august 2008 tauranga, royal forest and bird protecton society newsletter

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Tauranga Branch Forest & Bird Newsletter No. 67 August 2008

We have decided to postour newsletters because somany members have diffi-culty downloading imagesand attachments. Howeverwe will still e-mail memberswith brief items of unex-

pected news, events andrequests.The Kaimai Campaign news-letter will be e-mailed, so, if you have an e-mail address,please e-mail Liz [email protected] toregister on our list. The listis confidential.

Vote for the

Environment!

Public Meetingat the Bongard Centre

7.30pm Wednesday,1st October

Five conservation issues will be

presented to aspiring localcandidates, and, following theprepared questions, time willbe available for questions fromthe floor.

Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society

Tauranga BranchNEWSLETTER

August 2008 Editor: Neil Everett

Phone: 570-1227Email: [email protected]

Mauao Pest

Control

Three teams of vol-unteers (the Breeze,Ware team and theBurningham Team)have volunteered tostock the new baitstation lines on theMount. Ship rats arethe target pest. Therat baits are still goinglike ice cream in sum-mer. There are obvi-ously many more ratsthan we anticipated.Rat control will bene-fit the birds(especially the pet-rels), the lizards and

the invertebrates onMauao.

Marlene Ware andAnn Graeme are ap-proaching the Mauaosteering committeewith an idea for apredator-proof fenceto make Mauao a safehaven where we canre-introduce some of the species lost from

our forests. This is alonger term goal.

Newsletters

Meet David DowrickNew committeeMember

David has worked on two of the most splendid buildingsin the world, the SydneyOpera House and the resto-ration of York Minster. Spe-cialized in earthquake re-search, he has written over70 publications including twobooks on earthquake engi-neering. He has been therecipient of many honoursincluding a Doctorate of Engineering in 2003.

Always a nature lover, Davidhas long been a supporter of Forest and Bird, writing let-ters to Ministers about

conservation causes. Sincebeing on the TaurangaBranch Committee, he andhis wife Goulie have helpedthe Aongatete Forest Resto-ration project, trampingthrough the forest putting

out rat and poison bait.

They generously funded theconstruction of the deerexclosure fence, an educa-tional tool to show the ef-fects of browsing on theforest floor and one whichwill provide evidence for theKaimai-Mamaku Forest Cam-paign.

Aongatete Project: con-tact Basil 576 5593 for moreinformation. Next work daysare the 6th and 20th Septem-ber.

maintain the membershiplist. Many hands do makelight work. Perhaps you’dlike to join the committee?

Tauranga Committeevolunteers: contact Liz 5776412. We need a volunteerto keep the minutes of themeeting, and someone to

Help Needed

North Island GatheringThis year’s November

council meeting for Northisland branches will beheld at Aongatete Lodge

in the Kaimai from FridayOctober 31st to SundayNovember 2nd . It will be

hosted by TaurangaBranch and examine Na-tional Issues including theKaimai campaign. Tauranga

members are invited toattend the sessions.

Inside this IssueKaimai Mamaku Restoration Page 2

Bird Recovery

Kaituna Coastal Park

AGM

Pohutukawa

Thursday Walks Page 3

Guideline for Safe Walking

Conservation Clues

Saturday Walks Page 4

Overnight/Weekend Trips

Dr David Dowrick




Kaimai MamakuRestorationCampaign

Representatives from sixsurrounding F&B branchesand Central Office make up

the campaign committee tofoster this Tauranga initia-tive. They have produced acolourful brochure and thefirst Newsletter should be inyour e-mail box soon. EilaLawton has produced thenewsletter and helped draftthe brochure.

The most immediate eventwill be a public meeting tocanvas this and other con-

servation issues with thepolitical parties. This will beheld in Tauranga late Sep-tember- early October. The campaign targets theloss of biodiversity, the dis-charge of green house gasesand the loss of catchmentprotection and water pro-duction from the KaimaiMamaku native forests.Did you know that 84% of New Zealand’s carbon sink

is tied up by native vegeta-tion? Native forests thatused to store approximately600 tonnes of carbon nowstore about 200 tonnes.How can this loss be re-versed?

