all of which have been captured beautifully through the lens of her camera. Asked what she enjoyed about this island work, Rose replies, “It’s hard to explain, but when you get off the boat you leave the ordinary world behind, knowing that you have this finite landmass in front of you to discover and explore”.
Rose Collen photographing tūturuatu on Rangatira Island | Mireille Hicks
One thing always leads to another, and in 1996 she was offered a job with the Department of Conservation (DOC) in the ‘Bird Team’ at what is now Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, a captive breeding facility for endangered bird species. This role gave Rose her grounding in captive management by working across a variety of species, including the tūturuatu, which at the time she had never heard of. At this point in the Shore Plover Recovery Programme, the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust (ICWT) had also joined the captive breeding programme and the first releases on to predator-free islands were underway.
As the facilities gained experience in managing tūturuatu, Rose could see the need for a document that could be a repository for their learnings and to set the minimum standards and best practice. So she compiled a Shore Plover Husbandry Manual which detailed everything from egg incubation to how to hand-raise a chick, weed control in aviaries to daily health monitoring. This allowed teams to avoid reinventing the wheel in isolation of the other captive facilities or when a team member moved on, and put their time and energy towards the important mahi. The manual is a living document, added to as more is learnt, and continues to be a vital part of the recovery programme.
Rose catching tūturuatu in a pre-release aviaryRose banding tūturuatu
This kind of thinking made Rose the obvious choice for the Shore Plover Captive Management Coordinator role in 2014. Essentially, the role coordinates the captive breeding and release programme across the facilities, which now included Cape Sanctuary. But it also includes maintaining the programme’s records of breeding, output, transfers, deaths and necropsy reports; working with geneticists to minimise inbreeding; coordinating research projects such as the avian pox vaccine trial; updating the Recovery Team, and running annual meetings and audits of the facilities.
Asked what a day in the life of the Captive Coordinator looks like, Rose replies it can be quiet for weeks, then suddenly a WhatsApp conversation will erupt prompting a flurry of activity. A team might need advice about pairings that don’t seem to be working out well, requiring the expertise of the geneticists at the University of Canterbury’s School of Biological Sciences. Or a bird might develop an injury, requiring a trip to see Brett Gartrell and his team of wildlife veterinarians at Wildbase Recovery.
Mireille Hicks, Ilina Cubrinovska, Rose Collen and Nadine Maue on Rangatira Island
The highs for Rose have been seeing the fruits of everyone’s labour when there are stable pairs breeding well, combined with the right release site. This includes the success of Waikawa Island in the Hawke’s Bay, an island that is now almost at capacity with a stable population. The lows included seeing ten years’ worth of hard work disappear with incursions of a single rat, a fate that occurred on both Waikawa and Mana Islands. It took another ten years to rebuild the population on Waikawa, but the same efforts on Mana were thwarted by a recently established kārearea with a taste for tūturuatu.
Rose with Tawapata South Inc shareholders, helicopter pilot, volunteers and DOC rangers on Waikawa Island prior to a tūturuatu release in 2024 | Sheree Smith
As far as the future goes, Rose is incredibly excited about the new aviaries being built at Pūkaha which will improve housing capacity and increase the number of birds for release. Ultimately this requires finding more predator-free islands with suitable tūturuatu habitat, something she will help with as an advisor in the recovery group.
Asked what she loves about tūturuatu, Rose pauses. “I’m trying to think of something that isn’t about how cute they are,” she laughs. “But I guess what amazes me is their adaptability to captivity. Give them the right conditions – fresh clean water to forage in, a safe predator-free environment that mimics their natural habitat, a good diet – and they thrive, producing up to nine chicks a year. Some other bird species are wild to the core and are often looking for ways to escape captivity. In contrast, some tūturuatu we have released into the wild have flown all the way back to their captive breeding facility and asked to be let back inside. They’re lovely to work with and hard-working little dudes!”
