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Welcome What an amazing season autumn

has been out at Rotokare. With the

arrival of our geckos as part of our

long awaited captive lizard pro-

gramme. The historical transloca-

tion of tieke/saddleback back to

Taranaki. Not to mention reinstat-

ing a population of popokatea/

whitehead to Rotokare, where they

have been missing to date.

As always we owe our success to

all of you, our supporters and com-

munity. We love sharing these

amazing milestones with you all.

ROTOKARE

Bush Telegraph

Rotokare makes Taranaki

Conservation History Rotokare is currently making conservation history, returning tieke/saddleback after

more than a century. On Saturday the 10th of May, tieke and popokatea from Hau-

turu (Little Barrier Island) were released at Rotokare.

The second part of the translocation is due for the last week of May, where 40 more tieke are being captured at Bushy Park in

Whanganui. Having a second translocation of birds with different genetics is key to a diverse and healthy founding population at

Rotokare. With these birds we will be having an official release ceremony on Saturday the 31st of May. Friends of the lake and

bird sponsors will be invited to this RSVP event. If you aren’t currently a Friend of the Lake, there is still time to become one, or if

you would like to sponsor a bird let us know: 06 764 8500, contact@rotokare.org.nz.

An experienced catching team spent 9 days on the island capturing the birds. Rotokare staff and volunteers made up some of

the team and all had an experience of a lifetime. Some of the highlights are presented in the photographs below:

The Gift of Geckos Just before Easter, we were

finally able to welcome ani-

mals and unveil our captive

lizard project.

We are now home to 11

geckos. These animals are

going to be an invaluable

advocacy tool for lizard con-

servation at Rotokare, and

beyond. We look forward to

sharing them with visiting groups, and have great lizard specific activi-

ties ready to go for school groups to utilise.

This project wouldn’t have been possible without a huge amount of

time, money and advice from many different people.

We would like to thank the late Michael (Sid) Gribble and his entire

family, Jamie Darbyshire, the Barr family, the Atkinson family, Roto-

kare volunteers and staff and the last but not least the amazing

“Gecko Gals” and herpetological society. Without whom all aspects of

this project would have been very difficult. We also appreciate the

ongoing support from these very knowledgeable lizard experts. For

more information see there website: www.reptiles.org.nz

Send in your name ideas by June 14th!

Entries are open to everyone, the winning

name will be decided by the Rotokare

Committee

The person with the winning name will get

a private night tour with 14 of their family

or friends.

Send your ideas with your details to

educator@rotokare.org.nz, drop in and

see us or call 06 764 8500

Rawhitiroa students take action! Senior students at Rawhitiroa School have been making

monthly excursions to Rotokare as part of the school’s com-

munity action programme.

Five year eight students have been getting involved in oper-

ational activities in the reserve such as lizard pitfall trap bait-

ing and monitoring, track clearing and pest monitoring.

Through this initiative, students are learning about communi-

ty volunteering, ecology, basic bush navigation skills, team-

work and are even trying a bit of “bush tucker” such as as-

telia berries and supplejack shoots.

Thanks to the Fonterra Grass Roots Fund

we have created 12 plant identification

signs for along the lake walkway. They

have amazing images to help you identify

some of the key plants living at Rotokare.

There is also some other interesting infor-

mation about each plant. This is part one

of the project, two wetland signs are com-

ing which will be in the same style with a

wealth of information all about the Roto-

Feedback has been great with comments ranging from “that

was fun as!” to “I think I’m dying!” when tackling the steps on

the Ridge Walk.

The Rotokare Trust is grateful to the school staff who have

made this possible and the students -and parents of students-

who have contributed their energy and enthusiasm to maintain

the near-pristine environment of Rotokare.

Above: some of the team, ready for an adventure Left: Darrian checking

out a tracking tunnel

Funky new plant signs are here

Pest monitoring using tracking tunnels with baited ink coated

cards is the most accurate way to assess possible pest activity

within the reserve. The tunnel run undertaken in early April

covered the entire reserve, with a peanut butter and meat bait-

pest detections were mouse prints on six cards which is 0.5% of the total. Four were close together on the

fence line above O’Connor’s Gully and two were next to each other on the fence line above Menzie’s Grass.

This is a good result. We can be confident that there is unlikely to be rats or mustelids present in the reserve

and only small numbers of mice persisting in the grass areas along the fence line. Whenever a mouse is detect-

ed, we immediately prepare extra traps surrounding that area and this action usually results in a catch.

Rotokare Bush Telegraph , Autumn 2014

Thomson O’Neil & Co

Lawyers and Solicitors

Proud to recognise major sponsors & supporters:

KOALA

TRUST

.

We thought it was time to put a call out for a few items, that would make life easier for us, especially for

our volunteers and increasing number of events etc. So if you have any of these things lying around we

would be very grateful to receive them.

Kitchen: Toaster, jug, oven trays, pots n pans, crockpot, toastie machine, glassware (water and wine), cutlery, serving platters, small

bar-fridge, small square drop leaf style table (max dimensions 1400mm x 800mm with leaves dropped), towels, tea towels,

and tablecloths.

Offices/foyer: Drawers (max dimensions 750 mm wide x 700 mm high),

purpose built display shelving for the foyer, and a paper

trimmer or guillotine.

Workshop: Loppers, secateurs, hedge trimmers, pruning saws, and

square drive screwdrivers.

Education: Any unwanted aquariums/tanks, perspex, thin corflute signs,

and any old taxidermy/shells/feathers/eggs you may have lying around etc.

Bush Telegraph Sponsors

Hauturu-O-Toi / Little Barrier Island

Yes! I want to help with the Rotokare Sanctuary project.

Confidence

We are a registered charity:

Registration # CC31209

4 newsletters packed with updates & information

Opportunities to be involved in the volunteer programme

Invitations to special events & family days

Supporting a great community conservation project

As a ‘Friend of the Lake’ you are kept in the loop:

Renewing an existing membership or becoming a new member is a great way to help this community-led project!

Do you have a friend or family member that would like to become a ‘Friend of the Lake’ and support Taranaki’s Sanctuary?

QTY DESCRIPTION UNIT PRICE TOTAL

2014 Friends of the Lake Annual Donation

Individual $30

Family $40

Business / Group $50

SUBTOTAL

Tick if receipt required VOLUNTARY DONATION

TOTAL

Date: May 2014

Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust

A community-led Sanctuary project

PO Box 33, Eltham 4353

Phone 06 764 8500

Fax 06 764 8501

contact@rotokare.org.nz

QTY DESCRIPTION UNIT PRICE TOTAL

2014 Friends of the Lake Annual Donation Amount Paid:

Thank you for your support !

Please return this portion with your payment to the above address

Please make cheques payable to: Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust

Bank account details should you prefer to pay via direct debit: TSB Eltham 153951 0426545-00

(Please include your name and ‘FOL donation’ in the details and an ‘R’ if receipt required)

Name:

Address:

Email: