October Update No Images? Click here An update from Lou SansonTēnā koutou, Welcome to my regular update, where I share conservation stories to give you an inside look at DOC's work, as well as the efforts of others contributing to conservation. Genesis Energy - whio programmeIt was a delight to take Genesis Energy CEO Marc England into the Copland Valley to see the quality of the rātā forest after 33 years of sustained possum control, and personally thank him for Genesis’ contribution towards whio recovery. Marc was able to experience first-hand an alpine valley where we have maintained the quality of the forest ecosystem and persistence of whio using landscape scale 1080 programmes for the last 33 years (operations in 1986, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2007 and 2012). Wayne Costello (DOC’s South Westland Operations Manager), Marc England (Genesis Energy CEO) and Lou Sanson in the Copland Valley. Photo: DOC Genesis has committed over $4.5 million since 2011 to fast track the Whio Recovery Plan. Because of this collaboration we have all but achieved our short-term goals, with the number of whio pairs protected now more than double - from 298 pairs to 725 over the past eight years. Nōti Hinetamatea/Copland has a special place in the history of Kāti Māhaki. The current Nōti Hinetamatea/Copland Track traces the ancient footsteps of Hinetamatea and her family and we followed those footsteps out from Douglas Rock. Whio. Photo: Mithuna Sothieson The valley still has significance for me personally as my first paid job was cutting the track from Welcome Flat to Douglas Rock in 1973. I was back there in 1978 for three months establishing Forest Research Institute forest plots to monitor some of New Zealand’s earliest aerial 1080 operations to keep possums out of one South Westland valley. Copland River. Photo: DOC Minister launches Practical Guide to TrappingI was excited to attend the Minister’s launch of “Predator Free 2050 - A Practical Guide to Trapping” at Zealandia on 14 October. With more than 4,000 native species facing extinction (many due to introduced predators), every trap counts towards a Predator Free New Zealand. This guide is set to be a gamechanger in that space, mobilising and informing trapping efforts around New Zealand. The guide is a standalone document available to anyone interested in trapping, as well as an additional resource to complement the DOC and Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology two-day trap training. Successful predator trapping involves much more than simply putting out a trap. It is important that community trappers can identify different predators and understand the different behaviours they each have. The detail in this guide will help communities lift their trapping game while also being safe and humane. If we are going to be successful, our advice needs to be suitable for backyard trappers to new groups, or to the more experienced trappers who want to extend their knowledge. Whatever your trapping background, this simple, concise guide tells you all you need to know. While the guide focuses on how to deliver predator trap control across large landscapes, it also includes information on how to modify best practice to suit backyard and small-scale trapping. Left to right: Jo Macpherson (DOC Communities Manager – Predator Free 2050), Michelle Bridge (DOC Communities Advisor – Predator Free 2050), Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage, Brent Beaven (DOC Programme Manager – Predator Free 2050) at Zealandia for the launch of “Predator Free 2050 – A Practical Guide to Trapping". Photo: supplied by Minister Sage’s Office Threatened species recovery rocksOur threatened species management has been taken to another level through intensive management, predator control and innovative techniques. This year we are having some outstanding breakthroughs. In the past few months we have confirmed 400 takahē, 200 kākāpō, 4,000 kōkako in the wild and 300 rowi eggs taken from the wild and hatched at the West Coast Wildlife Centre. We also look certain to have our 2,000th kiwi hatched at Rainbow Springs Nature Park, owned by Ngāi Tahu Tourism. Awesome results made possible with help from our Treaty Partner, national partners and other generous supporters. New Zealand Forest Service - 100 YearsParliament recently celebrated a century of government forestry at a special celebratory dinner. The NZ forest sector has a vital future role sequestering carbon, sustainably producing wood products and contributing to regional employment and vocational training. As a guest speaker at the dinner, DOC historian Paul Mahoney recalled the changes in the first 100 years. His presentation featured people of two eras: George and Irene Murray in the Kauaeranga kauri bush in 1919; and forester Jim Spiers, aged 96, the oldest Forest Service employee present. Jim’s professional life began as a 17-year-old working with Dolly his horse snigging out pole in Tapanui Forest, to having an international education and becoming a NZ Forest Service research director. Paul also discussed the best of the 18 forest industry heritage sites that are actively managed for visitors by DOC, such as the successful ‘Timber Trail’ cycleway. Guy Salmon was presented with the Kaitiakitanga Aotearoa Award at the dinner, for his commitment to the protection of forests, forest ecosystems and the connection of forests to people. Ministry for Primary Industries’ Te Uru Rākau overview of the century of NZ Forestry (6 MB) From left: Julie Collins - Deputy Director-General Te Uru Rākau, Forestry Minister Hon Shane Jones, and Guy Salmon. Hauraki Gulf shellfish bedsIt's excellent to have The Nature Conservancy working on freshwater, ocean and fisheries as their focus. A key community-led initiative they are supporting is shellfish bed restoration in the Hauraki Gulf. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) - established in New Zealand in 2016 - is contributing $200,000 towards restoring these lost shellfish reefs and beds as part of a community and government partnership with Revive our Gulf, Fisheries NZ (contributing $100,000) and DOC (contributing $100,000). Carl McGuinness, from TNC, will be bringing in expertise from their well-established shellfish restoration projects in Australia and the United States, and is currently recruiting a shellfish restoration coordinator. The funding provided by TNC, DOC and Fisheries NZ will go towards research, capability building, reef restoration, and coordination of restoration efforts. Carl McGuinness from The Nature Conservancy. Photo: supplied I look forward to seeing the difference this project will make to the Gulf in the coming years. Backcountry Trust achieving hut goalOver the past year the Backcountry Trust, under the leadership of Craig Benbow (Board Chair) and Rob Brown (Trust Manager), has exceeded the initial goal of 200 huts and 850 kilometres of track maintained. Over the year a total of 1700 volunteers delivered 44,000 hours of labour (the equivalent of 22 permanent staff). During this period DOC contributed $411,000 for 48 separate hut and track projects. The Trust’s average cost to restore a DOC hut is around $6,000. A figure we could not hope to do for such great value. Their Facebook “Name the Hut” page now has 6,800 members, showing the genuine interest of New Zealanders in our 980 backcountry huts. We are truly appreciative of the six years of work by the Backcountry Trust, our first real DOC-funded community partnership initiative. This way of working together is how we grow conservation and DOC will continue to support the trust and the community groups it works with. Incredible results! DOC Hokitika's Ted Brennan (who is also a Permolat member) helping out with the rebuild of Crystal Biv. Ted and his partner Annie Hughes also did the maintenance work on Mikonui Spur Biv this summer in their spare time. Photo: Backcountry Trust Hauraki Iwi – partnership buildingI was privileged to join 7 of the 12 Te Pare Hauraki Iwi at our new Thames office in hosting our first rangatira to rangatira hui where DOC and Hauraki Iwi work on their co-governance aspirations. We blessed the tomokanga entrance way into our Thames office, which represents a unified approach, new beginning and shared responsibility and commitment to conservation work in the District and Regions. Significant issues for Te Pare Hauraki Iwi include;
Hauraki Iwi stand under the tomokanga (carved doorway) entrance at the opening of the new Hauraki Office Carvings. Photo: Leanne Irvine (DOC) We agreed to co-create plans to advance their aspirations and further rangatira to rangatira hui. Te Pare Hauraki Iwi and DOC staff outside the Hauraki Office. Photo: Leanne Irvine (DOC) Mackenzie Basin – Treaty Partner, Government and Local Government alignmentThe five Chief Executives of Land Information New Zealand, DOC, Environment Canterbury, Waitaki District Council and Mackenzie District Council met last week with the three Ngāi Tahu rūnanga chairs at Arowhenua Marae in Temuka. We were there to listen to the collective rūnanga vision to acknowledge their manawhenua for the Mackenzie Basin and Waitaki River. The five CEOs group was formed two years ago in response to increasing public concerns over land-use change and water allocation in the Mackenzie Basin/Te Manahuna. A recent public meeting in Twizel confirmed the two current issues are now tourism and wilding pines. Three Ngāi Tahu Rūnaka Chairs and five Government CEO’s meet at Arowhenua Marae, Temuka. The group now co-ordinate seven separate programmes of work; Mackenzie Drylands Heritage Area, Te Manahuna Aoraki Project, Wilding Conifer Control Programme, Mackenzie Destination Plan (tourism strategy), Waitaki Whitestone Geopark, High Country Work Programme and the Aoraki Park Plan. The hui was a first for New Zealand in seeking high level principles from all five agencies to ensure a manawhenua vision for landscape - to restore the mana of our Treaty Partner in this special environment. This could be a model for future landscape work across New Zealand. Predator Free Taranaki – Project MoungaDuring Conservation Week I participated in the Legends of Conservation Adventure Race, along with 40 Taranaki community conservation groups that comprise "Wild for Taranaki". It was great to see the strength of Treaty Partners and community involvement working together towards a restoration vision of "Towards Predator Free". Tama Blackburn and Tim Sjoberg – DOC Predator Free Rangers for the Taranaki Mounga Project. I was able to spend time with two of the organisations working on Project Mounga and Towards Predator Free on Mount Taranaki – projects that are supported by NEXT Foundation, Shell, TSB, Taranaki Regional Council (TRC) and DOC. It was fantastic to see the use of technology, such as traps that set themselves one hour after sunset, and other innovations like the use of infrared pest detection around traps. Toby Stanley (Taranaki Regional Council) and Tim Sjoberg (Project Mounga) with electronic traps that set one hour after dark and one hour before dawn. Photo: DOC