Leigh Percasky and Rose Collen checking tūturuatu eggs on Rangatira | DOC
The role is now in the capable hands of the ICWT Wildlife Assistant Manager, Leigh Percasky, whom Rose has worked with for eight years. Asked what he’s looking forward to, he says, “It’s an honour to contribute towards the recovery of tūturuatu. It’s no easy task to follow on from Rose, but I’m looking forward to the challenge! Luckily, she will remain in the recovery group so I can pester her for advice. I’m especially looking forward to being involved in other non-captive parts of the programme, and working more closely with the other captive facilities.”
Of Rose he says, “Rose has made a massive contribution to the Shore Plover Recovery Programme – her perseverance and resilience during some difficult periods over the years is both impressive and inspiring. Tūturuatu are lucky to have Rose fighting on their behalf and are much better off as a result!”
With some more free time on her hands, Rose is looking forward to a holiday then getting back to more fieldwork, starting in Fiordland with mohua / yellowhead. After that, hopefully some monitoring on an island or two. After a long stint having done so much to improve the outcomes of our favourite shorebird, Rose is coming full circle back to the children of Tāne and island life, camera in hand. On behalf of the Shore Plover Recovery Team and our partners, thank you for your incredible mahi Rose.
There will now be more certainty when applying for permission to fly a drone on conservation land, and the time it takes to get a permit is likely to be faster.
DOC Director of Regulatory Systems Performance Siobhan Quayle says the Conservation Act 1987 requires any aircraft (including drones) taking off, landing, or hovering on conservation land to have a concession (permit).
“Drones are useful and fun in many ways, but can have adverse effects on people and wildlife, which is why we require people to get a permit before using them on public conservation land. On average, DOC receives 320 drone concession applications per year.
“The new process introduces a “traffic light system” which makes it easier for people to quickly understand where it is ok to fly a drone and where it is off limits.
“It groups conservation land into easily understandable categories where drone use is either allowed (green), not allowed except in exceptional circumstances (red), or requires further investigation (yellow).”
Those who are granted a permit can operate at any conservation land that is in the allowed “Green Category”. The new system will provide clear and consistent expectations for operating a drone on conservation land so as to reduce the impact that drones have on other people and wildlife.
The term of a permit is also increasing from three months to a year. This also means the fee is changing from $65 to $180 for applications in green and red categories.
Applications in the orange category are in line with the standard non-notified concession pricing of $2065, which is consistent with previous pricing.
Under this new process, drone applications will no longer be accepted at local DOC offices or visitor centres. Applications can be made through the DOC website. Drone use on conservation land: Apply for permits
Background information
Drones are used on conservation land for various purposes, including recreational use (flying a drone for fun), commercial use (taking footage for television shows or feature films) or research use (surveying and monitoring wildlife populations).
These changes apply to any permit granted from 18 November 2024.
Dirt bikers, quad bikes, and other vehicles are a safety risk on tracks designated for walking and/or cycling, and the recent harassment of a DOC ranger has brought the issue to a head in the southern Ruapehu area.
On Monday 18 November, DOC rangers approached two people who were illegally riding their dirt bikes on the heritage listed Old Coach Road, near Ohakune.
When the rangers explained motorised vehicles are not allowed on the track, the riders became hostile, swearing and gesturing.
One rider started doing wheelies and attempting to push a ranger toward the railway barrier with the front wheel. Fortunately, no one was injured.
Ultimately the pair raced back up the Old Coach Road, leaving the shocked rangers to report the incident to police.
DOC Supervisor Danial Van der Lubbe says although this incident was an exception, all heavy motorised vehicles on paths like this put visitors at risk.
“The Old Coach Road is a family friendly track for walking or mountain biking, petrol-powered vehicles are not allowed for both safety and heritage reasons.”
It is an offence under the Tongariro National Park Bylaws 1981 to drive a vehicle, including dirt bikes and quad bikes, on walking and mountain-biking tracks.
“We’ve seen multiple cases in Tongariro, and across the country, of people thinking they can rip up tracks and endanger visitors, it’s not on,” says Dan.
He adds, “Dirt biking, off-roading, these activities can be great fun in the right places. Check the DOC website for where they can be used on public conservation land.”
DOC encourages people to report any suspected illegal off-roading on public conservation land to the DOC Hotline 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).
