wildside annual report 2010 - 2015 final version

Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust

Wildside Report

2010 – 2015

Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust Wildside Report 2010 – 2015

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Contents Contents ........................................................................................................................................................ 2

Table of Figures ............................................................................................................................................. 4

Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 5

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 6

Significance of Wildside Project ................................................................................................................ 6

Wildside Outcomes ................................................................................................................................... 9

Wildside Vision .......................................................................................................................................... 9

Outcomes .............................................................................................................................................. 9

A: Community ............................................................................................................................................. 10

Trappers Workshop ................................................................................................................................ 10

A&P Shows and Events ........................................................................................................................... 11

School Engagement................................................................................................................................. 11

Conservation Awareness ........................................................................................................................ 12

Wildside Supporters Group ..................................................................................................................... 13

B: Collaboration .......................................................................................................................................... 13

Wildside Review ...................................................................................................................................... 13

Research .................................................................................................................................................. 14

Funding ................................................................................................................................................... 14

Corporate Sponsors ............................................................................................................................ 14

Funders ............................................................................................................................................... 15

C: Habitat .................................................................................................................................................... 16

Covenanting ............................................................................................................................................ 16

Reserves .................................................................................................................................................. 16

Possum Control ....................................................................................................................................... 17

D: Species .................................................................................................................................................... 17

Outcome Monitoring .............................................................................................................................. 18

Titi / Sooty Shearwater ........................................................................................................................... 18

Yellow-eyed Penguins / Hoiho ................................................................................................................ 20

White-flippered Little Blue Penguins ...................................................................................................... 21


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Predator Control ......................................................................................................................................... 23

Ecological context for pest control ......................................................................................................... 23

Predator Control Results ......................................................................................................................... 24

Feral Cats ................................................................................................................................................. 24

Stoats ...................................................................................................................................................... 24

Ferrets ..................................................................................................................................................... 24

Hedgehogs .............................................................................................................................................. 24

Rats ......................................................................................................................................................... 25

Mice ........................................................................................................................................................ 25

Tracking Tunnel Results .......................................................................................................................... 25

References .................................................................................................................................................. 27

Appendix ..................................................................................................................................................... 28

Table of Photos ................................................................................................................................... 28


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Table of Figures Figure 1 Wildside Map .................................................................................................................................. 8

Figure 2 Outcome, monitoring method and results. .................................................................................. 18

Figure 3 Titi burrow monitoring results 1995-2015. ................................................................................... 19

Figure 4 Yellow-eyed penguin / Hoiho nest and chick results 1998-2015 .................................................. 20

Figure 5 White-flippered penguin colony count at Flea Bay 2000-2013. ................................................... 22

Figure 6 Predator trapping summary 2009-2014. ...................................................................................... 24

Figure 7 DOC: Prioritising and Partnering to Manage Biodiversity (Performance Audit Report) Dec 201;

appendix 3; page 81. ................................................................................................................................... 30

Figure 8 Wildside Financial Summary 2015. ............................................................................................... 31

Figure 9 Possum monitoring results in Misty Peaks CCC Reserve .............................................................. 32

Figure 10 Spotted skink monitoring results titi enclosure. ......................................................................... 32

Figure 11 List of Wildside endemics and threat ranking, DOC (below). ..................................................... 33

Report prepared by Marie Haley, BPCT Wildside Coordinator


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Executive Summary

This report has been prepared for the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust (BPCT) Wildside Project. The

Wildside is an area of 13,500 ha on the South-eastern bays of Banks Peninsula. It covers a mixture of

private rural farmland (75%) and private and public conservation reserves (25%), the largest of which is

Hinewai Reserve at 1270 ha.

Over 25 years the Wildside Project has grown from a small scale grassroots farmer-led conservation

initiative to a nationally recognised conservation programme, that is restoring this living working

landscape through predator control operations and the protection of forest habitat.

The Wildside has been strengthened by the employment of a Wildside Coordinator and the

collaboration of engaged parties through the Wildside Committee. Outcomes have been set by

representatives of the Wildside community. A strategic charter document has been created to assist in

collaboration towards reaching outcomes and monitoring is undertaken to gauge if the Wildside is on

track to achieve these goals. Predator control data and reporting has been standardised and is collated

at a central location. A Wildside map has been created to assist in management and to educate the

community of the scale and impact of the Wildside Project. Substantial funding and corporate

partnerships have been secured, working towards financial sustainability of the conservation projects.

A comprehensive review of the project has been completed with assistance from Department of

Conservation staff and the report and recommendations now assists in the strategic planning and

improvement of all conservation planning, especially predator control operations on the Wildside.

This Wildside Report 2010 – 2015 tracks the achievements and complexity of a project embracing the

challenge to restore the whole environment with a vision of “healthy land, water, people from summit

to sea: Hei waiora, Hei whenua ora, Hei tangata ora, Ki uta ki tai”, in line with the 2015 United Nations

Sustainable Development Goal 15: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse

land degradation, halt biodiversity loss (United Nations, 2015).


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Introduction The BPCT’s Wildside Project is a large scale collaboration of BPCT, landowners, Christchurch City Council,

Department of Conservation, and Environment Canterbury working for the protection of a variety of

endemic, threatened, and iconic species.

The project began for the protection of breeding sites of pelagic bird species such as the endemic white-

flippered little blue penguin, the only titi (sooty shearwater) colony in Canterbury, and yellow-eyed

penguin at their northern breeding range. The Wildside has also been recognised internationally in the

IUCN Invertebrate Red Data Book (1983) for a place of high invertebrate endemism. Other iconic and

threatened species outcomes include the protection of jeweled gecko, spotted skink, the Banks

Peninsula tree weta and Akaroa daisy (both found only on the Wildside).

