Newsletter Number 71 September - November 2017

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1 And So We Have Sprung Newsletter Number 71 September - November 2017 The blooming of the kowhai and native clematis has brightened up our hillsides. The spring reality has also boosted our bird populations with a takahe hatching and fernbirds and others nesting. This fernbird has lichen in its beak that it took from the coprosma just by the takahe pond. Its nest was in a nearby bush. Photo: Alyth Grant It is so heartening to see the fruits of our conservation efforts in our plants, birds, tuatara and skinks. At the same time as we have secured Orokonui as a safe sanctuary we have enhanced habitat for our creatures. Orokonui serves very much as an island and, as our Chairperson notes, we are working with others to spread the safe, rich habitat outside the fence across the hills to Dunedin. Marian Hobbs, ONHT trustee From the Trust Your sanctuary continues to go from strength to strength. Visitor numbers keep quietly growing and with them a steadily rising awareness of the joys of a world that we humans have ignored for so long. The lovely new play area beside the Visitor Centre will be in good use over the summer. The takahe are breeding, and the kiwi crèche is again welcoming juvenile Haast tokoeka. It must be spring.

2 Your newsletter contains many stories of the wide range of activities that Orokonui now supports, both inside and outside the fence. Let me just mention two or three that figure large in the longer term future for our project. First, our precious fence. The Trust has been delighted to secure the advice of John Cocks, a consultant hydraulic engineer, who will be giving us a report on the vulnerability of the fence to water damage. (If you are like me, you may not know that hydraulic engineers are experts with water). After the major storm in August, a large section of the fence was left hanging in mid air as the ground beneath washed away. Heroic efforts by staff and volunteers closed the breach which has since been fully repaired by Cargill Contracting. It seems that the fence may be vulnerable to this kind of event in more than one place, and John will give us advice on where we should focus our attention. We have also been grateful for a report from Gary Dent on the water gates at the foot of the sanctuary. These must do the difficult job of letting water out sometimes in torrents while not letting predators in. Second, our precious education programme. Thanks to Tahu Mackenzie s completely unique talents, this has been such a success for Orokonui. This month we received the great news that LEOTC funding will be renewed for another three years. Early planning is also underway for a new education building that will enable us to do more for the young ones who visit and learn in the sanctuary. Third, our contribution to the brave new initiatives in predator control and biodiversity restoration outside the fence. It is testament to the success of the Orokonui project that these are happening at all, and Orokonui s directors and trustees are asking themselves how we might best support and contribute to these initiatives. The vision of Orokonui s founders was always to make New Zealand a safer place for our threatened birds and other species. It is exciting that the shining example of the sanctuary is motivating wider efforts to make that happen. Every bit of this activity rests on the support of our members. Yes the sanctuary has built a good financial foundation for itself with income coming from several sources. And we are so grateful for the many members who are making regular donations and have helped so much in replacing DOC funding this past year. But Orokonui must never measure its success in financial terms money here is a means to an end. Our success lies in the community of people who are committed to the ongoing success of the Orokonui project and who mark their commitment by enrolling as members. If you are reading this and are not yet a member, or have friends who would like to join, do please join the family and help Orokonui do all the wonderful things that await us in the years ahead. Colin Campbell-Hunt, Chair ONHT Ecosanctuary Report As this calendar year winds to a close, we wind up for our busy visitor season. We ve hosted the first of our weddings of the season for which the café catered to much acclaim. Our carpark extension is being put to good use for these functions and increasing visitor numbers. The extra-long campervan parks are particularly valuable. For those of you interested in art inspired by nature, we now have an Art Trail of artworks that have mostly been created through artists in residence or sculpture symposia at Orokonui.

3 The Trail includes a series of rubbings of wildlife which is popular with children. The map of the Trail is available at reception. Members and other friends enjoyed an Orokonui concert recently with the Waitati Warblers, Harbour Tones and Highland Harmony performing. The acoustics of the Visitor Centre work very well and the funds raised for takahe feed were a bonus. Perhaps a future concert will feature the He Waka Kotuia kapa haka group. This group gave a powerful performance at our farewell ceremony for Upoko of Kati Huirapa Runaka ki Puketeraki, David Ellison, who is moving to Wellington. David has been a strong supporter of Orokonui since our beginning and he will always be remembered in the taonga for which he enthusiastically celebrated re-introductions. He Waka Kotuia performs for Upoko, David Ellison (centre). Photo Tahu Mackenzie This is the time of year when we celebrate the achievements of staff, board members, volunteers and supporters for their extraordinary contributions. You are very much appreciated and can be very proud of this jewel in the landscape. I thank in particular our new sponsor, the University of Otago. The partnership between us has been and will remain an extremely good fit with multiple benefits for both organisations. Alumni from a range of fields continue to provide expertise and governance, skilled staff, volunteers and researchers and so ensure the Ecosanctuary s future. Family, friends and staff of a long-term sponsor, Hope & Sons, joined with Orokonui on a Remembrance Walk in October. This included a quiet walk with LED lanterns into the sanctuary at twilight. It was a wonderful experience and is likely to become an annual event.

4 Hope and Sons family, friends and staff enter the Ecosanctuary forest at twilight. I wish you all a safe and happy holiday season. Chris Baillie, General Manager Research Luke Easton, Kelvin Lloyd and Valerie Fay are currently revising a paper on the translocation of Carex inopinata and Simplicia laxa into the Ecosanctuary, which should be published soon in the New Zealand Journal of Ecology. After monitoring the translocation of plants for six years, they found good survival of Carex inopinata at one site, but no recruitment of new individuals, so translocation success for Carex inopinata has not yet been demonstrated. The Simplicia laxa translocation failed, with all plants dying, probably because the chosen habitat was less suitable for this species. A researcher has deployed some trail cameras in the core tuatara area, where this a wild population of more than 100, to ascertain if nesting is occurring. Another researcher, Desmond Zhang, a PhD candidate from tourism department, University of Otago, is undertaking research examining international visitors experiences at New Zealand ecosanctuaries through a framework of environmental philosophy.

5 Biodiversity News Fauna Tuatara The tuatara in the viewing pen are now too active to be brought out for the education department because when they are warm they are hard to catch and more difficult to hold. They can easily be seen in their enclosure. Another juvenile tuatara from the University of Otago s Zoology Department has joined our wild population. Takahe Paku and Quammen have successfully hatched a chick and it now has 3 adults feeding it as last year s juvenile has joined in helping. It tripled its size in 10 days! The lower pair s nest has failed once again but it is early enough in the season for them to renest. Fernbird/matata We are currently and informally monitoring 2 nests that we happened to stumble upon. Kiwi Three chicks arrived in the crèche in mid-november. At the most we will have 4-5 over the coming season. Previous crèche chicks have graduated to be released onto islands or back in the Haast Kiwi Sanctuary. This family from Emerson s (one of our sponsors) attends the release of a kiwi chick into our creche.

6 Species Feature: Takahe Thanks to DOC for information. Like race horses, all takahē share their birthday. October 1 marks the beginning of the takahē calendar year. This is when the previous summer's chicks are a year old and can be included into the total population count. This October the count was 347 birds - up from 306 last October. Of those birds, more than two thirds are coupled up. The takahē population now includes more than 100 breeding pairs - more than double the number of breeding pairs 10 years ago. This is the highest annual growth rate recorded in the population since management began almost 70 years ago. This is significant as the number of breeding pairs is the most accurate measure of population heath. A total population number can give false security if there is a significant age or sex bias. As the population grows there is more certainty for the future of the takahē. The species has recently moved two steps away from extinction according to the New Zealand Threat Classification System. The recovery programme is confident the number of takahē will increase by at least 10 percent after this summer's breeding season. With the population increasing, new sanctuary sites to house the takahē have doubled in the past 10 years. This provides an important safeguard for the species should disaster strike the only wild population. Now the focus is on creating new wild populations, in areas where takahē once existed. There is a planned release in Kahurangi National Park early in Orokonui has really played its part in this great story. We now have two breeding pairs and have contributed three strong chicks to date. Breaking news: Recently a visitor watched Quammen chase down and catch one of the mallard ducklings, which he then took into the bushes. Biosecurity News Predators 1330 tracking tunnels were set for an average of 8 nights. For the first time, to get a really good snap shot of mouse activity, all tunnels were checked after being set for only 2 nights and then again after 8.

7 The difference in detection rates is quite interesting. After 2 nights they collectively tracked mice at a modest 4%, after 8 nights this had increased to a disappointing 12% - and new areas of detection were noted. The good news is that mice are no longer widespread and, going by tracked card traffic, are not in very high numbers. However there are three distinct hot spot areas and if we do nothing then we ll be quickly back to plague proportions. Reactive poisoning has taken place and the permanent trapping has recommenced along the inside of the fence, throughout the top area and along the western boundary grassland edge. The good news is that nothing else was detected. If we track only mice then this is in fact a good result. A growing problem is kaka interference of cards, they have learnt to pull them out and scrape off the peanut butter. Colleagues in other sanctuaries have had similar problems with pukeko and magpies and recommend stapling cards in the tunnels. Orokonui had the pleasure of having 2 stoat dog teams cover the sanctuary simultaneously over November 7-8. One handler was sponsored directly by Kiwibank. Others during the year were sponsored by Kati Huirapa Runaka ki Puketeraki and Forest and Bird Dunedin. No stoat sign was indicated and when you take all other monitoring methods into consideration we can be confident that we are stoat free. Weed Control Weed control is very much ongoing with the spring weather. The valley floor has been receiving attention on Wednesdays and a great job has been done up the bank below the aviary. The first new weekend volunteering group has been held with one or two more planned before the end of the year. Volunteers Some of the seasonal volunteering options have now started up, providing more options for people wanting to spend time at Orokonui. The Lizard monitoring in particular has picked up a few new faces this year under Alister Robinson s leadership. Maree Johnstone s team has been mixing it up on Wednesdays with trips to the valley floor and also into the Pa Harakeke. Due to adverse weather some days have had to remain planning sessions a perfect opportunity for group coffee and socialising. Francie Beggs team has also been here, there and everywhere. Recently they have done an amazing job tidying up the bank below the aviary. The first new weekend volunteering group has been held. There will only be one or two more of these before the end of the year. This is something we hope to expand on. The new DCC & DOC volunteer facilitator has some promising future options for Orokonui. The facilitator is working to establish a body of volunteers that will operate at numerous different projects under the umbrella of her role. This should mean a small group can be

8 provided with tools and transport to Orokonui on a regular basis. The options most exciting for us would be a track maintenance group and one for targeted weed control. Visitor Facilities It is our plan to install photovoltaic panels onto the proposed Education Building roof. The panels will feed into the grid at peak time and reduce our electricity bill even further. New handrails have been installed on bridges on the Robin Valley Track and the rail around the viewing platform has been upgraded. Also on this long track, four small areas have been cleared to allow helicopter retrieval of people who have an injury far from ambulance access. We trust that now this insurance is in place there will be no accidents! For other news and activities visit or facebook. Visitor Centre and café are open daily except 24 and 25 December. We warmly welcome the following new members: Individual J Caradus Kiri McCurdy Life Mike Jameson Family Noelle Bennett Family Garland Family Hall / McClinstock Ryder Family Kinney Family Sue & Alan Henderson Tyree Family Harman Family Price Family Ethan Lukeman Hansell Family A & J Thompson Kirsten Swney Tony Allison & Family Nyree Kerr Family Edward Fields Family Hammond Family

9 Thank you to our sponsors Department of Conservation Community Funds Ministry of Education Otago Community Trust Otago Regional Council City Forests Otago Daily Times Ministry for the Environment Dunedin City Council Hope and Sons Harry J Wilson Trust Cooke Howlison Port Otago Oceana Gold University of Otago Emerson s Sargood Bequest Shacklock Charitable Trust Kati Huirapa Runaka ki Puketeraki Dunedin Amenities Society Rigs for Kids Z Energy Calder Stewart Summerset Crowe Horwath AWF Lion Foundation Stout Foundation Van Brandenburg Architecture Topflite Meridian Mall MTF Dunedin Airport John Swan COGS Speights Environment Fund Otago Masonic Trust Bendigo Valley Trust Cutlers Real Estate Dunedin Forest and Bird Architectural Ecology Ltd Ecosanctuary contact: 600 Blueskin Rd, Waitati, info@orokonui.nz (03)