Summer in Aotearoa! It’s that magical time when we flock to the coast, lather up in sunscreen (don’t skimp), and dive into the sparkling ocean. But as we splash about, we’re sharing the water with some pretty cool marine mates. From sharks and dolphins to penguins, seals, sea lions, sea snakes/kraits, shorebirds, and even the occasional whale, summer brings a diverse lineup of oceanic and coastal celebrities.
Let’s dive into what you might encounter—and how to keep your ocean escapades safe and exciting.
Sharks: the summer headliners
Always a good idea to be the observer, not the observed. Great White Shark | Clinton Duffy
“Are sharks more common in summer?”
Short answer: Yes.
Longer answer: Sharks love summer as much as we do. Coastal species like to pup (that’s shark lingo for having babies) and hunt for the buffet of inshore fish. Increased numbers of fishers and swimmers out on the water combined with calm seas and clearer waters over summer make them easier to spot, which is why shark sightings appear to spike during this time. However, sharks are around our coastlines all year.
But don’t freak out—New Zealand’s waters are home to 113 species of sharks and rays, and most of them couldn’t care less about us. Sharks are like the introverts of the sea: happy doing their own thing unless provoked.
What to do if you see a shark:
• If it’s 1.8m or longer, treat it as “potentially dangerous” (especially if you can’t identify it). • Stay calm and exit the water like a ninja, not a cannonball. • Let others know and tell the lifeguards. • Call 0800 DOCHOT or email sharks@doc.govt.nz if you accidentally catch a great white shark while fishing or if you have any sighting information. • Remember, sharks are crucial for a healthy marine ecosystem. They’re not villains—they’re the lifeguards of the sea, keeping everything in balance.
New Zealand’s adorable little blue penguins (kororā) are like the celebrities of our beaches—short, stylish, and always turning heads. These tiny tuxedo-wearers come ashore at night to nest and can sometimes be spotted swimming near the coast during the day.
If you’re lucky enough to spot one, admire it from a distance. These guys are busy living their best lives, and human interference can stress them out. Fun fact: they’re also the world’s smallest penguin species, which means they’ve mastered being cute and efficient.
Sea snakes: rare but fascinating visitors
Just a quick pit stop before slithering off to more exciting adventures. Yellow-bellied sea snake | Luis Correa, Creative Commons
Sea snakes and kraits are rare visitors to New Zealand’s shores, but they occasionally make an appearance, usually swept here by warm ocean currents. The most common species spotted is the yellow-bellied sea snake, which is highly venomous but poses little risk if left alone.
What to do if you see a sea snake:
• Keep a safe distance—don’t touch or attempt to move it. • Note its location and condition, and call 0800 DOC HOT (362 468). • Sea snakes are a fascinating reminder of the diverse marine life that occasionally drifts into New Zealand waters, so treat them with curiosity and respect!
No summer beach trip is complete without a dolphin sighting. These marine superstars love putting on a show, leaping out of the water and racing boats like they’re in the Olympics.
If you’re boating, slow down and give them space to play, feed, and rest. Dolphins are naturally curious, so they might come to say hi. Swimming with dolphins is allowed in some areas, but there are restrictions—for example, no swimming with bottlenose dolphins in some parts of the Bay of Islands or with orca, pilot whales, and other large whales anywhere in New Zealand. Always check local guidelines before getting in the water.
If you discover a dolphin in trouble—stranded, deceased, or entangled—call 0800 DOC HOT (362 468).
Sea turtles: the migrant visitors
Cruising into summer like a pro—slow, steady, and totally unbothered. Sea Turtle | Nathan Pettigrew
There are five species of sea turtles and none nest in New Zealand, but they are common visitors over spring/summer, mostly around the upper North Island. Green turtles live here all year round. If you find one on the beach, it’s likely not a casual sunbather—it might be sick or injured.
What to do:
• Don’t refloat it! • Call 0800 DOC HOT (362 468) for advice. • Let the experts take it from there—they’re pros at getting turtles back to tip-top shape.
Seals and sea lions are the ultimate beach regulars, lounging around like they own the place (because they kind of do). While they may look like giant, blubbery teddy bears, it’s best to admire them from a distance—at least 20 metres is the golden rule.
