Mauri Oho Report - Geoff Whittle
Since Jobs for Nature funding finished Mauri Oho has been sustained by paid riparian recovery work. This typically involves a mixture of weeding, planting and fencing. The income from this work has enabled us to keep a core team going and we have continued to service traplines, although not with the frequency that we would like. However, we do see a model here for a sustainable future. The need for riparian recovery work will only increase in the future and the model of using income from paid conservation work to support unpaid conservation work has to be a sound one for a charitable trust.
The exciting news for us is that we were successful in our DOC Community Fund application. The application was largely focused on sustaining our trapping work. It’s an exciting opportunity and we can go ahead with a clear focus on developing our already skilled team.
We are acutely aware that many excellent projects were not funded. But at least our success is a clear recognition that conservation in the Ruahine Range is valued. There should also be opportunities for Mauri Oho to support other projects. For example, it looks like we will be able to undertake servicing of Ruahine Kiwi traps on the Eastern side of the range, although details are yet to be sorted out. Me mahi tahi tātou.
Since Jobs for Nature funding finished Mauri Oho has been sustained by paid riparian recovery work. This typically involves a mixture of weeding, planting and fencing. The income from this work has enabled us to keep a core team going and we have continued to service traplines, although not with the frequency that we would like. However, we do see a model here for a sustainable future. The need for riparian recovery work will only increase in the future and the model of using income from paid conservation work to support unpaid conservation work has to be a sound one for a charitable trust.
The exciting news for us is that we were successful in our DOC Community Fund application. The application was largely focused on sustaining our trapping work. It’s an exciting opportunity and we can go ahead with a clear focus on developing our already skilled team.
We are acutely aware that many excellent projects were not funded. But at least our success is a clear recognition that conservation in the Ruahine Range is valued. There should also be opportunities for Mauri Oho to support other projects. For example, it looks like we will be able to undertake servicing of Ruahine Kiwi traps on the Eastern side of the range, although details are yet to be sorted out. Me mahi tahi tātou.
Te Potae Trapping Season - Aimee Stubbs and Janet Wilson
Successfully completed six of seven trapping trips for the 2024/2025 Te Potae season! A total of 819 pests were caught (83% of which were rats; see Table below), compared to 1,208 in the previous season. With the trapline extension up the Remutupo having been completed in July 2024, this meant there was an additional day’s worth of trapping to be completed. Due to the weather conditions and last-minute logistical changes, the Remutupo line was completed on three out of the six trips, and the Blackhill/Main Range and Puketaramea to Colenso lines were missed once. This year saw most volunteer trappers successfully implementing TrapNZ during the trips, which saved a lot of data entry time.
Some familiar faces turning up on most of these trips. If you would like to become part of the group please be in touch with either Janet or Aimee.,
A massive thank you to those who volunteered for Te Potae this season! We look forward to having you along next year!
The Te Potae Project is expanding to the Sth to Wakelings Hut - this will give more protection to the Whio in the upper Maropea and Wakelings catchments. Another 10 traps will be deployed on the track to the North East from Maropea Forks Hut, heading towards the main range. Another volunteer will be added to the team to service these extra traps. This will bring added safety too as there will now be 2 volunteers overnighting at Maropea Forks Hut. Traps have also been moving along the Mokai Patea Range - thanks to Tama and his team. More from Aimee.......
The good weather in May allowed DOC to make the most of our existing helicopter trips, and we managed to move some traps around from Ruahine Corner to keep extending the trap network. Eight bundles of 6 traps were dropped between Wakelings Hut and Maropea Forks (and up the hill beyond) ready to be turned into a new trapline.
Due to GPS issues, the two bundles for planned points 1 and 2 didn’t get dropped, so we will be looking for opportunities to get these moved at a later date (as well as getting out there to do the actual deployment).
Due to GPS issues, the two bundles for planned points 1 and 2 didn’t get dropped, so we will be looking for opportunities to get these moved at a later date (as well as getting out there to do the actual deployment).