How do we restore thenumbers and bird song tothe Kaimai?How can we prepare formore extreme floods anddroughts if catchmentforests are being eaten todeath?

Pest control gives a lot of bang for one buck!If you see the opportunityto write a letter to publicisethe problems then please doso. Do you have stories of how the WBOP forests andwildlife used to be? If so,

then please ring Eila on549-3646 who would like torecord them.

The Aongatete project isbeginning to show theeffects of sustained con-trol of ship rats and pos-

sums. Here are the resultsof monitoring of the na-tivebirds after two yearsof pest control. The birds

are being monitored bylisting three times for fiveminutes at designated lis-tening stations.

The percentage of listen-ing stations where birds

were heard within the ratand possum controlledarea is shown in BLUE.This can be comparedwith birds heard at sta-tions in the neighbouringforest, outside the pest-controlled area, which arein ORANGE.

Bird Recovery at Aongatete

Kaituna Coastal Park Proposal

Richard Hart has mappedthe natural resources at theKaituna River mouth. He hasbeen taking a concept planaround our local councilssuggesting that we should beplanning to establish a Re-gional Coastal Reserve there

our city.Richard is very good at pro-active planning for the fu-ture. When opportunitiesarise, supportive letters tothe editor would be wel-come.

while it is still undeveloped.With the rare stands of rem-nant kaihikatea, the dunes,river and beach, the WildlifeReserve, and most impor-tantly, the open space, this isa last opportunity for a sig-nificant coastal reserve near

Annual General MeetingKevin Hackwell spoke at

our AGM in June. He gave

an illustrated talk about thespecial species that still livein our Kaimai Mamaku Con-servation Park. Kevin spokestrongly of the need for theDepartment of Conservationto begin sustained and inte-grated pest control over our37 000 ha park. At presenttheir pest control is limitedto the 1100 ha of OpuiakiEcological Area where itassists the last kokako popu-lation surviving in our area.

If widespread and integratedpest control doesn’t startsoon, Kevin predicted thatwe would lose more species.Pest control would not onlybenefit the species that are just hanging on, it would alsoprovide the opportunity forspecies re-introductions andbiodiversity restoration.

Too often conservationgoals are set too low, aimedat just ‘maintaining’ the de-

pleted resources that we areleft with.

A brief AGM elected thefollowing to the committee:

Basil Graeme (chair), LizCole (Secretary), GaryWare (treasurer), Kea Lip-piatt, and David Dowrick.We also celebrated 40 yearsof service from our retiringtreasurer, Ruth Mander.Besides her treasurer re-sponsibilities, Ruth has beenan active committee mem-ber and has organised ourmonthly walks. We wel-come Gary and say “Thank you, Ruth. Well done x40!”

The name Pohutukawacomes from the Maori word‘hutukawa’, a headdress of red feathers.The Pohutukawa belongs tothe Myrtle family(Myrtaceae) and is related toEucalyptus, Feijoa, cloves,guavas and bottlebrushes.There are two forms of na-tive Pohutukawa, one which

is found on the mainland of New Zealand, Metrosideros

excelsa and Metrosideros ker-

madecensis which is endemicto the Kermadec group andRaoul Island.Rata and Pohutakawa are so

closely related that theyhybridise in some areas suchas around the shores of LakeOkataina and the Tarawera

River. The growing buds arefavourite tucker for possumsand repeated browsing even-tually kills the tree. Whiletheir ancestors were Austra-lian, these species are nolonger found in Australia.

Pohutukawa




Forest and Bird Thursday WalksThese are on the FIRST and THIRD Thursdays of the month, meeting at the Bethlehem Hall at 9:15am unless otherwisespecified, and usually returning by 3:00pm, Bring all own food and gear as for Sat walks. Walks do occasionally change,so if going to alternative meeting points check with leader, preferably before 7.30pm, the night before.