The Wildside is a nationally significant area for the protection of sea bird breeding sites as it bounds the

only two marine reserves on the east coast of the South Island, Pohatu and the Akaroa Marine Reserves,

and has the largest penguin colony on mainland New Zealand at Flea Bay.

The Wildside focuses on habitat protection, with 25% of the Wildside held in private or public reserve,

and predator control, with over 700 predator traps controlling feral cats, ferrets, stoats, weasels, and

possums laid out across 7,500 hectares of the Wildside.

Significance of Wildside Project

The Wildside is significant for several reasons: 1) It is large. At 13,500ha it is larger than Campbell Island

(the largest New Zealand predator free island). 2) The Wildside coordinates and manages a wide range

of conservation projects under one umbrella to bring about the restoration of a whole landscape. 3) It

provides protection and restoration ki uta ki tai : from summit to sea and covers a range of habitats;

from sub-alpine rocky outcrops and tussock land to coastal pelagic sea bird breeding habitat and beyond

to two marine reserves and a marine mammal sanctuary (with more than one full catchment protected

by covenants – Fishermans Bay (BPCT) and Nikau Pam Gully). 4) The protection is being carried out on a

living working landscape devoted to livestock production and tourism, and contains over one hundred

households. 5) The Wildside is highly accessible to the general public without entrance fees or controls,

with accessible walking tracks, roads, and iconic beaches. 6) The Wildside is home to an array of

endemic species including the Akaroa Daisy and Banks Peninsula tree weta. 7) The largest mainland


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penguin colony in Australasia is found at Flea Bay/Pohatu Marine Reserve. 8) Yellow-eyed penguins are

found here at their northern breeding range. 9) The last remaining breeding population of titi/sooty

shearwater in mainland Canterbury are protected here by a predator excluder fence. 10) The

community is highly engaged and supported by the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust.


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Figure 1 Wildside Map


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Wildside Outcomes

The Wildside project is managed under four broad themes; community engagement and support,

collaboration, habitat protection, and species restoration. These themes form the high-level outcomes

under which more detailed specific outcomes are grouped, and provide the basis of this report.

Wildside Vision Healthy land, water, people from summit to sea

Hei waiora, Hei whenua ora, Hei tangata ora, Ki uta ki tai

Outcomes

A: Conservation activities contribute to sustainable productivity and a prosperous Wildside community 1. Conservation programs are driven and maintained by the Wildside community. 2. Local schools are engaged in Wildside projects. 3. The Wildside community has the opportunity to be aware of the conservation values of their native

habitats and species. B: Shared commitment and collaboration to protect and sustain biodiversity on the Wildside 4. Research and monitoring contribute to better conservation management. 5. Effective research partnerships established with science providers. 6. All Wildside biodiversity conservation programs are adequately funded. C: Native habitats, ecosystems and species are protected, maintained and enhanced: Habitat 7. Wildside covenants and reserves are dominated by indigenous species. 8. Landowners are encouraged and supported to manage biodiversity and protect habitat corridors or

linking patches across property boundaries. 9. By 2030, Wildside streams support healthy native-dominated freshwater communities and

landowners are supported in protection and enhancement. D: Native habitats, ecosystems and species are protected, maintained and enhanced: Species 10. By 2030, monitored native bird populations show increased distribution and abundance compared

to 2013 baseline. 11. Landowners are encouraged to protect jeweled gecko populations. 12. Spotted skink populations have increased in size and distribution from 2013 baseline. 13. The distribution and abundance of the Akaroa daisy is maximized. 14. Distribution and abundance of Cooks scurvy grass Lepidium aegrum is increased. 15. Tree weta abundance, distribution, threats and management needs are known. 16. By 2030 the Wildside titi breeding population has increased in size and distribution compared to

2013 baseline. 17. The breeding population of yellow-eyed penguins on the Wildside has increased to 20 pairs by 2030. 18. The breeding population of white-flippered penguins on the Wildside has increased by 50% by 2030.


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A: Community

1. Conservation programs are driven and

maintained by the Wildside community.

The BPCT supports the Wildside Community

consisting of landowners, conservation groups,

and local and national government agencies

working together to achieve a shared vision

and outcomes. Collaboration is guided by DOC

partnership advice: see appendix, figure 6

(Auditor General , 2012).

Trappers Workshop

The Wildside Review recommended holding a trapping workshop for trappers and potential trappers.

Held in August 2015, the BPCT trappers’ workshop was well received with over 30 people attending to

learn from a range of expert trappers. Andy Cox DOC, presented the Wildside Review and a workshop on

rat control to assist in critical thinking before rat control is established. Wayne Beggs DOC Ranger

presented DOC best practice on mustelid and feral cat control as a reminder to experienced trappers of

the importance of lifelong learning and improvement of technique. Phil Crutchley CCC and Dave Hunter

Excell Corp. presented the practical component of the workshop from basic setting and trap type to how

to clean, mark, and calibrate traps for ongoing maintenance.

Photo 2 DOC’s Andy Cox and Wayne Beggs presenting DOC Best Practice at the 2015 Wildside trappers’ workshop; CCC Ranger Phil Crutchley presenting the practical component of the 2015 trapper’s workshop.

Photo 1 Representatives from DOC, CCC, ECan, BPCT and landowners meet four times per year as the Wildside Committee. Left to right: Anita Spencer DOC; Paul Devlin CCC; Phil Crutchley CCC; Marie Haley BPCT; Graham Sullivan ECan; Richard Simpson landowner.


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A&P Shows and Events

The BPCT has a strong ethic of community engagement and several events are held each year to engage

and educate the community. A&P Shows are a good opportunity to reach out to the rural sector, and

field days and celebrations help to upskill and connect with covenantors, trappers, supporters, and

funders.

Photo 3 Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust A&P Show exhibit; Rocky Outcrops educational field day.

School Engagement

2. Local schools are engaged in Wildside projects

School engagement is a highlight of the BPCT Wildside work programme. Taking local schools out to visit

the stunning landscape of the Wildside, learning from local experts and interacting with iconic local

species, reserves, and habitats, always leaves both staff and students with something to remember.

Students are able to learn all aspects of conservation from predator control to habitat protection. The

Wildside has worked successfully with Enviroschools and now with CCC’s LEOTC programme to create

positive learning experiences.

Photo 4 Botonist Hugh Wilson exploring native forest with local school children; Duvauchelle School visiting BPCT Kaik Hill

Covenant above Akaroa Harbour; Enviroschool exploring pest control methods with Wildside Trapper.


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Conservation Awareness

3. The Wildside community has the opportunity to be aware of the conservation values of their native

habitats and species.

The Wildside is a community influenced strongly by a grassroots conservation movement that began in

the 1980’s with the establishment of predator control for the white-flippered little blue penguins, titi,

and yellow-eyed penguins; the beginning of penguin farmers. “With little understanding of trapping and

predator control, farming communities were swapping ideas and learning from each other” (Hussain,

2014).

Hinewai Reserve was established in the heart of the Wildside, setting aside a block of gorse infested

farmland and revolutionising the conservation movement both here and across the country.

These innovative individuals set the path for the community of Banks Peninsula and most especially

landowners on the Wildside, where 25% of the land area is held in reserve or private covenant and

where most farmers now have a covenant or conservation initiative.

During the 1980s an economic slowdown gave rise to eco-tourism operations such as the Banks

Peninsula Track (the oldest private walking track in New Zealand at 26 years), and seal, penguin and

farm tours. This gave locals the opportunity to look at the environment from a new perspective

(Hussain, 2014).

Photo 5 Wildside Community made up of landowners, agency staff, other conservation groups, researchers and supporters meet

at the titi enclosure to gain a greater understanding of Wildside conservation projects; Wildside landowner Mark Armstrong

discusses the titi enclosure and his work in protecting the last breeding colony on mainland Canterbury.


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Wildside Supporters Group

A Supporters Group has been established to draw on a variety of innovative and forward thinking people

who have shown particular interest in the Wildside project. Areas of expertise include: project

management, fund management, tourism, trapping, research, technological innovation, and animal

health care.

An exciting initiative to arise out of this group

is the Cacophony Project, which uses modern

advances in technology to remotely record

bird song over long periods of time, aiming to

reduce observer error in forest bird

monitoring.

The project was inspired by the hunch that

bird song is increasing on the Wildside and its

surrounds but no valid evidence currently exists to support (http://cacophony.org.nz/, 2015).

B: Collaboration

4. Research and monitoring contribute to better conservation management.

Wildside Review

As a requirement of the Wildside’s Community

Conservation Partnership Funding, a review of the Wildside

Project was undertaken in a joint effort between DOCs Andy

Cox and the Wildside Committee represented by the

Wildside Coordinator Marie Haley. The review looked at a

selection of the Wildside trap lines and management

documents. The key recommendations were: 1. Habitat

protection including fencing, covenanting, and browser

control should be the highest priority. 2. Controlling

predators at selected penguin colonies and at the sooty

shearwaters colony should be the next priority (Cox &

Haley, 2015).

Photo 6 Wildside Supporters Group exploring conservation projects.

Photo 7 DOC staff and ECan contractors inspect the Otanerito trap line as part of the Wildside Review process.


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Research

5. Effective research partnerships established with science providers.

The Wildside Project is committed to using monitoring and research to assist in adaptive management

practices, a reference list of research is held by BPCT with research being wide and varied including

freshwater, invertebrate, habitat and socio-economic research such as interactions between

conservation and tourism (Hussain, 2014).

The BPCT has a sponsorship agreement in place with Lincoln University to provide research for

conservation projects. Canterbury University’s Frontiers Abroad Program undertake research into

Wildside outcomes and gains an opportunity for practical learning such as building tracks, establishing

photo points and making signs for the Panama Reserve, and undertaking penguin studies at Pohatu/Flea

Bay.

The Wildside uses research and best practice to guide management and has worked with Landcare

Research to establish outcomes, operating plans and assess evaluation frameworks (Jones & McNamara,

2014).

Funding

6. All Wildside biodiversity conservation programs are adequately funded.

The BPCT would like to take this opportunity to thank our funders and sponsors who ensure the success

of the Trust and our Wildside Project. Without their ongoing funding the success and scale of this

project would not be possible.

Corporate Sponsors

BPCT FOUNDATION SPONSORS – Anderson Lloyd, Perception PR & Marketing, Lincoln University &

Lyttelton Port Company.


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Independent Line Services – GOLD SPONSOR has provided a significant five years of

corporate sponsorship to assist in trapping operations. This is an ongoing successful

corporate partnership.

