Category: Environment

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  07 August 2024

Rotorua and Taupō are the main strongholds for dabchicks, with a total national population estimated at less than 2,500 individuals.

The endemic waterbirds suffered rapid decline during the 1800s and 1900s, but due to conservation efforts they are now increasing in numbers.

DOC Rotorua Operations Manager Zane Jensen says it’s upsetting for DOC staff and conservation group members to see a healthy adult dabchick needlessly killed by a pet.

“The dabchick population in Rotorua is something we can be proud of; they can thrive here in our lakes, even with so many people and pets around.

“But with that privilege also comes the need for people in our community to be responsible pet owners, particularly when exercising dogs off-leash.”

The deceased dabchick at Lake Ōkāreka
Image: M Boardman

The dabchick was found at Boyes Beach. The Rotorua Lakes District Council Dog Control Bylaw allows dogs to be exercised on or off a lead at Boyes Beach during specified times. The bylaw requires dogs to be under strict control of the person exercising the dog at all times, including when off-lead.

Boyes Beach links via a boardwalk to the DOC-managed Lake Ōkāreka Scenic Reserve. Dogs are not allowed to be taken into this reserve, as is the case for all DOC reserves in the Rotorua area. This is to protect our native wildlife from being disturbed, injured or killed by dogs.

“Many dogs have a natural urge to chase birds – it’s up to owners to be on the lookout for risks and keep control of their dogs,” says Zane.

An autopsy by Wildbase confirmed the bird, a healthy adult male, had been killed by a dog.

The natural environment at Lake Ōkāreka is highly valued by the community, with members of two local groups working tirelessly to protect and enhance biodiversity in the area.

Dabchicks are classified as threatened – nationally increasing, and are absolutely protected under the Wildlife Act 1953. Under the Dog Control Act 1996 the owner of any dog that attacks and causes the death of protected wildlife is liable on conviction to imprisonment for up to 3 years or a fine up to $20,000, or both; and the court may order the destruction of the dog.

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Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  07 August 2024

The use of the small high-resolution cameras – fitted to a fixed-wing aircraft – is a new method for collecting forest canopy data, an important measure for the DOC’s work to assess forest health.

DOC Monitoring Science Advisor Terry Greene says the cameras allowed for a comparison of forest canopy health between two adjacent tracts of land in the Papakai area of the park, totalling 2016 ha.

“The aircraft’s flight path took it over two distinct areas of Papakai – a 1300 ha strip we’ve treated with 1080 to control possums, and a 716 ha area where we haven’t,” Terry says.

“We analysed the images to determine the extent of dead and living trees in the canopy.

“The differences between treated and untreated areas are stark – with more than eight times the amount of dead wood seen in the untreated area compared to the Papakai predator control area,” Terry says.

The high-resolution images allow individual trees to be identified within the forest canopy. Images were collated into a seamless picture or ‘orthomosaic’ and analysed using computer algorithms to group pixels with similar characteristics, enabling trees to be classed as either dead or alive.

The difference in the size of the treated and untreated areas (1,300 ha compared to 716 ha) was factored into the analysis so they could be more equally compared.

The trial results correlate with long-term predator control in the Papakai area. Where possums are controlled, the forest canopy is much healthier in the images captured and where there is no possum control there is significantly more dead wood.

Possums are known to go for the most appetizing species first – and in Coromandel, that’s tōtara and kāmahi species. Possums will continually target these trees, eating all their foliage and eventually killing the tree. Over time, possums will impact the structure and composition of a forest as the canopy trees are replaced by less possum-palatable species.

The reduction of healthy forest canopy trees means the wider forest is more susceptible to disease and storm events which cause further dieback and can ultimately lead to complete collapse of the forest ecosystem.

Possum control keeps the possums from building up to levels where they are causing canopy dieback which means the forest is more resilient.

Terry says more work is needed to assess the relative contribution of other factors such as drought and disease to assessments of forest canopy mortality.

Background information

The protected Coromandel forest is home to important native species such as Archey’s frogs, Coromandel striped gecko and Coromandel brown kiwi.

Forest canopy monitoring is part of DOC’s broader programme to monitor the outcomes of its predator control work for the native species and forests that it’s designed to protect.

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Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  07 August 2024

From the northern cape of Te Rerenga Wairua, to the southern bluff of Motupōhue, Te Araroa spans the length of Aotearoa New Zealand.

DOC’s Acting Director of Heritage and Visitors, Andy Roberts says the Trail Pass will provide better data on people using the trail.

“The DOC hut and campsite network is critical for Te Araroa walkers. With the Trust now offering the Trail Pass, people can save time and money.

“60% of the trail is on public conservation land managed by DOC, including 71 huts and campsites across Te Araroa.

“The new Te Araroa Trail Pass can be used to stay at some DOC huts and campsites and provides a discount at others along the trail.

“It also ensures that revenue from the Trail Pass will support trail development and maintenance,” says Andy Roberts.

Walkers need to register their walks through the Trust. The Trail Pass will be sold by the Trust as part of their ‘walker registration’ process, which opened on 2 August 2024 for walking dates from September.

“Te Araroa Trust’s objective is to develop, maintain and promote Te Araroa as a regenerative trail through partnerships and supported by volunteers and donations,” says Te Araroa Trust Executive Director Matt Claridge.

“We are very excited about the Trail Pass, Te Araroa is one of the world’s most diverse long-distance walking trails, allowing people to experience the back country, towns and everything Aotearoa has to offer.

“Around 2,000 walkers complete the 3012km trail as a continuous journey every year, while many others walk parts of Te Araroa over the course of several years.

“Providing additional value for walkers means a better experience for all and contributions from walkers help us ensure Te Araroa is a regenerative trail, with a lasting legacy,” says Matt Claridge.

The Trail Pass also offers users a 20% discount on a further 10 serviced hut bookings to encourage booking and payment.

More information on the Trail Pass can be found on the Te Araroa website.

Background information

• Passholders will be offered a 20% discount on Serviced-category facilities along the trail as part of the pass. High-use facilities like these are often excluded from passes. In this case, rather than exclude them outright, we’re offering a reduced price to simplify trip planning for walkers and encourage booking and payment.
• Te Araroa Trust will retain a portion of the revenue for investment into the Te Araroa Trail, associated technology, and a volunteer warden programme.
• User fees for DOC’s huts and campsites do not cover the costs of the visitor network of huts, campsites, and track. User fees ensure a contribution (besides taxpayer funding) towards the provision of facilities by those who use them.
• Accommodation that is not on conservation land (DOC managed) will need to be booked directly with private providers.
• If you’re through-walking Te Araroa, or walking the South Island, you’ll need to purchase the pass as part of your walker registration.
• If you’re just walking the North Island, or section walking, the Trail Pass is optional. You can still purchase The Trail Pass if you prefer the ease of one transaction.

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Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  05 August 2024

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.

Submissions can also be emailed to tehikuCMS@doc.govt.nz or posted to: 

Te Hiku CMS Submissions 
Department of Conservation 
Private Bag 3072 
Hamilton 3240 

Submissions open on 5 August and close at 5 pm on 11 October 2024. 

For more information, visit the DOC website or contact the Te Hiku CMS team at tehikuCMS@doc.govt.nz 

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Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  02 August 2024

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.

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