North Eastern Ruahine Trapping Report - Geoff Whittle
The repair of No Mans Rd has made a big difference to the life of a trapper in this zone. Now there exist trips that do not begin with a 750m ascent! All the lines in this area were serviced with at least their usual frequency. Lisa and I have had excellent support from other trappers. Huge thanks to Jeff and Raine Williams, Elly Arnst, Alex Reed (all the way from Scotland) and Mark and Sarah Wilcox. Indeed Mark and Sarah were servicing traps on Totara Ridge only a week ago in far from optimal weather conditions.
Elly was also the inspiration behind the recent Backcountry Trust upgrade of Rockslide Biv. They did an outstanding job, keeping the original character at the same time as well as making it a far more pleasant place to stay.
The track from Ikawetea Forks Hut up the ridge towards No Mans Rd has a 2 kilometer flattish section with the forest being mainly red beech. It’s always had a rich bird life; in particular it has a good population of toutouwai. Darren Peters suggested that we put a parallel line of traps along this ridge to support the existing one. So we arranged for a fadge of 20 traps to be dropped on the ridge. Lisa and I walked the track without seeing the fadge. So the next time we went we got the coordinates from Owen, the chopper pilot. I made a waypoint --- it was only 50 metres off the track --- but the fadge wasn’t there? Obviously Owen had mucked it up. Eventually I had a brilliant idea. Hard to believe, but maybe I had made a mistake And, indeed, it turned out that I had switched two digits Next time we went through we found the fadge exactly where Owen said it was. So, to end this saga, Darren Peters, Paul (Scratch) Jansen, Lisa and I cut a parallel line and distributed the traps in April.
The Apias Stream was severely damaged by Gabrielle. Although some whio did hang on in the aftermath it’s probably that the majority sought better territory. There was no breeding the first season after Gabrielle, and last season we saw a few pairs, each with two ducklings. Lisa walked the Apias with Andy Glaser and whio dog Max as part of the recent whio survey. To Andy’s expert eye it will be some time before the river gets back to full whio health
The repair of No Mans Rd has made a big difference to the life of a trapper in this zone. Now there exist trips that do not begin with a 750m ascent! All the lines in this area were serviced with at least their usual frequency. Lisa and I have had excellent support from other trappers. Huge thanks to Jeff and Raine Williams, Elly Arnst, Alex Reed (all the way from Scotland) and Mark and Sarah Wilcox. Indeed Mark and Sarah were servicing traps on Totara Ridge only a week ago in far from optimal weather conditions.
Elly was also the inspiration behind the recent Backcountry Trust upgrade of Rockslide Biv. They did an outstanding job, keeping the original character at the same time as well as making it a far more pleasant place to stay.
The track from Ikawetea Forks Hut up the ridge towards No Mans Rd has a 2 kilometer flattish section with the forest being mainly red beech. It’s always had a rich bird life; in particular it has a good population of toutouwai. Darren Peters suggested that we put a parallel line of traps along this ridge to support the existing one. So we arranged for a fadge of 20 traps to be dropped on the ridge. Lisa and I walked the track without seeing the fadge. So the next time we went we got the coordinates from Owen, the chopper pilot. I made a waypoint --- it was only 50 metres off the track --- but the fadge wasn’t there? Obviously Owen had mucked it up. Eventually I had a brilliant idea. Hard to believe, but maybe I had made a mistake And, indeed, it turned out that I had switched two digits Next time we went through we found the fadge exactly where Owen said it was. So, to end this saga, Darren Peters, Paul (Scratch) Jansen, Lisa and I cut a parallel line and distributed the traps in April.