Blacks Fasteners – GOLD SPONSOR is a new and substantial corporate sponsor of

the Wildside Project. The BPCT is proud to be working alongside this highly

successful, 100% owned and operated New Zealand business.

Akaroa Waterfront Motels – SILVER SPONSOR of the BPCT Wildside project.

Funders

The Wildside was a recipient of the inaugural DOC Community Conservation Partnership Fund (2014)

for the employment of the Wildside Coordinator for three years.

Christchurch City Council provides an annual grant to support BPCT operations as well as providing

targeted support to the Wildside Project.

DOC and Environment Canterbury are key funders and partners of Wildside operations and support

BPCT with funds for biodiversity protection through covenanting of habitat.

The Canterbury Community Trust is a key supporter of BPCT and the Wildside Project.

The Rod Donald Banks Penunsula Trust is a key supporter of BPCT’s biodiversity work.


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C: Habitat

9. Landowners are encouraged and supported to manage biodiversity and protect habitat corridors or linking patches across property boundaries.

Covenanting

Wildside habitat is protected through 14 registered BPCT covenants, with three additional new

covenants in progress, and 14 QEII covenants. Covenants are important tools to assist landowners with

fencing and stock removal for the protection of important New Zealand ecosystems on private land.

Photo 8 Predator control and BPCT Covenants Coordinator Marie Neal at a new habitat and stream protection covenant on the

Wildside.

Reserves

Public and privately owned reserves make up 25% of the Wildside. Recent additions to this network of

protected land include: an extension to Nikau Palm Gully DOC Reserve of 90ha in Akaroa Harbour; the

creation of the 200ha Panama Reserve in Le Bons Bay; a new purchase of 190ha by the Native Forest

Restoration Trust to be managed by the 1270ha Hinewai Reserve; and the creation of the Akaroa Marine

Reserve close to the established Pohatu Marine Reserve.

The Wildside Map (figure 1) now clearly shows an extensive uninterrupted protected habitat and long

corridors of protection ki uta ki tai: from summit to sea.


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Photo 9 Josef Langer Trust Reserve (in distance) and Panama Rock c.1890 and 2014, showing from almost complete habitat

destruction to rapid regeneration and protection. The BPCT is in the process of covenanting this 200ha reserve on the Wildside.

Possum Control

Since 1987 approximately 18,000 possums have been removed from the 1270ha Hinewai Reserve and

independent monitoring by ECan has shown a residual trap catch (RTC) of close to 0% in this reserve.

The Banks Peninsula wide Community Initiated Program identified the Wildside as a high biodiversity

area and targeted possums in a 2543 ha ‘core’ of the Wildside over two years to reach a target of 2%

RTC. In 2013/14 independent monitoring showed a RTC of 1.4% (Environment Canterbury, 2014).

The CCC and DOC undertake possum control in key reserves and landowners have undertaken additional

possum control for biodiversity protection on private land (see Figure 9 CCC Misty Peaks).

D: Species

The Wildside is home to some important species. Whether they be threatened (hoiho), rare (spotted

skink), isolated remnant populations (titi), endemic (white-flippered penguin, Akaroa Daisy, Banks

Peninsula Tree weta, Cooks scurvy grass) or simply iconic (native birds), the Wildside project aims to

protect them all and restore them to healthy resilient populations. This is achieved through the

protection of habitat (reserves, covenants, land use management, marine reserves) and through the

control of introduced predators.


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Outcome Monitoring

Outcomes are assessed through monitoring. The table below outlines the Wildside species-specific

outcomes, the methods used to measure management effectiveness, and key results.

Outcome Method Results

10. Native bird populations increase in abundance and distribution

Slow-walk-transects, once a month for twelve months, CCC, across Wildside every five years.

2013 baseline completed, to be repeated in 2018.

11. Landowners supported in protecting Jeweled Gecko.

Initial jeweled gecko search with landowners and communication on protection.

Twelve landowners visited with herpetologist BAF funding. Education material distributed. Awareness of poachers and email network established.

12. Spotted skink populations have increased

Pitfall traps check on abundance of spotted skink within titi enclosure.

See graph of spotted skink data (appendix).

13. The distribution and abundance of the Akaroa daisy is maximized.

Number of new translocations or populations.

One new site established.

14. Lepidium aegrum (Cooks scurvy grass) abundance and distribution maximised.

Fishermans Bay plantings monitored, new plantings are investigated.

Two sites from initial five translocation sites remain, new site at Goat Point established.

15. Banks Peninsula tree weta distribution, threats and management needs are known.

Weta motels used to plot BP tree weta distribution.

Lincoln University Map; not available for distribution.

16. Titi population has increased in abundance.

Titi burrows burrow scoped for breeding attempts and fledging success.

Graph (see below).

17. Yellow-eyed penguin population increases.

YEP nest search and nest monitoring, fledging success.

Graphs YEP and YEP 2014/2015 season report (see below).

18. White-flippered penguin population increases.

Full colony count Flea Bay four yearly to check management effectiveness.

Table and graph of colony population numbers (see below)

Figure 2 Outcome, monitoring method and results.

Titi / Sooty Shearwater

20. By 2030 the Wildside titi breeding population has increased in size and distribution compared to 2013

baseline.

Titi were found across most Banks Peninsula headlands with small populations found on the Wildside

until a few decades ago (pers. comms). In the mid 1990’s only two pairs remained at the high cliffs tops

above Stony Bay. Landowners Mark and Sonia Armstrong deployed kiwi ingenuity and daring to fence

off this last habitat with chicken wire and to intensively trap around the small colony. These early efforts

were enough to stop titi disappearing entirely from mainland Canterbury. However, this work did not


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reduce predators to low enough numbers to ensure successful breeding and the fledging of chicks. In

2010 a complete predator excluder fence was closed around the colony and chick numbers jumped up

to 20 – 30 per year with nearly 50 occupied nests in the 2014/15 breeding season.

