Arapoanui 3E Trust

Habitat Biodiversity & Pest

Management Ltd

1/20/2011

Arapoanui 3E Nga Whenua Rahui Planting Project

Habitat BPM Ltd

Table of Content

Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 3

Site ............................................................................................................................................. 3

Planting Plan ................................................................................................................................ 3

Fence and Pest Management Plan..…………………………………………………………………………………............. 5

Price………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....5

Maps………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...... 6

Habitat BPM Ltd

1. Introduction

Habitat Biodiversity & Pest Management Ltd has been contracted by Arapoanui 3E

Trust to present the planting plan for their Nga Whenua Rahui area on the Arapoanui

3E block.

The Arapoanui 3E Trust has recently been granted Nga Whenua Rahui over

approximately 44ha of their 66ha block at the end of Arapoanui Road. As part of the

Nga Whenua Rahui consent they have also received a fencing grant and resources

for tree planting.

A large percentage of the Nga Whenua Rahui is not an established indigenous forest

(green site).

2. Site

Arapoanui 3E is situated on the end of Arapoanui Road. The site is a coastal section

of north facing with a mix of established medium broadleaf/podacarp through to

grass land. The site has not been farmed for several years and natural regeneration is

starting to occur. Recent regeneration has been primarily Kanuka and Manuka.

Of the 42 ha in the Nga Whenua Rahui 19.25ha requires regeneration planting.

The coastal region of Hawkes Bay has been devoid of indigenous areas. The

opportunity Arapoanui 3E provides to regenerate this habitat holds a high value to

the region. The regeneration of indigenous forest that has been promoted by human

intervention will enhance the forestry ecological value rapidly.

Soil type is typical coastal Hawkes Bay with medium to low top soil over soft

limestone and papa cliff faces. Rain fall is 900-1100mm/year with predominant dry

periods over November to May.

3. Planting Plan

Coastal Hawkes Bay has substantially reduced original indigenous cover due to

historical fires and farming practices. The historical forest of broadleaf trees, Nikau

palms, totara, matai and kahikatea ran down to the coast throughout the area.

Remnants of this forest can still be found as close as Waipatiki.

Habitat BPM Ltd

This planting plan targets historical species that will develop into larger specimens.

These specimens will aid the natural regeneration of medium to low species through

shading and seed propagation from wildlife and self seeding.

Current established areas of vegetation on south facing slopes are primary advanced

secondary low forest with nikau, rewarewa, titoki, karaka, kanuka, tawa, kahikatea,

ngaio, mahoe, pigeonwood and putaputaweta are common in these canopies.

Understories have a diverse range of shrubs, herbs lianes including ongaonga,

kawakawa, turepo, hangehange, hen and chicken fern and supplejack.

Goat grazing is showing repressive effects on the understory in many areas.

Planting Program

Planting will be conducted in autumn 2012 to maximise establishment prior to the

following summer. Plant spacing will be at 7m intervals equating to a planting

density of 204 plants/ha. Plants will be predominantly RT & PB1.

Planting species:

The following speices are to be in the planting regime-

Totara, matai and kahikatea, cabbage tree, Kowhai, tall kanuka, titoki, tawa,

porokaiwhiri (pigenwood) and a mixed variety of Phitosporum species. Some lower

wetter areas will receive a mix of flax species.

Planting will be in a no

specific pattern to

make regeneration as

natural as possible.

Wahi tapu sites will be

given special attention

with important

species planted in

these spots

(Pohutakawa, Rata).

Figure 1:

Example of

Habitat BPM Ltd

established indigenous area with project

4. Fencing and Pest Management

The Trust will commence planting of indigenous trees within the Nga Whenua Rahui

Kawenata in autumn 2012. Due to the high number of feral goats in the area and their

notoriously difficult nature with fences, the fencing requirements have been designed to

give maximum protection:

Standard nine wire high tensile fence with post at 4m intervals.

Bottom wire to be no higher than 8cm of the ground or a barb wire can be used on

uneven ground.

Battens are to be at one metre spacing’s. All stays are to be kept internal. For

corners over 180 degrees this will have to be done by means of back ties.

Goat Management-

Post fencing and pre planting, a feral goat harvest will be conducted. Preferable

method is mustering of goat for slaughter followed by culling of any residual

population.

Possum Management-

The planting area is contained within the Hawkes Bay Regional Council Possum

Control Area (PCA). Under this PCA the landowner must control possum below a 5%

RTC. The benefit of this program is the surrounding area also has this level of control

minimising reinvasion.

An annual control of the block will be required with a mix of bait station and feratox.

Additional trapping may be conducted if required.

5. Plant procurement Upon approval of the planting plan an order will be placed with Springfield Nursery

(Taradale) to secure the required plants.

Springfield Nursery has been supplying plants to Habitat BPM Ltd for the last two

planting seasons. We have found their plants to be of a very high quality that achieve

good establishment percentages.

Habitat BPM Ltd

Plants Required- 19.25ha @ 204/ha= 3916 plants

Plant price (plus GST)- $2.50 to $4.50 averg $3.20 = $12533.00

Map 1: Arapoanui 3E Trust Parcel

Habitat BPM Ltd

Map 2: Arapoanui 3E Trust Planting Areas

Habitat BPM Ltd