Pact to help blue duck

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 259, 18 October 1988, Page 5

Pact to help blue duck

Rafting companies and the Department of Conservation have drawn up a pact to reduce pressure on the blue duck (whio) population on the Manganui a Te Ao River.

The pact means rafting companies have aggreed not to raft the Manganui a Te Ao river, above the Ruatiti Bridge, during the blue duck breeding season. The signing of the pact was voluntary and unanimous among the rafting companies who use the river. They are Rangitikei River Adventures, Ruapehu Outback Adventures, Plateau Guides and River Rats Rafting Company. Wanganui District Conservator John Ombler has said: "The voluntary aggreement by the commercial rafting companies... is to be applauded." He said publicity over the pact would be appreciated for two reasons: "one, that the more river users who are aware of the plight of the blue duck the better and two, the commercial rafters deserve a really big pat on the back". Increased public usage, which mostly occurs within the mid-sec-tion only of the Man-

ganui a Te Ao River between Hoihenga and Ruatiti bridges, has put pressure on the blue duck population. The Manganui a Te Ao River contains one of only two possible selfsupporting blue duck populations left in the North Island (the other is the Motu). All other blue duck populations in the North Island have a combination of low numbers and fragmented distribution and due to the habits of the duck, are likely to die out within a few generations without assistance. Following on from a poor breeding season for the blue duck last year within the midsection of the Manganui a Te Ao River (coincides with the preferred rafting section), concern was expressed over increased numbers o f rafting trips particularly once broods were on the river. On two occasions Departmental staff observed young ducklings in 'no-mans land' between territories im-

mediately after rafts had passed by. There is a strong likelihood of these ducklings being pushed downstream by the rafts to below their parents' territorial boundary with almost certain subsequent mortality. The rafting pact should avert this problem. This year's pact was due to start about September 26, 19 8 8 when the first brood was expected on the water. All canoe/kayak clubs within the North Island are also asked to take heed of the concern over the blue duck, and in particular in its breeding season. "It would be appreci1 ated if all members could be made aware of this voluntary pact on

the part of the rafting companies and perhaps canoe/kayak clubs could programme any future trips to occur outside of either the period, or section, of the river concerned," said Wanganui District Conservator John Ombler. It should be noted that this pact is only operational upstream of Ruatiti bridge, and commences once the first brood appears on the water after the August school holidays up until the last brood is a month old, generally early to mid-December.