Titi nests are checked twice per year using a burrow scope for nest occupation and numbers of chicks

fledging. As the number of nests has rapidly increased the result of fewer chicks in 2014 – 2015 is

thought to be from an inability to check all nests with one burrow scope. A new burrow scope has been

purchased which should ensure more accurate monitoring in 2015 – 2016.

Figure 3 Titi burrow monitoring results 1995-2015.


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Photo 10 Titi / Sooty shearwater chick found during burrow scoping for fledging survival monitoring; titi enclosure fence and

habitat and Wildside Important Bird Area coastal cliff habitat (Forest & Bird, 2014).

Yellow-eyed Penguins / Hoiho

21. The breeding population of yellow-eyed penguins on the Wildside increases to 20 pairs by 2030.

Hoiho are an iconic New Zealand penguin and breed on the Wildside at their most Northerly range.

Monitoring of Yellow-eyed penguins (YEP) began on Banks Peninsula in 1988 (Dilks & Grindell, 1990).

The first decade of data shows a fluctuation and decline in both nests found and chicks fledged. Reports

indicate that during this time many adult YEP were found dead at or near nest sites due to predation.

Over the follow decade fewer nests were found and very few, if any, chicks fledged (see graph below).

Predator control in these years was focused on the protection of white-flippered penguins and did not

cover the full breeding habitat of the YEP. In the seven years since, predator control operations were

expanded to cover the full breeding range. Penguin nest numbers and chicks fledged have increased,

and most importantly, stabilised.

Figure 4 Yellow-eyed penguin / Hoiho nest and chick results 1998-2015


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This recovery is in line with the DOC species recovery plan for YEP for Banks Peninsula; to protect

breeding habitat, provide safe breeding environments, and ensure that established and productive

breeding populations are maintained (Department of Conservation, 2000-2025). Wildside management

has ensured that new breeding pairs have also been able to establish.

Although numbers are low across the Wildside the importance of this outlying population is becoming

more evident as other mainland penguin colonys face mass mortailty events caused by starvation and

toxins.

Two hundred and fifty hours of DOC, CCC, BPCT and voluntary time goes into searching for and

monitoring nests during the breeding season. Any injured or ill birds are taken in for expert vetinary

care and rehabilitation by a team of carers. Planning and communication has been strengthened to

ensure this collaborative approach to monitoring hoiho is successful (Haley, 2015).

Photo 11 Adult breeding yellow-eyed penguin; Wildside Coordinator Marie Haley monitoring fledging health.

White-flippered Little Blue Penguins

22. The breeding population of white-flippered penguins on the Wildside has increased by 50% by 2030.

White-flippered penguins are unique to Banks Peninsula and Motunau Island, with 70% of the Banks

Peninsula population found on the Wildside (Challies & Burleigh, 2005). Pohatu/Flea Bay is the largest

mainland penguin colony in all of Australasia. Francis and Shireen Helps are often called ‘Penguin

Farmers’ as, while they are traditional sheep and beef farmers, they also are responsible for an

expansive predator control effort, monitoring, and rehabilitation of the white-flippered penguins. To


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share this colony with interested visitors they run an eco-tourism operation to control how people

interact with the penguins.

The BPCT, DOC, CCC and ECan also protect these endemic penguins through predator control operations

of mustelids and feral cats. Every four years a full colony count is conducted which can take up to two

weeks, and 12 staff and volunteers to complete. The initial census in the summer of 2000/01 (Challies &

Burleigh, 2005) counted 717 pairs of penguin counted with an annual 5% increase to 1304 pairs of

penguins in 2012/13 (unpublished Wildside data). A thirteen year study of penguin nest boxes at

Pohatu/Flea Bay showed a breeding success rate of 64%, 75% of attempted nests hatching, and 85% of

these fledging (Allen, Helps, & Molles, 2011). This fledging success and population increase is largely

attributed to active management and predator control (Allen, Helps, & Molles, 2011).

Figure 5 White-flippered penguin colony count at Flea Bay 2000-2013.

717

893

1063

1304

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

2000/1 2004/5 2008/9 2012/13

Po

pu

lati

on

(p

airs

)

Year

White Flippered Little Blue Flea Bay Colony Count


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Photo 12 Endemic white-flippered little blue penguin in a nest monitoring box; Penguin farmer Francis Helps showing Akaroa

Area School students the results of his years of conservation work.

Predator Control

Ecological context for pest control

The remote nature of the Wildside with its steep and rugged terrain, wild weather and high rainfall,

dense forest and working rural farms, with no definitive geographical boundary, many access roads and

households, means a predator fence is not a viable option here for predator control. Predator control

operates catchment by catchment for the many and varied bays, concentrating on possum control for

habitat protection, and mustelid and feral cat control for pelagic sea bird protection.

The environmental features and human landscape use prohibit the use of widespread or often

controversial toxins for rat control, thus rat control is limited to areas where intensive control is possible

by ground bait stations.

For these reasons the Wildside cannot operate a pest eradication program but operates a pest reduction

program of lowering predator numbers to below 5%. This is based on scientific evidence of the benefits

to biodiversity under this level. Trap lines work in a network to reduce the ‘boundary’ or edge of the

trap lines, as an area is trapped the predators within are reduced but there is always an inward flow of

predators from outside the trapping program. Landowners and communities are encouraged to work

together to reduce predators and increase the effect of their trapping efforts.


