Island in the mist

Forest and Bird, Issue 299, 1 February 2001, Page 18

Island in the mist

MEG COLLINS visits a 'mainland island' where people not poisons are controlling the pests

country, resident Maori have joined with the Department of Conservation to restore the health of the forests in a ‘mainland island’ covering nearly a quarter of the national park. The vision for the Northern Te Urewera Ecosystem Restoration Project is "To acknowledge and nurture the mauri (life force) of the northern Te Urewera ecosystem. This vision reflects the long history of Tuhoe in Te Urewera National Park, and acknowledges the relationship between the Tuhoe people and this taonga (treasure). The intention is to restore 50,000 hectares or more of the northern Te Urewera. The total park area is 213,000 hectares. Te Urewera is the heart of the Tuhoe Country. Traditional Maori legend says that Hine Pukohurangi the Mist Maiden, fell in love with Te Maunga (The Mountain). They had a child, Potiki Tikitiki (The Lofty One), and Tuhoe is descended from him. Hence the frequent references to Tuhoe as ‘children of the mist’ The Department of Conservation has an active policy of working with the Tuhoe, as the tangata whenua in Te Urewera. Formerly, the use of poisons such as 1080 and brodifacoum (Talon) for pest control was a big issue because of the flow-on effects on deer and pigs, which are part of the staple diet of local Maori. Trapping is now preferred, with rat traps baited with peanut butter, leg trapping of possums and special stoat traps using freeze-dried rats (see Forest & Bird August 2000) or plastic eggs. Local Maori have been trained as trappers and hunters and are used as much as possible in the ongoing pest control programmes. Te Urewera is rugged, a huge region of forests stretching south and east of the Bay of Plenty to surround Lake Waikaremoana inland from the East Cape town of Wairoa. i n the north of the isolated Te Urewera

In the northern quarter, the landforms are a series of complex, steep-sided, broad-crest-ed ridge and valley systems. Most of the ridges rise between 500 metres and 800 metres above sea level with the valley floors at 100 metres to 200 metres above sea level. The forest is predominantly tawa with emergent rimu and rata, and includes semicoastal elements such as kohekohe towards the northern boundary. Red beech becomes more prominent on ridges towards the south. The understorey of the forest has a profusion of ferns, especially crown, kiwikiwi, kidney and umbrella ferns. There are also New Zealand iris Libertia grandiflora,

ground and tree-dwelling orchids, mosses, and smaller trees such as Olearia rani (a forest tree daisy). The climbers, especially Clematis paniculata, are now growing in profusion since effective pest control was implemented. The restoration program is now in its fifth year and the results have been spectacular. Not only is there a dramatic increase in the kokako population and mistletoe numbers, but there have been many experiments conducted, leading to the successful development of new pest control techniques. ‘Originally we started at Otamatuna (2510 hectares) and now we have added three other core areas at Mangaone, Onepu and Waikokopu. These areas are intensively trapped for rats, stoats and possums, while the surrounding "background area" of 50,000 hectares is intensively trapped for possums only, says Pete Shaw, the project manager. "The key species we are currently

trying to protect in this ecosystem are kiwi, kokako and mistletoe, he says. ‘Other bird species, such as kereru, kaka, tui, robins and bellbirds, are also benefiting from the lack of predators. We are still in the early stages of ecosystem restoration, and we have to learn to crawl before we can run. ‘At Otamatuna there has been a dramatic regrowth of new seedlings, including rimu, mahoe, miro, five finger and kanono. This year is the first year I can remember that the native tree fuchsia has bloomed, Pete Shaw says. ‘Since 1997 we have employed a contract hunter in this area and so far his tally has been 231 deer and 44 pigs. We are relying on recreational hunters to lower the pig and deer populations in the other areas, but in the last few months two commercial helicopter hunters have been working this area, as the price of venison is high at the moment.

Using the Park e Urewera is a well-used park, i particularly by Tuhoe who regard the forest as a ‘food basket. Local hunters hunt for deer and pigs. Anglers and trampers have a wide range of tracks and huts to choose from. The Whakatane Lions Club built a 40-bed education hut in 1969. The ‘Lions Hut’ is available for all to use, and many school parties make it a base for their summer camps. St Peters School in Cambridge have been regular visitors since the hut was opened. Their pupils often help on voluntary track maintenance with DoC, during their annual stay at the camp.