The Apias Stream was severely damaged by Gabrielle. Although some whio did hang on in the aftermath it’s probably that the majority sought better territory. There was no breeding the first season after Gabrielle, and last season we saw a few pairs, each with two ducklings. Lisa walked the Apias with Andy Glaser and whio dog Max as part of the recent whio survey. To Andy’s expert eye it will be some time before the river gets back to full whio health
Having said that, other rivers seem to be doing well. In my recent travels elsewhere in the Range I’ve seen whio in the stream at Otukota Hut, and near Ngāmoko Hut. Moreover the hut books at Otukota Hut and Wakelings Hut all have plenty of reports of whio, with one group reporting 8 whio between Wakelings and Otukota. A lone whio turned up at Kaitoke near Wellington. It must have come from the Ruahine Range. Unless we start counting whio in a broad range of streams we will have no real idea of what the Ruahine whio numbers are. But I’m a cracked record, so will stop now.
Thanks to Lisa Whittle for the photos.
Thanks to Lisa Whittle for the photos.
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Oroua Valley, Pohangina River and the Rangi/Deadmans Loop - Janet Wilson
A busy and successful summer in the southern area - more ducklings fledged in the Oroua River than I have ever seen before. There has been lots of community involvement. The Massey University Student Wildlife Conservation Club has been back with large groups for 3 trips in their first semester and a group from Vestas (they work on the wind turbines) did a day volunteering on the trap line to Iron Gate hut. Special thanks to Joe Faisandier for organising the Vestas group.
A busy and successful summer in the southern area - more ducklings fledged in the Oroua River than I have ever seen before. There has been lots of community involvement. The Massey University Student Wildlife Conservation Club has been back with large groups for 3 trips in their first semester and a group from Vestas (they work on the wind turbines) did a day volunteering on the trap line to Iron Gate hut. Special thanks to Joe Faisandier for organising the Vestas group.
Trap lines have all been serviced and quite a few mechanisms replaced - the original network of DOC 200's was set out in 2008 and quite a few are failing now.
The Social Trappers group is proving successful, recently servicing all the river traps in the Oroua and Pohangina before winter set in. Thanks to all the volunteers who regularly help out - our reward has been seeing so many whio in the Oroua this season. I'll let the pictures tell the story.....
The Social Trappers group is proving successful, recently servicing all the river traps in the Oroua and Pohangina before winter set in. Thanks to all the volunteers who regularly help out - our reward has been seeing so many whio in the Oroua this season. I'll let the pictures tell the story.....
The Pohangina River A24 line was serviced in late May during a beautiful patch of autumn weather. Most traps were working well - we had a fresh rat kill at Ngamoko Hut just to reassure us the traps are working. Thanks to funding from the Allan Rosoman trust, the team were able to fly in and out, making the most of the conditions to do a tour of the huts. Leon Kinvig, recently restored on the new site was the first nights lodging.
On the same weekend Chris Tuffley and Lorraine Cook serviced the traps in the Top Gorge Hut area. Only a few pairs were seen but as it was so cold I think perhaps they have moved up to the warmer side streams - are they known to do this?
On the same weekend Chris Tuffley and Lorraine Cook serviced the traps in the Top Gorge Hut area. Only a few pairs were seen but as it was so cold I think perhaps they have moved up to the warmer side streams - are they known to do this?
Northern Ruahine Whio Survey March 2025 - Aimee Stubbs
The whole report is too large and comprehensive to include in its entirety so will email out with this newsletter - ed.
A survey was undertaken in the Northern Ruahine Forest Park between the 11th and 13th of March 2025. The trip was initially planned for 18-20th February but was postponed due to weather. Helen Jonas (DOC Wairoa), Janet Wilson (Ruahine Whio Protectors Trust; RWPT) and whio dog Ash, surveyed the Mangatera catchment. Lisa Whittle (Mauri Oho), and Andrew Glaser (DOC Opotiki) with whio dog Max, surveyed the Ikawetea catchment.
The whole report is too large and comprehensive to include in its entirety so will email out with this newsletter - ed.