TRC is taking a real leadership role along with Taranaki Iwi and NEXT Foundation. It was inspiring to see TRC lead the work with farmers and schools to create a predator free halo around the mountain. Rakiura Māori Lands Trust – restoring whenuaI spent 2 days with 150 Rakiura Māori landowners at Halfmoon Bay recently. Collectively, they own 11,000 hectares of Rakiura. Rakiura Māori Lands Trustees, Tina Nixon, Simon Gomez (Chair), Kylie Moxham (Secretary) and Jill Skerrett. Photo: DOC Through the 10 year ‘Neck Restoration Project’ they have restored a large part of their land to be predator free. Most significantly, they have cleared white-tail deer off the entire peninsula. The Neck Restoration Project - 10 years work on predator management by Rakiura Māori Lands Trust. Photos: Rakiura Māori Lands Trust They are managing the Lords River Block ‘as if it was a National Park’ (since DOC compensated for potential logging there in 1999), and recently announced an initiative with Te Puni Kōkiri to investigate a bush opportunity named ‘The Great Southern Ocean Walk’ that goes from The Neck through to Lords River, with 2 lodges. This would allow visitors to experience some of the remarkable whenua and taonga species (they currently operate the longstanding Kiwi Experience with Real Journeys). The Neck, Rakiura Auckland Zoo supports DOC’s kākāpō programmeI recently visited our partners Auckland Zoo, with DOC Operations Director, Andrew Bauke and Partnerships Director, Michelle Palmer. Our visit was to acknowledge the amazing Zoo team who did so much to help us save 24 kākāpō infected by aspergillosis (fungal pneumonia). Aspergillosis is a condition reasonably common in birds, but rare in kākāpō. Of the 84 birds that were hatched this year – our best ever – only 7 died (2 adults and 5 chicks). There is now a record number of kākāpō – 213 birds – which is a huge improvement from the low of 86 birds in 2004. We were proud to present a fabulous Andris Apse kākāpō limited edition print to recognise the 7,000 hours and $150,000 that Auckland Zoo has generously supported the kākāpō programme with this year. Lou Sanson (middle) presenting recognition print to Auckland Zoo staff. From left: Mikaylie Wilson (Clinical Coordinator), Ann Pas (Senior Vet), Melanie Leech (Assoc. Vet), James Chatterton (Manager-Vet Services). Photo: DOC New Powell Hut – Tararua Forest ParkJan, Georgia and I walked into the fabulous new Powell Hut located below the summit of Mt Holdsworth a few weekends ago. Opened in July, it is already at capacity (32 bunks) every weekend. The new Powell Hut, located in the Tararua Forest Park in the Wairarapa. Photo: DOC It is one of the best huts yet built by DOC and includes the latest technology in solar power and gas-fittings. With it being right on the edge of the alpine zone, you wake to incredible sunrises over the southern North Island. Fantastic work by our Wairarapa team and McIntyre Contractors. Powell Hut sunrise at 5:30am. Photo: DOC Tiakina Ngā Manu updateOur Tiakina Ngā Manu staff and contractors are making good progress in our ambitious predator control programme, in response to this year’s ‘mega mast’ or mass seeding. Rats have reached record levels at most of the sites we are monitoring. This follows the biggest beech mast in more than 40 years, combined with other forest trees and tussocks also seeding. Without predator control, our native birds and other wildlife would be under extreme threat from rats and stoats this spring and summer. After a challenging start and delays due to poor weather, we’ve now completed 400,000 hectares of predator control. The race is on to get as much done as possible in every fine weather period from now on. I’m aware that field teams are putting in long days to do this. We need to watch that the balance doesn’t tip from hard work to overwork. With so much seed on the ground this winter, rats and mice haven’t had to travel far for food. Tiny gaps in 1080 bait application were allowing rodents to survive where they normally wouldn’t. Faced with disappointing results from our first couple of operations, changes have been made to the way 1080 bait is applied this year. We’re now overlapping flight lines to avoid any gaps in bait coverage. I’m impressed with how quickly staff have adjusted and applied the new technique. It’s been lots of extra work in an already busy programme. Results from recent operations in the Eglinton and Clinton valleys in Fiordland and Abbey Rocks on the West Coast, show that new 1080 bait application techniques are working, with rats knocked down to very low levels. Our predator control is carefully targeted to protect our most at-risk populations of native species across about 900,000 hectares of conservation land using a range of tools including traps and ground-based toxins. It will benefit kiwi, our rarest kākāraki, mohua/yellowhead, rock wren/tuke, native bats/pekapeka and giant land snails, among others. The exceptional mast year is certainly keeping us on our toes but I’m confident the teamwork we have in place to monitor and manage this programme will lead to good results for our nature. Orange-fronted parakeet/kākāriki karaka, our rarest parakeet. Photo: J Van Hal (DOC) DOC on FacebookBe sure to follow DOC on our new Facebook page, on Twitter, Instagram and more. My team have set up a hub for my social media activity on the DOC website. #DOCBoss shows all my news, views and adventures in one place. Take a look and let me know your feedback by emailing Director-General@doc.govt.nz. Hei konei rā, Lou Sanson |