I still pinch myself every time I am lucky enough to visit Leon Kinvig Hut - what a fantastic outcome to have this hut relocated and restored. With the new tracks completed by the amazing BCT team lead by Dave Eaton, there is again good access from both the east (so long as you can cross the river just upstream from the hut) and the west (off Shorts Track). The hut book shows that there has been plenty of visitors in recent times. DOC have completed construction of the new helicopter landing pad. This got the nod of approval when the team landed there recently for the pre winter service of the river trap line. There is ample firewood in the wood shed - enough to last many years! Camp sites are ok around the hut too if it gets crowded. I am at the risk of repeating myself, but I will say it again - I don't think I can thank everyone enough for persevering with this project - BCT, DOC and all the volunteers who made it possible - cheers to you all, Janet.
Te Potae Traplines - Janet Wilson
After a slow start to the season the planned trap checks struck better weather and all scheduled monthly servicing of the Te Potae trap lines was completed November through to March and then May.
As well as the usual trap checks/rebaiting a lot of maintenance was completed this season. There was more track cutting done in December - thanks Dave Eaton and Chris Maher. In January there was an extended trap maintenance trip with more time to complete tasks. A new trap line was set out from Maropea Forks towards the tops - thanks Blair and Lucy. In the Ikawetea Stream single set DOC 200's, languishing in piles and presumably waiting for a helo ride out, were carried to locations from where the newer double traps had been washed away (or hopefully to less flood prone locations). Some mechanisms were replaced. Mechanisms were also replaced as needed on the Ikawetea Ridge line, Waiokotore Line and Black Hill Line where Dave Eaton and Christine did some more track cutting and marking.
In March a group of deerstalkers from Taihape NZDA spread out a new trap line on the track between Wakelings Hut and Maropea Forks Hut, completing a long planned extension - thanks everyone Thanks to all the volunteers who give up their weekends so enthusiastically to help with this big job - this year there was a good turnout from old and some new trappers. If you think you could help out with project please be in touch - there are sometimes places available for new volunteers.
Thanks also to our local DOC office in particular ranger Aimee Stubs who coordinates the team of volunteers, liaises with the helicopter and sorts out the gear. This year DOC also provided the erayz lure. Most of the flying is paid for with funding from Horizons through a grant from their Kanorau Koiora Taketake fund to the Ruahine Whio Protection Trust so a big thank you to Horizons.
As well as the usual trap checks/rebaiting a lot of maintenance was completed this season. There was more track cutting done in December - thanks Dave Eaton and Chris Maher. In January there was an extended trap maintenance trip with more time to complete tasks. A new trap line was set out from Maropea Forks towards the tops - thanks Blair and Lucy. In the Ikawetea Stream single set DOC 200's, languishing in piles and presumably waiting for a helo ride out, were carried to locations from where the newer double traps had been washed away (or hopefully to less flood prone locations). Some mechanisms were replaced. Mechanisms were also replaced as needed on the Ikawetea Ridge line, Waiokotore Line and Black Hill Line where Dave Eaton and Christine did some more track cutting and marking.
In March a group of deerstalkers from Taihape NZDA spread out a new trap line on the track between Wakelings Hut and Maropea Forks Hut, completing a long planned extension - thanks everyone Thanks to all the volunteers who give up their weekends so enthusiastically to help with this big job - this year there was a good turnout from old and some new trappers. If you think you could help out with project please be in touch - there are sometimes places available for new volunteers.
Thanks also to our local DOC office in particular ranger Aimee Stubs who coordinates the team of volunteers, liaises with the helicopter and sorts out the gear. This year DOC also provided the erayz lure. Most of the flying is paid for with funding from Horizons through a grant from their Kanorau Koiora Taketake fund to the Ruahine Whio Protection Trust so a big thank you to Horizons.
Northern Ruahine Whio Survey March 2026
If you would like to receive a copy of this survey and don't get it with the newsletter please email me and I can send it through. It is too big to include here ............-here are some excerpts.
The Northern Ruahine Forest Park whio survey was undertaken between the 23rd and 25th of March 2026. Helen Jonas (DOC Wairoa) with whio dog Ash, Lisa Whittle and Jayeden Clark (volunteers from Mauri Oho) surveyed the Apias/Ikawetea catchment. Joe Carson (DOC Taranaki), whio dog Pip, Tristin Dodunski (volunteer), and Chris Tuffley (RWP Te Potae volunteer), surveyed the Remutupo/Mangatera catchment. The Unknown/Maropea was surveyed by Andrew Glaser (DOC Opotiki), whio dog Max, and Aimee Stubbs (DOC Palmerston North).