A survey was undertaken in the Northern Ruahine Forest Park between the 11th and 13th of March 2025. The trip was initially planned for 18-20th February but was postponed due to weather. Helen Jonas (DOC Wairoa), Janet Wilson (Ruahine Whio Protectors Trust; RWPT) and whio dog Ash, surveyed the Mangatera catchment. Lisa Whittle (Mauri Oho), and Andrew Glaser (DOC Opotiki) with whio dog Max, surveyed the Ikawetea catchment.
The team: Max (whio dog) Andrew Glaser (DOC) Ash (whio dog) Helen James (DOC) Janet Wilson (RWPT) Liusa Whittle (Mauri Oho) Aimee Stubbs (DOC)
Kiwi Survey - Janet W
Surveying, using acoustic recorders, is part of the conditions for releasing kiwi back in to the northern Ruahine. This year, thanks to some nice liaising between DOC and the air force, some of the regular Te Potae volunteers, Scratch Jansen and some of the Mauri Oho crew were lucky enough to be deployed by the NH90 helo to install the recorders. It was a one day exercise, with pick up late afternoon. Those on board were then treated to an hours flying home right down the Ruahine Range, with some pilot training along the way.
Surveying, using acoustic recorders, is part of the conditions for releasing kiwi back in to the northern Ruahine. This year, thanks to some nice liaising between DOC and the air force, some of the regular Te Potae volunteers, Scratch Jansen and some of the Mauri Oho crew were lucky enough to be deployed by the NH90 helo to install the recorders. It was a one day exercise, with pick up late afternoon. Those on board were then treated to an hours flying home right down the Ruahine Range, with some pilot training along the way.
It was an early start from Ohakea and it took a while to get everyone in to the field, as we waited for the cloud to lift at Ruahine Corner and on the Ohutu Ridge.. Thanks to all concerned it was a great day out. Now we are waiting for the weather to allow the retrieval of the recorders....
DOC Snail Survey - Aimee Stubbs
Aerial 1080 deployed throughout the years is part of the National Pest Control Programme, and aims to decrease the abundance of rodents (rats and mice), mustelids (weasels, stoats and ferrets) and possums within the treatment area to protect a wide range of native species including whio, and the giant land snail Powelliphanta marchanti.
In 2018 DOC carried out a small study comparing snail predation inside and outside the treatment area which revealed a clear difference between the non-treatment (lots of possum-killed snails) and the 1080-treated (no possum killed snails) plots. It also highlighted a high level of pig predation around Ruahine Corner.
In May 2025 DOC led two trips to repeat this study. While analysis has not yet been done on the predated shells, we do have some preliminary data on live snails. 12 (including 1 egg) lives snails were found in the Mokai Patea (non-treatment) plots, and 45 were found in the Ruahine Corner (treatment) plots. A huge thank you to all the volunteers who helped make these trips run smoothly and efficiently!
Manaaki Ruahine Makeretu Valley Restoration Project - All quiet here. Maybe no news is good news!
Northern Ruahine NPCP - DOC
The current 1080 operation which was set down to be completed in the spring/summer of 2023 has finally been completed (on the western side at least). Weather delays & priority listings have seen this operation slip over the last 2 years, but the stable weather in May allowed DOC and contractors to complete both prefeed and toxin on the Western half of the treatment area (Block 1 in the map below). While it is a shame to not have been able to do the entire area in one go, we have managed to treat a large area of priority whio habitat. We are planning to complete Block 2 in Spring 2025.
The current 1080 operation which was set down to be completed in the spring/summer of 2023 has finally been completed (on the western side at least). Weather delays & priority listings have seen this operation slip over the last 2 years, but the stable weather in May allowed DOC and contractors to complete both prefeed and toxin on the Western half of the treatment area (Block 1 in the map below). While it is a shame to not have been able to do the entire area in one go, we have managed to treat a large area of priority whio habitat. We are planning to complete Block 2 in Spring 2025.
Mistletoe on Totara Spur last spring - hopefully we will see more with possum numbers low
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