October 2008 Kaipara, Royal Forest and Bird Protecton Society Newsletter

8/8/2019 October 2008 Kaipara, Royal Forest and Bird Protecton Society Newsletter

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Coastlines October 2008 Page 1

CoastlinesNewsletter of the Kaipara Branch of Forest and Bird

October 2008

Migrants return to Kaipara

Each year in early spring the Kaipara Har-bour has an influx of migrants that havespent the winter off-shore. Most noticeableof these are the Bar-tailed Godwits (Kuaka),

that undertake an 11,000 kilometre journeyto return from breeding grounds in Alaskaor Siberia. More often heard than seenaround Kaipara are the Shining Cuckoos,(right) or Pipiwharauroa, that return to breedin New Zealand during the spring after spend-ing the winter in the tropical Solomon Is-lands. (Photos: Suzi Phillips).

Walks and talks Pg 3

Dolphin protection Pg 5

Kaukapakapa Pg 6

Atuanui News Pg 7


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Page 2 Coastlines October 2008

Kaipara Forest and Bird Committee usuallymeets monthly. If you would like to be in-volved in any way, please contact one of us.

Convenor and acting SecretarySuzi Phillips, Ph [email protected]

TreasurerFelicity Smith Ph [email protected]

Committee MembersDave [email protected]

Chris Bindon, Ph [email protected]

Bill McNatty Ph 09-420-8070Specialising in resource [email protected]

Vivienne Wilson Ph [email protected]

Go to www.kaiparaforestandbird.org.nz

Kaipara Forest and BirdCommittee

Private Bag 1, Helensville [email protected]

Good turnout for Goldies Bush walkOur Conservation Week walk through Goldies Bushat Muriwai was the highlight of September for KaiparaForest and Bird.On a beautiful sunny, spring morning, a dozen keen

trampers joined committee members, Felicity Smithand Chris Bindon for a guided walk along the MokoroaFalls Track to the waterfall.The birdlife and botany were welcome distractionsalong the way with Tui, Fantails, Grey Warblers,Kereru and a possible Tomtit in attendance.Felicity joined the walk from the Horsman Track endand reported fantastic birdlife and the "fattest kereruI have ever seen" !She says the Kereru was high in the trees, but clearlyvisible and when it took off it was a phenomenal sightand sound. Tui were also happy to be close to thetrack unworried by the presence of walkers.

Chris reported a couple of Welcome Swallow dartingaround the clear open space of the stream conflu-ence area just down from the waterfall, probably hunt-ing midges or mosquitoes coming up off the water

spray. A couple of Kotare were heard towards theend of the day as the group neared the Constable Rdend too.The abundant native orchids were a highlight for manywith pterostylis seen, and native sundews were alsofully open along the track edge in places.The kowhai were flowering, especially near MokoroaFalls, as well as Alseuosmia macrophylla and a beau-tiful Clematis paniculata, found on the track betweenthe first stream crossing from Constable Road andthe Horsman Track.The presence of the nectar-filled Alseuosmia sp.(Toropapa) is good, as it is an indicator of low goatnumbers, (although most was on steeper hard to getto spots), says Chris.The group had lunch at the Falls and then split up,one group taking the lower stream track back to Con-stable Road and the other group returning the waythey had come.

The group on Kaipara Forest and Birds Con-servation Week walk had their lunch at MokoroaFalls on the Goldies Bush walk in September,pictured (above), from a vantage point on theMokoroa Falls Track with kowhai in bloomabove the stream. (Photo Cheng Ooi).


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Meetings and activities

All commission fees go to KaiparaForest and Birds conservation fund

Visit our online gallery at

www.kaiparaforestandbird.org.nzand select Art Gallery

Kaipara Art OnlineArtists include Dean Buchanan,Philip Kilmore, Sarah McBeathand many more.

Guided Walk at the Kerr Taylor Memorial Reserve

Sunday 9th November 10am

Thursday 30th October 7.30pm

Fishy Issues Film Evening

Helensville Memorial HallCome and see two entertaining and informa-tive short films about fishing issues - in thesea, on our coast and in our streams. Thefirst film is called Fish for the Future aboutour need for new marine reserves. The sec-ond, Longfin is an excellent film about themigration journey of our eels.(Evening fin-ishes about 9pm). All welcome. Free entry.

Atuanui RestorationProject VolunteersWorking Bee

If you dont plan to be away for Labour Week-end, you might like to join us for a trampalong the Ridge tracks of this beautiful re-serve as we check and reset stoat and pos-sum traps. An easy 3-4 hours walking.Birds often seen along the ridge include Tui,

Grey Warbler, Tomtit, Silvereye, Kingfisher,Shining Cuckoo, Kereru and sometimesKaka.We meet at 9am at the Kaipara Hills Roadentrance to the reserve (about 3km fromGlorit) or you can carpool from KaukapakapaHall, meeting us there at 8.30am. For moreinformation phone Suzi on 021-271-2527 oremail [email protected]

Come and enjoy our local bush reserve atTaylor Road in Waimauku with a guided walkthat includes interesting snippets of informa-tion about the botany, history, and birdlife ofthe reserve.Meet at the Reserve Carpark on the southside of Taylor Road (opposite the kennels),at 10am. Look forward to seeing you there.All welcome.

Sunday 26th October 9am


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New signs andno dogs for

our ReserveNew signs were installed at our Kerr-Taylor Reservein Taylor Road this month with a small, but dedicatedturnout for the working bee.The signs include new track name and direction signs,as well as No Dog signs that reflect a new policy forthe reserve.Now that rodent poison in bait-stations is used in thereserve, the Kaipara Branch Committee decided thatdogs should be banned from the reserve. There is apossibility that Brown Kiwi are still present in the re-

serve and a no dogs policy gives these birds thebest protection. (Kiwi calls and sightings have beenreported over the years).There is now a network of bait-stations and traps inthe 13 ha reserve, that are maintained by neighbour,

Barry Wilson, and a group of students from KaiparaCollege.Everyone is welcome on the guided walk to be heldin the reserve next month (see page 3). Its a greatopportunity to explore the reserve and see some ofits beautiful trees (including large kauri, kahikatea,

and rimu), and to appreciate the birdlife that inhabitsthe reserve. Our thanks to the Rodney District Coun-cil Natural Heritage Fund for a grant that paid forbait-stations and traps. Thanks also to the Auck-land Regional Council for help with making the signs.

Can you spot the two Kereru making their home inthe Kerr Taylor Reserve this spring ?

Working bee volunteers, (fromleft) Chris Bindon, Barry Wilsonand Steve Rubie put up one ofthe new No Dog signs. (Photos:Suzi Phillips).

Nikau palms and cabbage

trees frame the large kaurion the Murray Jones Trackin the Kerr Taylor Reserve.


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Dunes at Muriwai-Rangitira Beachshow the scars of vehicle abuse.

Support your local Branch - order

your 2009 calendar or diary today !

Calendars on SALE at $13 each and Diaries at $22 each

To order, email [email protected] or phone Suzi at021-271-2527. Free delivery for Kaipara members and friends.

A set netting ban at the mouth of the Kaipara Harbour will to go ahead despite a High Court victory for

commercial fishers recently that put some Government fishing bans on hold.A Ministry of Fisheries spokesman said the Kaipara set netting ban, designed to protect rare Maui'sdolphins, was unaffected by the court action.Maui's dolphins are found only along the west coast of North Island, between Taranaki and the HokiangaHarbour. Kaipara commercial fisherman Tony Ford said a set-net ban at the harbour mouth would notaffect him, as most fishermen laid their nets in shallow areas further up the harbour.Forest and Bird congratulates Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton, for his strong stand in protectingendangered Hector's and Maui's dolphins in the face of delaying tactics by commercial fishers.In May Mr Anderton announced bans on commercial and recreational set net fishing in the main areaswhere Hector's and Maui's dolphins live. The bans were due to come into effect on October 1, but theFederation of Commercial Fishermen has taken out an interim High Court injunction to halt the bansin some areas of the North Island west coast, the Marlborough Sounds and Te Waewae Bay in

Southland.Forest and Bird Marine Conservation advocate Kirstie Knowles, says the numbers of the endangereddolphins have declined rapidly during the past two decades, and set nets have long been known to bethe main threat.Mr Anderton was right to act before the Maui's dolphin - thought to number 111 - became extinct, shesays. Forest and Bird questions some claims made by commercial fishers."No one welcomes impacts on jobs and livelihoods, but bashing the facts will just lead to a lose-losesituation - loss of dolphins, loss of tourism revenue and loss of New Zealand's reputation, saysKirstie.All fishing regulations (as announced in May 2008) are in place as from 1 October 2008, exceptfor commercial fishing which due to the court ruling will continue until 24 December. All fournew Marine Mammal Sanctuaries are gazetted and will come into force from 23 October 2008.

Set net ban and marine mammalsanctuary now for Mauis dolphins


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Strong opposition from Kaukapakapacommunity at power station hearingMost of the Kaukapakapa community is strongly op-posed to the gas-fired power station proposed for a

site on SH 16 beside the Kaukapakapa River.At a three week planning hearing earlier this month,independent commissioners heard oral submissionson the proposal.Genesis Energy has applied to the Rodney DistrictCouncil for a private plan change to rezone the sitefrom a rural zone to a thermal energy generationrural zone. The company also applied to the Auck-land Regional Council for resource consents to allowconstruction impacts and for discharges to air andwater for the proposed 460MW power staton.In the first week, the hearing commissioners heard

evidence from the applicants lawyer, expert wit-nesses and consultants, and a few individuals andorganisations in support of the proposal.Most of the submissions heard subsequently werefrom Kaukapakapa residents opposed to the project.The Kaukapakapa Residents and Ratepayers Asso-ciation (KARRA), delivered a detailed submission op-posing the power station.Among the reasons for opposing the proposal, theKARRA submission included details on the poor pub-lic consultation, conflict with RDC District planningobjectives, doubt about the proposed power stationseconomic viability, a lack of necessity for security ofsupply from this area, its location and impact onnearby residents, and the impact on the KaukapakapaEstuary Scientific Reserve, and river.In its section on gas, the submission looks at the pooreconomics and availability of a gas-fired option.It concludes that any generator planning to build newgas-fired power stations is gambling on a secure gas

Kaipara Forest and Birds oral submission to the hear-ing commissioners focussed on the environmentalimpacts of the proposal.These included the effect of discharging heated andpolluted water into the Kaukapakapa River, and theimpact this would have on the local aquatic and avianecology of wetland and salt marshes adjacent to theriver.The 210 ha Kaukapakapa Estuary Scientific reserveextends from the river to the ridge, and is habitat for

many wetland bird species, such as the rare andthreatened Australasian Bittern, Banded Rail, Spot-less Crake and North Island Fernbirds, There arealso a range of more common birds that inhabit thereserve and river margins, including White-faced Her-ons, duck species and a colony of shags.Concern is mounting at the effects of discharges toair of up to 1.75 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, andother nitrous oxides, and the impact not only on thelocal community, but as additional greenhouse gasemissions at a time when NZ is supposed to be re-ducing its emissions.The hearing concludes this week (ending October

18) with the councils and applicants right of reply,and the Commissioners could take three to fourmonths to reach a decision.

Kaukapakapa Estuary Scientific Reserve, (be-low), beside the Kaukapakapa River and near thesite of the proposed power station.

supply being available in the future.There is also the issue that long-term pricing of gas

does not support investment in new gas-fired powerstations.