Conservation CluesFerns can tell you at a glance a lot about the health of a native forest ecosystem. What do you recognise when you see lots of As-plenium ferns such as’ hen and chicken’, or see lots of silver tree fern and Crown fern? This means that there are few deer, goats or walla-

bies in the forest. Spleenwort ferns such as ‘hen and chicken’ or ‘shining spleenwort ’are very tasty and would be quickly eaten out. Silver tree fern is quite

toxic and is not eaten, so lots of silver fern means that there are also damaging browsers there too. Crown fern is another unpalatable fern which replaces

more palatable vegetation.

To protect and save our native ecosystems we need to promote sustained and integrated pest control. What does this mean?Integrated pest control is targeting a suite of predator and browser pests and focusing on the ecological problem that they cause. In the Kaimai over $10m

has been spent by the Forest Service and DoC on goat control. Deer, possums and rats have been ignored. The forest has continued to collapse as canopy,

seeds and seedlings are devoured.Sustained pest control prevents numbers rebounding between control operations. Integrated control must include ship rats. Because of their rapid breed-

ing, ship rats can recover from relatively low numbers within 6 months so to be sustained as well it usually requires at least 2-3 cycles of rat control each

year. The nearest to sustained and integrated control is done by DoC in the Opuiaki Ecological Area (Behind Ngatahoa Lodge) with one 1080 operation per

year. The Aongatete project has ‘sustained’ but not ‘integrated’ pest control; targeting possum - but not deer and pigs; rats - but not stoats).

Date Location Description Difficulty

Car donation

Aug 21 Kaiete Falls

Delightful waterfalls just behindWelcome Bay. If wet &/or if time

Yatton Park and estuary boardwalk

(easy/ moderate) optional picnic in carpark. Meet Countdown car park

(Cameron Rd / 12th Ave) Leader Kea 552 6338

Moderate climbbut not long –loop $5

Sep 4

AinsworthReserve Te PunaQuarry /I’Anson

Enjoy the quarry gardens and the native bush re-serves. Ainsworth first, then on to the Quarry, then I’Anson. Leader Wallace 5793956

Easy/ Moderateoptional $3

Sep 18

Otane-wainuku

Mtn & RimuWalk

Take in the 360° views from the top of this moderateclimb and/or enjoy an easy walk in the forest. Meet Fruit shop Oropi Rd.Leader Cheryl 576 2689

Moderate &/or Easy $7

Oct 2 Mt

Edgecumbe

Climb this extinct volcano to the lake at the top fol-lows 4WD track. Bring togs for swim in hot pools after. Enid 575 6146Eddie 576 1849

Moderate $15

Oct 16 Looking

Glass Gar-dens

Enjoy this lovely private garden in Quarry Rd, Pa-pamoa Hills. Meet Countdown carpark (Cameron Rd / 12th Ave) $5 donation for entry. Joy 572 5432 June 575

8027

Easy/Moderate $5

Nov 6 Woods Mill,

Mamaku

Walk this historic tram track with old railway bogeys,through regenerating manuka scrub, past an old millsite, to the lunch spot beside a waterfall. Eddie 5761849

Moderate $15

Nov 20 Bluff Stream

Kauri See the largest Kauri trees in the Kaimais. 2 river crossings, short climb. Bring togs for swim in river.Leader Kea 552 6338

Easy if just walk

the tram track Mod-erate $10

Dec 4 TECT All

Terrain Park

Follow Monday evening’s presentation with a walkaround the park led by resident ranger Rick Balfour. 1400 ha to be used for outdoor recreationon Contact Kea Lippiatt 552 6338

Moderate $15

Dec 18 Kopurere-rua stream

Valley

Kopurererua Stream Valley: explore the new pathsand native plantings. Return to Fahey’s for a sociallunch (seniors$15.90). Meet Fahey’s Motor Inn car-park (Cameron Rd Greerton) Leader: Cheryl 576 2689

Easy

Jan 1 No Walk

Jan 15 Summer-hills Park,Papamoa

Our first exploration of this private bush track. Dona-tion for entry Leader Cheryl 576 2689

Easy/Moderate $5

GUIDELINES FOR

SAFE WALKING ON

FOREST AND BIRD

TRIPS

Walking groups need tokeep together. Walk-ers who cannot keepwithin sight and hearingof the leader need tomake special provisionfor their own safety. Donot drop behind or goahead by yourself.

Slow walkers need toarrange beforehand tohave a companion who is

fit, capable and inde-pendent and carries acell phone, whistle andfirst aid kit.

All walkers should havein their pack a whistleand personal medication.Take heed of the"hazards / difficulty" de-scribed in the WalksProgramme.

We are a conservationfocused group ratherthan trampers, stoppingfrequently to observe.




Forest and Bird Saturday Walks

These are held on the Second Saturday of the month. Unless otherwise specified, all trips meet at 8:15am at the 12th Ave / Cam-eron Road corner. Bring stout walking shoes or preferably boots, lunch, drinks, personal medication, warm clothing and wet weather gear. The dollar amount show is the recommended donation to the drivers for petrol. Ring the leader beforehand for information or changes.

Forest and Bird Weekend / Overnight Trip / WeekBring stout walking shoes or preferably boots, snacks & personal food & drinks, personal medication, warm clothing and wet weather gear. The dollar amount for Te Rereatukahia covers the food (Breakfast & dinner only) and accommodation. Ring the leader before-hand for information or changes.

Date Location Description Difficulty Car donation

Sept 13

Matata White

Pine & Hilda LathamWalk

Experience the magnificent white pine trees. Walk this new board-

walk and lookout over Awakere to white Island. Swim in Awakere pool $5Leader: Enid 575 6146

Easy/Moderate some Climbing

$12

Oct 11 Waikareao Estu-ary

City Walk: Waikareao Estuary, then Kopurererua Stream Valleyand the 17th Avenue Boardwalk via Faulkner Park. Leader Cheryl 576 2689

Easy

Nov 8 Upland Rd

Lowland bush walk to Aongatete River clay underfoot and could bevery slippery. If wet alternative walk Omokoroa. Leader Cheryl 576

2689

Moderate $5

Dec 13 Horseshoe Wet-land & Hamilton Zoo

Inspect the restoration of the Horseshoe lake wetland and have afun time at the zoo. Group discount entry $9. Leader: Enid 575 6146

Easy $20

Date Location Description Difficulty Car dona-

tion

October 22/23

Wed/Thur Maungatautari

Walk the crossing of Maungatautari on the new “tourist” grade track (5 ½ - 6 ½ hr), taking in the lookout at Pukeatua peak. Soak in the spa,eat a delicious 4 course meal and stay the night in ensuite accommodation (backpacker option now full). Next morning have sumptuous buffet

breakfast then walk the loops in the southern enclosure and climb the treetopviewing tower (2 hour). Contact: Kea 07 552 6338 / 027 512 0077 /Leader Liz

$125 plus $15 traveldonation Limit 20 people Steep /Moderate. Takelunch and snacks for

the crossing. Dinner & Breakfast supplied

Dec 10th/11th Wed/Thur

Te Rereatuka-hia

Walk the loop from Hot Springs rd. (3 ½ - 4 ½ hr) Stay overnight in abush hut. Walk up Baldy next morning for 360º views across the Waikato & Bay of Plenty (1 hr return).Walk out through the Kauri Grove (2 ½ -3 hr). Leader: Kea 07 552 6338 / 027 512 0077

$30 Limit 16 people. Each person to carry their own gear & a portion of the food & cooking equipment.

Return to:Tauranga Forest & BirdPO Box 487TAURANGA

august 2008 tauranga, royal forest and bird protecton society newsletter

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