Jeff Hudson, now the kokako recovery group leader, was originally a possum trapper in Te Urewera in 1991. He noticed that after one concentrated possum control operation, the few remaining kokako successfully bred the following year. After lobbying the government, the ecosystem

programme was commenced in 1996 by the Department of Conservation. The main animal pests in the park are possums, stoats, rats, deer, feral cats and pigs. Weed pests include pampas and buddleia, but these are not considered a major problem. Kokako recovery in the longest established core areas of Otamatuna and Onepu has been spectacular. The original eight pairs in 1994, have grown to 44 pairs as at June 2000. The birds from both these areas are now extending their territory outside of their range on to the next ridges at Oruamananui/Pohatu and Ogilvies. Eight of the 11 juvenile kiwis (73 percent) monitored in the Otamatuna nests over four years, have survived to reach a weight of a kilogram, at which size they can defend themselves against stoats. This indicates that stoat control has been effective, as the general survival rate of kiwis with no predator control is five percent. It is estimated that there are now 30 adult kiwi pairs and at least 25 juveniles. Other threatened bird species including kereru, kaka, and robins, and most common forest birds, are benefiting from pest control, as there is more food available for them to feed and breed. The continual recovery of pirirangi (red mistletoe, Peraxilla tetrapetala) at Otamatuna is partly a direct response to relief from possum browse. It also reflects the revitalising of the processes of mistletoe pollination and seed dispersal. Only 32

pirirangi were recorded in 1997. There are now 87 individual plants identified, mostly located in quintinia. Flowering rates of these plants are now up to 98 percent, as pressure from possums has been reduced. A small population of the yellow-flow-ered mistletoe, Alepis flavida, has been discovered at Otamatuna, in 10 beech trees, 42 kilometres north of its previously known northern limit. Kokako numbers have also increased markedly in the ‘background area’ in at least two sites up to several kilometres outside the intensively treated Onepu and Otamatuna core areas. There is a noticeable improvement of forest-habitat growth at Otamatuna, because of less browsing from deer and pigs. More new seedlings are emerging, through the increased pollination of flowers by nectarfeeding birds, and increased seed dispersal by fruit-eating birds, now that they are under less predation pressure. There is more growth of mahoe, and one of the more palatable plants for deer, kanono Coprosma grandifolia, is making a coineback. Overall bird numbers have increased nearly three-fold since 1997. ‘The dawn chorus is sometimes eafening with the kokako leading the sou, wite.

their unique organlike calls, says Jeff Hudson. — MEG COLLINS is chair of the Eastern Bay of Plenty branch of Forest and Bird, and a part-time freelance journalist.

Trapping Possums Tough Work ary Peratiaka (aged 42, at right) G is now trapping possums on a 300-hectare, Maori-owned block near the Otapukawa stream. Originally born in the area, Gary’s parents and their 14 children packed up when Gary was 13 and went to live in Wellington. Gary left school and worked for the Ford Motor Company and in other factory jobs. It was hard for him to make ends meet in Wellington, so when his father died 10 years ago he returned to his homeland along with his family and mother. He enjoys the outdoor life of a possum trapper, although it is hard and sometimes cold work.

‘T have a contract for three months to reduce the possums in this area to less than five percent, Gary explains. ‘In the first week I caught 400 possums and that represents a 54 percent possum-kill rate. I use Victor Nol leg traps, place the traps 100mm off the ground, to prevent catching kiwi, and use a pre-feed to attract them — a mixture of eucalyptus oil, icing sugar, corn and flour. ‘I caught 97 possums in the first night, so I suggested to my young fellows to come and pluck the possums for their pocket money. It is good money now for them, as one kilo of fur can be plucked from 20 possums. It is icing on the cake as far as I am concerned but I can’t do it by myself? Gary says. ‘I try to bring up to four boys out here to help, but it is hard work motivating them. I don’t know about all these young people today. They seem rather plastic to me — too soft and can’t take the hard work. Gary is worried that more young people are not taking up trapping for a living. ‘You can make pretty good money, and it is far better than being on the dole, he says. ‘The average age of the 12 hunters in the park at the moment is well over 50, says Pete Shaw. ‘The local polytech trains young guys to trap possums, but very few of them take it up for a living. They haven't got the motivation, as there are too many other things young kids can do.’ Lindsay Wilson has another team of hunters trapping rats. ‘Since the Department decided not to use Talon poison, we now use Victor Professional rat traps baited with peanut butter. It’s like ice cream to rats, and we can achieve high catch rates, says Lindsay. ‘On the Opepu line 3018 rats were caught, in a four-month period, with over half caught in the first 10 days.