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Predator Control Results

Figure 6 Predator trapping summary 2009-2014.

Feral Cats

Feral cats were a widespread problem across the Wildside and remain in low numbers at 2% of all kills

(Cochrane, 2014). Cats are a key predator of all three pelagic sea bird species protected on the Wildside.

Cats are controlled primarily by Timms traps and were controlled by shooting when cat numbers were

higher. Abandoned domestic cats are believed to be a source of many of the feral cats.

Stoats

Stoats are a key predator on Banks Peninsula found here in high numbers at 7% of total catch (Cochrane,

2014). The key prey species for stoats is rabbits and as rabbit numbers have been reduced by a Banks

Peninsula wide rabbit rate and by intensive rabbit control by farmers, stoat numbers appear to have

reduced.

Stoats were a key predator for white-flippered penguins in particular. In the 2000-01 penguin census

many penguin colonies were found decimated by stoats. The stoats would climb down cliff faces to

caves and rip the throat of penguins leaving them dead and uneaten. Even seemingly inaccessible

breeding sites were found predated by stoats.

Ferrets

In areas where predator trapping has occurred for several years trapped ferrets have dropped off to

virtually 1% of all catches (Cochrane, 2014). Ferrets are still caught in areas where trapping has recently

begun or in trapping working in isolation. Fenn traps are used for ferret control.

Yellow-eyed penguins were heavily predated upon by ferrets, especially vulnerable were unguarded

chicks close to fledging stage. Since yellow-eyed penguins have been protected across their breeding

range by predator control operations no predation has been recorded.

Hedgehogs

While hedgehogs are a recognized predator of invertebrates, lizards, and eggs, the recommended

trapping density for hedgehog control is beyond the capacity of the Wildside at this stage. Hedgehogs

are found in high numbers across the Wildside and are caught as bi-catch in all trap types, with up to

Cat Ferret Stoat Weasel Hedgehog Rat Mouse Possum Rabbit Total

Grand Total 97 32 298 63 2996 444 43 233 84 4290

Proportion 2 1 7 1 70 10 1 5 2 100


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70% of all kills (Cochrane, 2014). DOC200 have replaced many Fenn traps to reduce the unwanted bi-

catch of hedgehogs which reduce the effectiveness of traps for catching target species of mustelids and

feral cats.

Hedgehogs have been removed from the 2ha titi enclosure (predator fence) as it has an expanding

population of spotted skinks. Titi burrow monitoring

shows an increase in cave weta, spiders, and other

invertebrates.

Rats

Rats are 10% of all kills (Cochrane, 2014) but are not

actively managed across the majority of the Wildside

due to geographic and technical restrictions. Rats are

controlled in three specific locations where full habitat

restoration is being pursued, this is achieved by ground

bait stations. The Wildside Review has recommended

that toxins are pulsed at end of winter/early spring to reduce rat numbers for the protection of nesting

birds and seed production.

Rats are controlled inside the titi enclosure for the protection of titi eggs and spotted skink. At Stony Bay

QEII covenant rats are controlled for the restoration of the forest habitat, nesting birds, and seed

production of nikau palm. At Kaik Hill BPCT covenant rats are controlled as a part of a complete predator

control project. This is possible as it is an isolated remnant forest system surrounded by farmland, which

creates a natural boundary to control.

Mice

Mice are not controlled on the Wildside. Mice are accepted in the titi enclosure (predator fence) as

removal and exclusion of re-entry is beyond current capacity.

Tracking Tunnel Results

Tracking tunnel results from 2013-14 indicated that stoat numbers averaged 3-10% across the Wildside

and Akaroa township, being detected higher in areas where no trapping occurs and in low numbers

were trapping is intensive and sustained.

Photo 13 Nikau palm seedlings are abundant where rats are managed.


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Hedgehogs were found in the greatest numbers with an average of up to 30% detection. Hedgehogs

show a real drop off in activity down to 2% in winter when they go into hibernation. Rats are not

controlled actively across most of the Wildside and rats are found in averages of 7-18% of tracking

tunnels, higher in spring when food and conditions are right for population expansion. Mouse numbers

appear to be higher in native forest areas. Due to the extreme difficulty in controlling mice in an 'open'

landscape and the high likelihood of failure mice are currently accepted as present and unmanageable.

An average of 22% of tracking tunnels indicated mice were present. (Cochrane, 2013).

Tracking tunnel monitoring was conducted by Phillip Cochrane of Environment Canterbury in 2013 and

2014, for full results see: Cochrane, P. (2013). Tracking Tunnel Summary Wildside 2013. Christchurch:

Environment Canterbury.


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References Allen, W. J., Helps, F. J., & Molles, L. E. (2011). Factors affecting breeding success of the Flea Bay white-

flippered penguin (Eudyptula minor albosignata) colony . New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 199-

208.

Auditor General . (2012). DOC: Prioritising and Partnering to Manage Biodiversity (Performance Audit

Report). Wellington: Office of the Auditor General.

Cacophony Project. (2015). http://cacophony.org.nz/. Akaroa: Cacophony.

Challies, C. N., & Burleigh, R. R. (2005). Abundence and breeding distribution of the white-flippered

penguin (Eudyptula minor albsignata) on Banks Peninsula New Zealand. Notornis, Vol. 51: 1-6.

