Keep Tracking On with DOC Manawatu Rangitikei - January 2012
Tangata whenua recite karakia for a cuvier beaked whale washed up at Himatangi Beach
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Late in November, a dead cuvier beaked whale was reported washed up on Himatangi Beach. Following a karakia from members of Ngati Turanga hapu, samples were taken for research purposes before the carcass was buried.
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Volunteers from the Oroua Blue Duck Protection Project have reported seeing a family of whio with four ducklings between Iron Gates and Triangle huts, and a lone duckling near Iron Gates hut.
- Volunteers painted Pourangaki Hut in December. At the same time, a new meat safe was installed and tracks around the hut were cut.
- Tracks around Hinerua, Daphne, Iron Bark, Waterfall and Kelly Knight huts have also been cut. A new cooker has been installed at Kelly Knight.
The freshly painted Pourangaki Hut
- There has been some maintenance of Tamaki roadend maintenance but there are ongoing problems with the stream.
- Mould has been removed from Sunrise hut but a building assessment will be carried out to identify solutions to the underlying problem. Railings have been installed at the car park after camper van blew down the hill.
- The Lake Waiwiri viewing platform at Papaitonga Scenic Reserve was burnt, but has been repaired.
- The Umutoi arch bridge and track in the Oroua valley has been repaired after winter damage.
- Dead Dog hut repair and maintenance work has been done.
- Shorts track has been cut and work to clear windfalls on Knights track has started, but there is more to be done. Until the work is completed, please take care on this track. Thanks to those who reported the windfall on Knights Track - we do rely on park users to be our eyes and ears out there.
By Midge Janssen, Sixtus Lodge Trust
Sixtus Lodge volunteers source Coprosma australis seedlings for potting
The battle continues at Sixtus Lodge Outdoor Education Centre . On one side are dedicated bush workers who plant and weed, and on the other are possums and hares that browse, weeds that smother, and snow and storms that splinter and break. But the great news is that the good guys are winning.
With a volunteer army of Sixtus Trust members, Palmerston North Rotary, Lions groups, Forest and Bird members, locals and friends, how can their side not win! Traps are set, pest plants are controlled, tracks developed and maintained, and a huge amount of work is done sourcing, potting, planting and weeding native plants.
The result is the transformation of grazed land to a burgeoning native bush with an increase in birds, butterflies and other life. It has also resulted in an increase in skills and knowledge for the workers and a much richer environment for users of the lodge.
These good guys know there will never be a "now we've won" moment - the work is ongoing. Native bush changes year by year, sometimes one side gets ahead and sometimes the other. But the satisfaction of seeing progress far outweighs the frustrations that occur. It is wonderful that, through youth conservation groups, many young people are also becoming involved in habitat restoration and protection so the future looks to be in safe hands. The good guys will continue to win.
Courtesy of Bob Williams, Manawatu District Council
This new sign helps visitors find their way to NZ's tallest kowhai tree
New Zealand's tallest kowhai - located at Kitchener Park near Feilding - is already drawing more visitors because of this new directional sign at the entrance to the park's southern walkway.
Made of recycled tawa from the park, the sign directs visitors to the 20 m kowhai that was discovered in 1967 and is believed to be about 120 years old. Park Curator Gavin Scott said the tree was a park feature and many people asked where it could be found. Visitors heading to the kowhai may also spot a "new" find; native clematis (Clematis paniculata) with its striking white flowers, which had not been seen in the park for at least 15 years. Members of the Rangitikei branch of Forest and Bird discovered the climber on a recent visit. Mr Scott said the "exciting discovery" lifted the species count and proved that such plants would regenerate if tradescantia - a suffocating weed - is removed.
Marae DIY is a show screening on Maori television. Each episode involves a working bee to renovate a marae, using free labour from the hapu, whanau and community; and donated materials. The show also includes footage of the renovation and profiles the marae people, local community and environment.
This year they have chosen the Paranui marae, at Himatangi. Congratulations to Ngati Turanga. The Marae DIY makeover is scheduled for 23 - 26 February 2012.
DOC is actively developing positive working relationships with tangata whenua. Being involved in Marae DIY is a great to support local marae, allowing DOC staff to work alongside our local partners Ngati Turanga on contributing to the preservation of buildings that are important icons in the cultural landscape of our area.
If you would like to know more about when and where this is happening and contribute towards this project, you can contact George Tukapua on 021 02275090.
Native fish habitat restoration planning meeting
McKelvie Hall, Tangimoana | Tue 6 March | 6.30pm
The local champions of native fish habitat restoration work in the Tangimoana community are holding a planning meeting to welcome newcomers, review progress, identify new actions and assign roles/tasks. If you are interested in whitebaiting, native fish, healthy waterways, or environmental restoration, please come along. Light refreshments will be provided.
Tongariro National Trout Centre, Turangi | Sat 10 March
Head along for a fun and educational family day to celebrate the unique New Zealand Blue Duck. The event is hosted by Genesis Energy as part of Whio Awareness Month. Check out
www.genesisenergy.co.nz for more info.
Forest & Bird Rangitikei summer programmeFor more information, visit
www.forestandbird.org.nz or phone secretary Dot Mattocks on +64 6 327-8790.