Seal pups are especially curious and adorable, but resist the temptation to approach. Pups are usually weaned within their first year and have a tendency to pop up all around the country as they try to find their way in the world. If you spot one alone, don’t assume it’s in trouble—give it space and let nature take its course.
If you see a seal or sea lion which is severely injured, entangled, in a location where it might be in danger, or being harassed call 0800 DOC HOT (362 468) for advice.
Whales: the ocean giants
A reminder of how fragile our ocean friends are. Whale rescue in Ruakākā | Lucy Britton
Seeing a whale is a breathtaking experience, but sometimes these gentle giants need a helping hand. If a whale strands on a beach, it’s usually due to illness, injury, or navigational errors. If you’re lucky enough to see a whale when boating or fishing it’s best to give them space and enjoy the experience from a safe distance.
What to do if you encounter a stranded whale:
• Keep your distance and avoid touching it. • Call 0800 DOC HOT (362 468) immediately. • Follow any instructions from DOC or Project Jonah—they’ll coordinate the best response. • While it’s heartbreaking to see a stranded whale, these events provide valuable opportunities to learn about marine life and sometimes to assist in their survival. Just remember, the experts are there to help both the whales and the public. • Remember to be respectful of deceased wildlife, especially whales, as they can be taonga to mana whenua.
While you’re enjoying the beach this summer, keep an eye out for some feathered locals—the shorebirds. These coastal characters are busy raising chicks, foraging for food, and generally minding their own business along the sand and dunes.
Species like the tūturiwhatu (New Zealand dotterel) and tarāpuka (black-billed gull) are iconic beachgoers, but they’re also under pressure. Disturbances from humans, dogs, and vehicles can put their nests at risk.
How to help:
• Give shorebirds plenty of space, especially if you spot signs or roped-off nesting areas. • Keep dogs on a leash and away from sensitive habitats. • Avoid driving on beaches where shorebirds nest. • These small steps can make a big difference for these beach-loving birds—and ensure they’ll be around for summers to come!
Sharing the ocean
Summer is the perfect time to explore our beautiful coastline, but it’s also when marine wildlife needs us to be mindful guests. Whether it’s steering clear of a great white shark or giving penguins their space, every small action helps protect the ocean and its inhabitants.
So grab your sunnies, pack your snacks, and hit the beach this summer. And if you’re lucky, you might just spot a dorsal fin in the distance (don’t panic) or a dolphin putting on a show. The ocean is alive with wonders—just remember to share it responsibly.
Catch diaries may include the amount of whitebait caught, weather conditions, river state, fishing gear used, and other factors impacting on whitebait catch. Emily Funnell, DOC Freshwater Species Manager, says any whitebait catch diary is an important contribution, no matter its condition.
“All data is useful, whether you’ve been whitebaiting for a short time or for decades,” says Emily. “Even if you aren’t a whitebaiter, check the family archives as they can be passed down the generations.
“Catch diaries are excellent sources of information about the past and present state of the whitebait fishery. The more data about the whitebait catch we have, the better we can understand and protect the fishery and its species into the future.
“Privacy is paramount, so information in the diaries will be kept completely anonymous and combined with data from other whitebaiters’ diaries.”
If you’d like to share your whitebait catch diaries, or would like more information about this research, email whitebait@doc.govt.nz by the end of February 2025. The research results are expected later in 2025.
Kākāwera/Torrent River bridge was blessed by Te Ati Awa, Ngāti Rārua and Ngāti Tama kaumatua last week, formally closing off a project more than two years in the making.
The previous bridge, part of the Great Walk leg between the Anchorage and Torrent Bay, was left unusable by a slip during heavy rainfall in August 2022.
While the track was re-opened quite quickly, with no bridge in place walkers were left to use a route across the bay – if they correctly timed it to be there two hours either side of low tide.
Motueka Operations Manager Mark Townsend said a new bridge was always the only option.
“Clearly having people only able to complete that link around low tide was far from ideal, and there was always the risk someone would push their limits and wind up in deep water – literally.”
It was also less than satisfactory for tourism business operators needing to offer customers a reliable link between huts or other points on the track.
Planning for the new bridge and a start on the build got underway with a blessing in August 2023.
But then it ran into problems beyond the Department’s control.