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Newsletter of the Atuanui Restoration Project of Kaipara Forest and Bird

(The ARP is supported by the ASB Trust and Birdlife International)

Atuanui News

Part-time Restoration Project Co-ordinator

Atuanui Restoration Project is looking for a part-time (10 hours per week) RestorationProject Co-ordinator. The project is located at Atuanui (Mt Auckland) Scenic Reserve,25km north of Kaukapakapa near Glorit on the eastern Kaipara Harbour.

This work from home role involves community and iwi consultation, co-ordinating pestcontrol, completing a pest control AEE application, volunteer recruitment and co-

ordination, organising pest control equipment, and project management planning andpromotion.

The role is a fixed-term contract, initially for six months with funding assured for thefirst year. We are looking for someone with environmental management training andpreferably some experience with a restoration project.

If interested in applying, please email Kaipara Forest and Bird for a job description.at [email protected]

Deadline for applications is extended to Friday 7th November 2008.

For more information about the Atuanui Restoration Project, go towww.kaiparaforestandbird.org.nz and select Atuanui.

The Atuanui Restoration Project has had several suc-cessful funding applications this month.

The ASB Trust has granted the ARP $21,000 thatincludes $12,000 towards employing a part-timeproject co-ordinator for a year, and $9,000 towardsadministration and baiting, (on completion of an As-sessment of Environmental Effects for permissionto bait from the Department of Conservation). Ourthanks to the ASB Trust for this funding grant.We have also been successful with a grant of $9000from the Birdlife International Community Conserva-tion Fund administered by Forest and Bird. This sumis to employ a contractor to finish putting in bait-sta-tions on the northern half of the reserve. This work

will complete the 100 x 100m bait-station grid in the

reserve and allow us to begin rodent control for thefull 615ha of forest. Again our thanks to Birdlife In-

ternational for this funding. Plus a big thankyou tothe ongoing encouragement from our communitysupporters.We also hope to hear soon from the ARCs Environ-mental Initiatives Fund as we applied to them for fund-ing for goat control and signs for Atuanui.Recently, the Government announed a new fund forbio-diversity conservation projects on DOC land. Thiscloses in early November, and we will be applying forany outstanding funding that we need in the next year.If you would like to join our dedicated group of volun-teers who check and reset traps along the ridges and

boundaries, phone Suzi on 021-2712527.


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From Kaipara Forest and Bird, Private Bag 1, Helensville 0840

Kaipara

For more news on Kaiparas environmental issues go to

www.kaiparaforestandbird.org.nz

For the latest on Forest and Birds national campaigns go to

www.forestandbird.org.nz

Help Save the Mokihinui - this Wednesday night !

West Coast environment issues come to the North Shore on Wednesday night and we need your support.Forest and Bird are campaigning to save the pristine Mokihinui River on the South Island's West Coast froma proposal to dam it.Communities around New Zealand are rallying to help protect this highly rated wild and scenic river and morethan 300 hectares of native bush, from destruction.At a meeting this Wednesday (15th October) at Massey University's Albany Campus members and friendshave the chance to learn how they can help to stop the dam proposed by Meridian Energy.

At the meeting, Forest and Bird fieldofficer, Debs Martin will explain whythe West Coast river gorge shouldnot be flooded, and will show videoof the spectacular river, and the an-cient forests and endangered wildlifeliving along its banks.Guest speaker is Green Party MPMetiria Turei, who has recently vis-ited the river and will talk about theimpacts of the proposal.The meeting starts at 7.30pm atMassey University's Albany Campusin the Sir Neil Waters Lecture Thea-tre, Rm NW300. Entry from Gate 1.Plenty of parking available. Freeentry and Koha welcome. Everyonewelcome.For more information email

[email protected] River (pictured left).

October 2008 Kaipara, Royal Forest and Bird Protecton Society Newsletter

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