Cochrane, P. (2013). Tracking Tunnel Summary Wildside 2013. Chirstchurch: Environment Canterbury.

Cochrane, P. (2014). Summary of Wildside Trapping 2009-2014. Christchurch, New Zealand:

Environment Canterbury.

Cox, A., & Haley, M. (2015). Wildside Review. Tai Tapu: Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust.

Department of Conservation. (2000-2025). Hoiho (Megadyptes anitpodes) recovery plan. Wellington:

Department of Conservation.

Dilks, P., & Grindell, J. (1990). Yellow-eyed Penguins on Banks Peninsula: A Preliminary Report.

Wellington: Department of Conservation.

Environment Canterbury. (2014). CIP Possum Results. Christchurch: Environment Canterbury.

Forest & Bird. (2014). New Zealand Seabirds: Important Bird Areas and Conservation. . Wellington: The

Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand, 77pp.

Haley, M. (2015). Yellow-eyed Penguin Observations Banks Peninsula, 2014/15 Season. Tai Tapu: Banks

Peninsula Conservation Trust.

Hussain, A. (2014). Pelagic birlife in relation to predator control and tourism: a case study of penguins in

Banks Peninsula New Zealand. Lincoln: Unpublished.

Jones, C., & McNamara, L. (2014). Usefullness of two bioeconomic frameworks for evaluation of

community-initiated species conservation projects. Wildlife Research.

United Nations. (2015). Sustainable Development Goals. www.un.org: United Nations.


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Appendix Table of Photos

All photos by Marie Haley.

Photo 1 Representatives from DOC, CCC, ECan, BPCT and landowners meet four times per year as the

Wildside Committee. Left to right: Anita Spencer DOC; Paul Devlin CCC; Phil Crutchley CCC; Marie

Haley BPCT; Graham Sullivan ECan; Richard Simpson landowner. ....................................................... 10

Photo 2 DOC’s Andy Cox and Wayne Beggs presenting DOC Best Practice at the 2015 Wildside trappers’

workshop; CCC Ranger Phil Crutchley presenting the practical component of the 2015 trapper’s

workshop. .............................................................................................................................................. 10

Photo 3 Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust A&P Show exhibit; Rocky Outcrops educational field day. . 11

Photo 4 Botonist Hugh Wilson exploring native forest with local school children; Duvauchelle School

visiting BPCT Kaik Hill Covenant above Akaroa Harbour; Enviroschool exploring pest control methods

with Wildside Trapper. .......................................................................................................................... 11

Photo 5 Wildside Community made up of landowners, agency staff, other conservation groups,

researchers and supporters meet at the titi enclosure to gain a greater understanding of Wildside

conservation projects; Wildside landowner Mark Armstrong discusses the titi enclosure and his work

in protecting the last breeding colony on mainland Canterbury........................................................... 12

Photo 6 Wildside Supporters Group exploring conservation projects. ...................................................... 13

Photo 7 DOC staff and ECan contractors inspect the Otanerito trap line as part of the Wildside Review

process. .................................................................................................................................................. 13

Photo 8 Predator control and BPCT Covenants Coordinator Marie Neal at a new habitat and stream

protection covenant on the Wildside. ................................................................................................... 16

Photo 9 Josef Langer Trust Reserve (in distance) and Panama Rock c.1890 and 2014, showing from

almost complete habitat destruction to rapid regeneration and protection, BPCT is in the process of

covenanting this 200ha reserve on the Wildside. ................................................................................. 17

Photo 11 Titi / Sooty shearwater chick found during burrow scoping for fledging survival monitoring; titi

enclosure fence and habitat and Wildside Important Bird Area coastal cliff habitat (Forest & Bird,

2014). ..................................................................................................................................................... 20

Photo 12 Adult breeding yellow-eyed penguin; Wildside Coordinator Marie Haley monitoring fledging

health. .................................................................................................................................................... 21

Photo 13 Endemic white-flippered little blue penguin in a nest monitoring box; Penguin farmer Francis

Helps showing Akaroa Area School students the results of his years of conservation work. ............... 23

Photo 14 Nikau palm seedlings are abundant where rats are managed. ................................................... 25


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Good practice criteria Details Wildside comment

Common understanding of risks and problems

Shared understanding of risks and problems that need to be addressed to reduce those risks?

1. Habitat protection 2. Predators threaten

rare and endemic species.

Shared outcome/result Is there clarity of purpose of collaboration?

Vision and outcomes set by Wildside community

Working agreement Is there a working agreement? Yes, Wildside Committee Charter agreement

Clearly defined roles and responsibilities

Are the working relationships underpinned by clearly defined and understood roles and responsibilities – including who will contribute what when?

Yes, Charter outlines deliverables for each agency.

Agreed strategy/action plan Is there an action plan to achieve results?

Goals

Actions and outputs

Timelines for milestones

Accountabilities

Reporting time frames and processes

Links to supporting management plans

Yes, outcomes, actions and outputs are agreed.

Timeline and accountability could be strengthened.

Reporting of outputs and monitoring of outcomes is centralized.

Links to government plans could be strengthened.

Measures to identify progress Is the effectiveness of the collaborative initiative able to be measured?

Outputs

Outcomes

Outputs are measured through resource investment and trap data.

Outcomes are measured through a range of species monitoring, which is constantly being developed and improved.

Operating plans and procedures

Are there explicit links to operating procedures, policies and risk management plans that need to be integrated into the group’s activities?

Integration with agency and BPCT policies could be improved.