“We needed special wire rope for the job which we sourced from Indonesia. Unfortunately, it then promptly got tangled in a port workers’ dispute in Jakarta and went no further for months and months,” Mark says.
Eventually, the dispute resolved and the shipment finally continued to NZ.
“We got the ropes in the last week of October and the job was complete for the first walkers to use on 5 November.”
With the new bridge now in place, access to Cleopatra’s Pool – a natural rock pool with a moss-lined waterslide – is also re-opened.
“It’s one of the walk’s highlight attractions so we’re pleased the construction is completed and that track can be re-opened for visitors’ enjoyment.
“But I think the Kākāwera bridge also stacks up as a new highlight of the Great Walk, and having the dry feet link from Anchorage to Torrent Bay restored is worth every one of the $320,000 it cost to get it,” Mark says.
How a keen nature lover formed the Matatā Trappers group, and the work they’re doing to make a difference for nature on their back doorstep.
Dean checks a new Sentinel trap for possums | Mal Harison, DOC
Connections in the community make things happen
Dean has always loved being in the outdoors. Long runs that took him off the beaten track as a kid, later turned into casual hunting, yet another excuse to get outside. Now he is grateful to his two dogs who demand he gets regular exercise outdoors.
Dean’s hometown of Matatā has two incredibly special reserves right on the doorstep, the steep slopes of the Scenic Reserve are home to a unique stand of hard beech, pōhutukawa and kānuka, and the Matatā Wildlife Refuge is home to a small population of matatā/fernbird, which have disappeared from Wairarapa, Wellington, and Canterbury, as similar wetlands have been converted to farmland.
Back in 2022, DOC Senior Community Ranger Jesse presented to the Matatā Residents Association. He described how the Scenic Reserve was the only area with no predator control in a line of bush running from Lake Rotomā to the coast. Jesse appealed for volunteers to form a group to help protect the bush from the spread of weeds and give native birds like the kōkako safe place to live, breed, and forage for food.
Dean rose to the challenge.
North Island Kōkako | Leon Berard – leonberardphotography.co.nz
Feeling inspired by this talk, and the urgent need to save the community’s precious biodiversity, Dean thought, “This is something I can help with.”
The Matatā Trappers group was born.
Dean and the group started trap runs as soon as DOC and the Kōkako Trust had installed box traps for rats and stoats on the lagoon track and in the campground. A set of old possum traps in the steep Scenic Reserve from a previous initiative had fallen to pieces and the track had become overgrown.
“We didn’t have the know-how or the funds to do anything about it.”
DOC’s Predator Free 2050 Ranger Freddy Matariki Carr offered to help with a plan to protect the special birds and plants which call the reserve home.
DOC Regional Predator Free Ranger Freddy Matariki Carr putting the well-used Predator Free tohu (logo) to good use on a new Sentinel trap cover | DOC
Six months later and with Freddy’s help, the group has eight lines of completely renovated Sentinel possum traps running through the hills of the Scenic Reserve, and a network of rat and mustelid traps in the lagoon area and campground.
Thanks to their trapping work, there are fewer rats, possums and mustelids which means the matatā (fernbird), kōkako, matuku hurepō (Australasian bittern), and the rare trees on the hills have a much better chance of surviving.
Matuku hurepō (Australasian bittern) | Matthew HerringThe Matatā (fernbird) | Leon Berard – leonberardphotography.co.nz
“Community is what we create, together,” Dean says, “and we’re slowly making a difference for our community right here in Matatā.”
Dean shows Tipene Marr and Tracey Raureti examples of pest plants in the Reserve | DOC
Growing support for the group
Dean has big plans for the group. He is working to get a trapline roster going and to start tackling pest plants in both reserves.
“We also need to do something about the number of deer in the Scenic Reserve, and we could do with help to find more funding too.”
Ranger Freddy is thrilled with the community support so far and encourages more locals to get involved, “there is lots to do and a role for everyone in the Predator Free 2050 movement. Working together builds communities, and everyone has skills to help in some way.”
This is the power of community. If we all play a part in supporting Predator Free 2050, the difference will be even greater. Freddy and Dean show what an impact people can make for nature.