NZ Spider Orchids talk | Wed 8 Feb | 7.30pm
Branch night talk by Carlos Lehnebach (Botany Curator from Te Papa) in the Milne Room at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church Hall in Marton. A gold coin donation is appreciated.
Lake Rotakare trip | Fri 17 to Sun 19 Feb
Explore Lake Rotokare with a 2-night stopover in Stratford
Seaweek Dune Day | Sat 3 March | 10am - 2pm
Celebrate Seaweek with a family field trip to explore the dunes of Tangimoana Beach. Walk the dunes and wetlands of this dynamic environment looking for native critters, then help with coastal conservation work after lunch.
To find out more about upcoming KCC activities or join up, visit www.kcc.org.nz, email Rangitikei@kcc.org.nz or phone Chay on +64 6 327-4369.
Tangimoana Beach Seaweek trip | Sat 3 Mar
Join KCC, Forest & Bird and DOC at Tangimoana Beach to explore the dunes and wetlands and help with coastal conservation work. To register or find out more, contact Chay (06) 327-4369 or email greengaijin@gmail.com
Turakina Bird Rescue | Sat 21 April
Meet at the Bird recovery Centre in Turakina from 1pm to see tui, kereru, talking mynahs and magpies and maybe a kiwi, falcon or hawk. Contact Janica on (06) 7520830 or email waiongona@clear.net.nz.
Manawatu Estuary is one of 6 wetlands in New Zealand recognised by the Ramsar convention
On 2 February every year, events are organised all around the world to raise awareness of wetland values and benefits. The date marks the signing of the International Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (the Ramsar Convention) on 2 February 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar. To find out about celebrations in New Zealand, check out the World Wetlands Day event page on the DOC website.
The 20 winning films in this year's The Outlook for Someday film challenge showcase have been announced, including the Department of Conservation Big Picture Award.
Jar Productions won the Big Picture Award for their film 'The Greedy Little Huhu Grub'. In this film, a concerned tui watches as a destructively ravenous little huhu grub consumes everything around him, but Tui has a plan to foil Huhu's worst excesses.
The winning films can now be watched at The Outlook for Someday website. There are some wonderful films and well worth a look when you get a moment.
Every two years, Regional Weedbusters Awards acknowledge those who volunteer their time toward weed management and education. The awards cover weed management initiatives across all land types: private, public, rural, urban and coastal. They also recognise weed awareness and education efforts. If you know of someone who deserves recognition for their 'weedbusting', nominate them for a 2012 Regional Weedbusters Award at www.weedbusters.co.nz.
A long term operation to control possums and rodents in the southern side of the Manawatu Gorge Scenic Reserve, Ferry Reserve and adjoining private land will begin soon. This is part of an ongoing multi-agency project to improve the biodiversity, scenic and recreational values of the Manawatu Gorge.
Possums eat their way through native vegetation
Toxic baits containing cyanide and diphacinone will be present in fixed bait stations from April 2012.
This operation will provide improved habitat and decreased native bird predation. The Manawatu Gorge is a hotspot for native plant and animal biodiversity. Several rare and endangered plants are found in this area, such as giant maiden hair fern and rata. Native bird species like kaka and kereru depend on native trees for their food supply. Possums and rats eat seeds and seedlings, impact on forest regeneration, compete with native wildlife for food and directly prey on birds, eggs and insects.
These pesticides are poisonous to humans and domestic animals; poisoning can occur through handling or eating the bait, or consuming dead or poisoned animals. There is no health risk in using this area if these rules are observed:
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Do not handle any bait
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Do not allow children to wander unsupervised
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Do not bring dogs into this area
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Do not handle or eat animals from this area
As a result, we will no longer be issuing recreational dog control permits for the Manawatu Gorge Scenic Reserve. Existing permit holders will be notifiied that dogs will not be permitted in the reserve from 1 April 2012.
Further information is available from DOC Manawatu Rangitikei - phone +64 6 3509700.
Powell Hut is a popular 30 bunk hut on the Mt Holdsworth - Jumbo Circuit in the Tararua Forest Park.
From 1 November 2011 to 28 February 2012, you must book a bunk in Powell Hut. To book, phone the Wairarapa Area Office on + 64 6 3770700. There will be a warden on-site during the booking period.
Long-tailed bat
Long-tailed bat
The long-tailed bat (Chalinolobus tuberculatus) is the more common of New Zealand's two native bat species and is widely distributed throughout the mainland and off-shore islands such as Great Barrier and Kapiti.
Long-tailed bats are smaller than the short-tailed bat, chestnut brown in colour, have small ears and weigh 8-11 grams. They are believed to produce only one offspring each year.
The bat's echo-location calls include a relatively low frequency component which can be heard by some people. It can fly at 60 km per hour and has a very large home range (100 km2). Long-tailed bats feed on small moths, midges, mosquitoes and beetles, which they catch in-flight.
Thanks to the Royal New Zealand Air Force and a team of hardy volunteers, all of the stoat traps in difficult to reach places such as Tunupo and Howletts creeks have been uplifted and moved to more accessible locations.
A nest of whio ducklings
It is breeding season at the moment and it sounds as though the chance of seeing whio ducklings is pretty good so email Janet to volunteer for a stoat checking trip soon!
Get inspired with a visit to the aviary at Victoria Esplanade in Palmerston North, where four whio ducklings have hatched and are currently being cared for by aviary keeper Peter Russell.
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