Report, celebrate, and market achievements

Is there a plan for reporting results and celebrating/marketing achievements externally?

Yes, the Wildside Coordinators work plan clearly sets targets for the annual report, hosting a Wildside Celebration and


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sharing success through various media and sponsorship reporting.

Review, adapt, improve Is there a planned time to review and adjust the working agreement?

Yes, the Wildside outcomes are currently under review. The Wildside project has been reviewed through a collaboration with DOC.

Other factors Is there awareness of:

Positive and supportive working relationships

Following through on commitments and championing initiative

Flexibility and willingness to balance individual organisational interests with the collaborative interests to achieve common outcomes

Strong chief executive commitment and sponsorship of the initiative

Organisational culture that supports collaboration

Landowners, agencies and conservation groups work together towards shared goals with mutual respect.

Parties work hard to ensure commitments are met.

The Wildside Committee works together to share initiative and improve programs.

Agency restructures have tested and strengthened the flexibility of the Wildside Committee.

BPCT has employed a General Manager to oversee BPCT operations.

DOC CCP Funding has highlighted the success and recognition of the Wildside collaboration.

BPCT has a strong culture of collaboration, all of its projects rely on assisting landowner and agency interaction to mutual benefit.

Figure 7 DOC: Prioritising and Partnering to Manage Biodiversity (Performance Audit Report) Dec 201; appendix 3; page 81.


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Figure 8 Wildside Financial Summary 2015.

Outcome Action Location Group Hours Amount Source

CCC, DOC,

Ecan

costed

$50/hour

CCC DOC EcanLandowner

@$20/hr

DOC CCP

Fund

BPCT

BioFunds

Independ

ent Line

Services

Josef

Langer

CharitableT

rust

Hinewai

Reserve

Community

Initiated

Program

TOTALS 4,178 221,482 31,500 43,650 9,320 35,520 31,152 11,300 6,500 20,500 7,040 25,000

1 Community Driven project Wildside BPCT 354 12,036 7,036 5,000

2 Schools engaged Wildside BPCT 40 1,360 860 500

3 Landowner engagement Wildside BPCT 156 5,304 3,304 2,000

4 Monitoring & Reporting Wildside BPCT 150 5,100 5,100

5 Research Wildside BPCT 74 2,516 2,516

6 Funding Wildside BPCT 100 3,400 3,400

13 Jeweled gecko Wildside BPCT 8 272 272

14 Spotted Skink Stony Bay DOC 40 2,000 2,000

Stony Bay BPCT 8 272 272

16 Lepidium aegrum Fishermans Bay DOC 8 400 400

Fishermans Bay BPCT 16 544 544

17 Tree Weta Wildside BPCT 16 544 544

20 Titi monitoring Stony Bay CCC 32 1,600 1,600

Stony Bay BPCT 16 864 320 544

Stony Bay DOC 24 1,200 1,200

20 Titi restoration planting Stony Bay DOC 300 300

21 Yellow-eyed penguin monitoring Wildside CCC 72 3,800 3,800

Wildside DOC 64 3,450 3,450

Wildside BPCT 112 3,808 2,008 1,800

22 White fl ippered little blue penguin Wildside BPCT 48 1,632 1,632

Possum control Misty Peaks CCC 200 11,300 11,300

Hinewai Reserve Hinewai 7,040 7,040

Community Initiated ProgramCIP 25,000 25,000

20,21,22 Mustelid Trapping Misty Peaks CCC 96 5,300 5,300

Goughs Bay CCC 6,500 6,500

Flea, Stony, Otanerito DOC 240 13,000 13,000

Titi enclosure DOC 20 1,000 1,000

Stony, Otanerito Ecan 9,320 9,320

Wildside BPCT 128 5,120 3,120 2,000

Wildside ILS 6,500 6,500

Wildside voluntary Landowner 1260 25,200 25,200

Stony Bay, Armstrong's Landowner 250 5,000 5,000

Flea Bay, Helps' Landowner 250 5,000 5,000

Wildside JLCT 20,500 20,500

Other Wildside 396 25,300 3,000 22,300


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Figure 9 Possum monitoring results in Misty Peaks CCC Reserve

Figure 10 Spotted skink monitoring results titi enclosure.


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Figure 11 List of Wildside endemics and threat ranking, DOC (below).

PLANTS

TERRESTRIAL INVERTEBRATES

Scientific name Common name Threat ranking as of Nov

2014

Hemideina ricta Banks Peninsula tree weta

Perigops suterii 6 eyed spider

Plutellus parvus Earthworm

Maoridrilus modestus Earthworm

Neochaeta forsteri) Earthworm

Megadromus guerinii Ground beetle

Holcaspis suterii Carabid beetle

Mecodema howitti Carabid beetle

FRESHWATER INVERTEBRATES

Scientific name Common name Threat ranking as of Nov 2014

Edpercivalia banksiensis Caddisfly Nationally endangered

Hydrobiosis styx Nationally endangered

Tiphobiosis hinemai Nationally critical

Costachorema peninsulae

Zealandobius wardii Stonefly

Neocurupira chiltoni Net winged midge

Scientific name Common name Threat ranking as of Nov 2014

Tmesipteris Horomaka Banks Peninsula fork fern Nationally critical

Lepidium aegrum Banks Peninsula scurvy grass Nationally critical

Celmisia mackaui Akaroa daisy Naturally uncommon

Hebe strictissima koromiko Not threatened

Hoheria populnea var

lanceolata

Lacebark/houhere Not threatened

wildside annual report 2010 - 2015 final version

Documents