Category: Environment

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  01 August 2024

CCTV footage of the incident, which occurred on 26 July, shows a dark coloured four-wheel drive vehicle being driven along the beach at Dotterel Point at approximately 12.20 am. The vehicle driver’s actions cause the gulls to scatter, before the driver and vehicle are seen looping back along the beach.

Department of Conservation Principal Investigation Officer Hayden Loper says the carnage was quite confronting for rangers.

“The deaths of these protected birds were entirely avoidable, and it’s hit our team quite hard.”

The number of gulls killed suggests the birds were either resting or young and naïve enough to have had slow reactions to the threat posed by the driver and their vehicle.

“Red-billed gulls may seem commonplace, but they are listed as ‘at risk – declining’ and are absolutely protected under the Wildlife Act 1953. There is no excuse for this kind of behaviour,” says Hayden.

Extending from Pukehina Surf Rescue to the mouth of the Waihi estuary, Dotterel Point is a coastal dune providing habitat to many vulnerable species including New Zealand dotterel, variable oystercatchers, gulls, and lizards. Local community group Maketu Ongatoro Wetland Society have been working since 2012 to protect the fragile sandspit ecosystem.

The actions of the driver also violate Western Bay of Plenty District Council bylaws for appropriate vehicle beach access.

Hayden says it is believed the offending driver was behind the wheel of a dark coloured Toyota Hilux or similar vehicle, with a distinctive bull bar, and the driver may be a local resident.

“It seems they may have left through one of the smaller beach access points, indicating the driver is very familiar with the area.”

Although the footage has the driver and vehicle on the beach for approximately four minutes, covering 500 m, tracks further down the beach had disappeared with the tide; so the exact exit location is unknown.

Killing absolutely protected wildlife carries a maximum penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to $100,000, or both.

Anyone with further information regarding this incident should please call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) or email Investigations@doc.govt.nz quoting incident number CLE-7188.

Background information

• Local community group Maketu Ongatoro Wetland Society has been working to protect and monitor the fragile sandspit ecosystem of Dotterel Point since 2012 with a particular focus on vulnerable birds. Dotterel Point, Pukehina – Maketu Ongatoro Wetland Society 
• Dotterel Point serves as an important nesting area for shorebirds such as the New Zealand dotterel and is a known resting area for migrating birds such as ngutu pare/wrybills from the South Island, and international bar-tailed godwits/kuaka.
• Western Bay of Plenty District Council Bylaws

Contact

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  01 August 2024

The two popular sites had been closed since Cyclone Gabrielle swept across the country in February last year. Senior Community Ranger Lindsay Tallman says the cyclone caused significant damage to the area.

“There were major slips inside Opouahi Kiwi Creche, the lake track became inaccessible, and more than 200 sheep made their way into the creche through two separate openings in the fence,” says Lindsay.

“We mounted a rescue mission into the creche and managed to recover nine kiwi chicks. Fence repairs were prioritized for the safety of the kiwi; these were completed in March 2023 thanks to hard work from the Environment, Conservation and Outdoor Education Trust (ECOED).

“A vigorous stock removal and trapping programme was also undertaken inside the creche to remove the sheep which had wandered inside.”

In December 2023, the first kiwi chicks were returned to the creche, with four more chicks released back into the creche in early 2024.

ECOED, Maungaharuru-Tangitū Trust, and DOC have also been working hard on track repairs, to get the areas suitable for reopening to public.

“Maungaharuru-Tangitū Trust representatives are pleased the tracks at White Pine Bush and the Opouahi Scenic Reserve are reopening,” says Adele Small, Maungaharuru-Tangitū Trust CEO. “Opouahi Scenic Reserve is home to many of our indigenous plant and animal species, including rongoā (medicinal plants) and kiwi.

“This re-opening enables us all to further protect these species, and allows the public to enjoy the Reserve once more.”

White Pine Bush repair work included repairing two bridges, resurfacing tracks, and in some places rerouting tracks as well.

Background information

Within Opouahi Scenic Reserve, surrounded by a 3.3 km predator-proof fence, the Opouahi Kiwi Créche is a safe place where kiwi chicks can live and grow until they reach adult body weight and protect themselves from predators in their natural environment.

Kiwi raised at the crèche are then released into the Kaweka Forest Park to boost the numbers of North Island brown kiwi living in the wild.

Contact

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  31 July 2024

The intergenerational project is focused on restoring forest across hundreds of hectares of land bordering the Whanganui River.

Where erosion from some land uses threatens the health of the river, Ngahere Manaaki is returning stability to the whenua with pest and weed control, fencing, and planting.

Pest control across 230 hectares has slashed numbers of possums, rats, mustelids, goats and deer, giving the canopy and undergrowth space to recover.

Project Manager Ron Hough says the health of the forest is linked to the health of the people.

“Kei oranga te ngahere, kei oranga te tangata”

“If there’s no life there, there’s no life for us as a people,” says Ron.

After nearly three years of Jobs for Nature funding, Ngahere Manaaki has become an intergenerational mission.

“We try to introduce all the whānau into it when we’re doing the planting, so there’s collectively mokopuna of 36 doing the mahi,” says Ron.

Together, the whānau have planted tens of thousands of plants from their native nursery and conducted 200 hectares of weed control.

For the Hough whānau, it’s an investment into the future.

“Passing those skills down, it’s intergenerational,” says Ron.

“It’s understanding the true value of it all, and what our old people had as a means of survival.”

Background information

Jobs for Nature/Mahi mō te Taiao (JFN) is a $1.19 billion government programme which aims to benefit New Zealand’s environment, people and regional communities.

JFN has been the single largest investment into conservation in this country. It has supercharged community-driven conservation efforts and developed capability.

The funding is administered across five government agencies: DOC, Ministry for the Environment, Ministry for Primary Industries, Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and Land Information New Zealand.

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Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  26 July 2024

The tree is thought to be several hundred years old and has provided shade for generations of visitors to the picturesque lake about 20 km inland of Hokitika.

Tim Shaw, DOC’s Acting Hokitika District Operations Manager says: “It is very sad to have to remove this much-loved landmark, however its poor condition and position central to one of our most visited locations means it is simply too high a risk to the public.” 

“Although the canopy of the tree appears healthy there is a large central hollow and large areas of rot visible at its base,” Tim says.

“We have completed our assessment of the tree and it has been classed as hazardous – basically not enough healthy holding wood in the trunk to give us sufficient confidence in its stability. Given the high public use of the area, the consequence of the tree failing could be catastrophic.

In the summer months the Hans Bay picnic area hosts hundreds of visitors each day. These numbers swell during powerboat, wakeboarding, water-skiing and triathlon events held at the lake. On hot summer days the tree draws people to its shade. Hans Bay Road is within the fall zone of the tree.

The tree will be felled within the next few weeks by DOC staff to take advantage of the quiet time of the year and when birds are not nesting.

The operation itself will be done over the course of two to three days. Traffic control will be in place for the felling, and the part of the picnic area affected will be cordoned off for the duration of the clean up.

DOC will work with the local community on ideas for planting replacement trees in the picnic area.

Contact

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  24 July 2024

DOC rangers and community group Owhango Alive were joined by Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton to celebrate the re-opening of the track.

DOC Tongariro Operations Manager George Taylor says the slip which closed the track has now been made safe again.

“The DOC team worked really hard to get these improvements over the line for the community who love this place.”

Owhango Alive spokesperson Marion Johnston says despite the wet and muddy conditions at the opening event, everyone was happy to celebrate the work achieved.

“We even stopped to admire some whio on the river – obviously they were giving their blessing to the day!”

A karakia and short speeches marked the opening of the track, followed by a ceremonial ribbon cutting where Owhango Primary School’s Beau Bryan starred alongside Mayor Weston, Owhango Alive’s Colleen Boston, and George Taylor.

Following the rainy ceremony, attendees enjoyed a warm drink and kai at the blissfully dry pavilion in Owhango Domain.

Popular with locals and visitors alike, the Ohinetonga Track takes walkers through forest and touches on idyllic spots beside the Whakapapa River.

“Walkers can once again enjoy one of the best views over the Whakapapa River into Tongariro Forest Conservation Area,” says Marion.

To access Ohinetonga Track, turn off State Highway 4 at the ‘Walking tracks’ sign in Owhango.

Contact

Source: Department of Conservation

Date:  24 July 2024

Senior Ranger Community David Lynn says DOC staff have been regularly checking tracks, and have found most of the tracks in the Gisborne, Mahia, East Coast, and inland areas are standing up well after the area’s winter weather events.

“Although some areas remain very wet and muddy, they are still being used by members of the public daily and are safe to walk,” says David.

Tracks open to the public include:

• Mahia Scenic Reserve Track on Kinikini Road
• Mangaone Caves Historic Reserve Track – 4km north of Nuhaka.
• Three Morere tracks – Cemetery, Ridge, and Nikau Loop – remain open, but are only accessible from Tunanui Road.
• Gisborne tracks open include Okitu Bush Scenic Reserve, Gray’s Bush, and the Te Kuri Walkway (Te Kuri Walkway will close from 1 August to Labour Weekend for lambing, as it is a working farm).
• Cooks Cove Walkway – the region’s most used track – is also open but will close from 1 August to Labour Weekend for lambing.
• The Anaura Bay Track is partially open due to track damage.

Other inland tracks, like the Whinray Scenic Reserve Track at Motu and the Moanui-Koranga-Tawa Loop tracks, are also open, with two six-bunk huts on the Moanui-Koranga-Tawa Loop track (Tawa Hut and Koranga Forks Hut) available on a first-come, first-served basis. Branching off the Tawa track is a walk taking visitors to another six-bunk hut (Kahanui Hut).

“It’s important to prepare for your trips before you go,” says David. “For the most up-to-date information visit the Department of Conservation website or email gisborne@doc.govt.nz.”

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