Over the three days, the weather was mild, with a warmer, sunny day on the Monday, moving to a bit more overcast by the Wednesday. The teams were flown in/out from the end of Mokai Road end by MidWest Heli.
The Mangatera/Remutupo and Unknown/Maropea catchment survey areas includes the Ruahine Whio Protectors volunteer trapping programme, ‘Te Potae’. In the north-eastern Ruahine, the Apias and Ikawetea catchments are protected by Nomans and Mauri Oho trapping mahi. All traplines target mustelids using DOC200 series kill traps, and GoodNature A24 self-setting traps. The area for both whio dog surveys includes Māori Land Trusts of Aorangi Awarua and Awarua o Hinemanu hapū. Most of the whio survey area is covered by the National Predator Control Programme (1080) operation, which extends over 33,000 ha. This operation went ahead in the western side of the block was laid in May 2025, with the eastern side completed in early March 2026, after having been scheduled to go ahead since before autumn 2024.
Further east, the Apias catchment is protected by 1600+ DOC200s, 250s and A24s, deployed in the backcountry and along Ruahine Forest Park-farmland boundary. Traplines are serviced by Mauri Oho.
The combined trapping effort of many, strengthens the biodiversity recovery for whio, eastern brown kiwi, North Island toutouwai, Powelliphanta, skinks (including the small-scaled skink), pekapeka and many other native flora and fauna across approximately 70,000 hectares of the Ruahine Ranges.
The Mangatera/Remutupo and Unknown/Maropea catchment survey areas includes the Ruahine Whio Protectors volunteer trapping programme, ‘Te Potae’. In the north-eastern Ruahine, the Apias and Ikawetea catchments are protected by Nomans and Mauri Oho trapping mahi. All traplines target mustelids using DOC200 series kill traps, and GoodNature A24 self-setting traps. The area for both whio dog surveys includes Māori Land Trusts of Aorangi Awarua and Awarua o Hinemanu hapū. Most of the whio survey area is covered by the National Predator Control Programme (1080) operation, which extends over 33,000 ha. This operation went ahead in the western side of the block was laid in May 2025, with the eastern side completed in early March 2026, after having been scheduled to go ahead since before autumn 2024.
Further east, the Apias catchment is protected by 1600+ DOC200s, 250s and A24s, deployed in the backcountry and along Ruahine Forest Park-farmland boundary. Traplines are serviced by Mauri Oho.
The combined trapping effort of many, strengthens the biodiversity recovery for whio, eastern brown kiwi, North Island toutouwai, Powelliphanta, skinks (including the small-scaled skink), pekapeka and many other native flora and fauna across approximately 70,000 hectares of the Ruahine Ranges.
Oroua and Pohangina Project - Janet Wilson
After a wonderful settled start to the breeding season, with plenty of ducklings seen before xmas, the STORM WITH NO NAME hit the Ruahine range hard in Mid February. This was followed by 2 flood events in April, - Cyclone Vaianu around the 11 April with another a week later. The February flood washed a lot a gravel back into the river beds, filling the pools and making the channel very uniform, with more slips adding to the changes. In May the Pohangina and Oroua remained well washed, with little or no algae. A look under random rocks revealed very few invertebrates. The pools were starting to return to normal but interestingly what many of you will know as the "deep pool" between Tunupo Fly Camp and the Oroua Camp site was still only knee deep in early May when we passed through on the Whio Survey.
It has been a busy summer. In the Oroua we have kept up the regular monthly checks using 180 eggs donated by Zeagolds with erayz to more remote traps. . We welcomed trappers from the earlier days - Cecelia and Sam returned with some friends in January. Craig Steed came with a mate and did a mid summer rebait of the DOC 200's sidle track and river traps. Your ongoing support is really appreciated and I look forward to seeing you back another time. Parawai tramping club with leader Tony Quayle did the traps to Iron Gate in rather unpleasant condition in April - I have included some of Tony's trip report further on. Kate and Helen have continued to come out trapping despite Kate having completed the service part of her Duke Of Ed Gold award. Thanks to all the regulars without who this wouldn't all happen - Ernie, Graham, Richard, Malcolm, Neil, Duncan, Paul D, Callum - and to anyone I have missed, my apologies.
In February there were introductory trips to induct new trappers into the team. Thanks to those who came - John Neal, Fletcher, Steve Bailey, Klara and Chris Hall. Some of that group have been back for more already.
Massey Student Wildlife Club
The students came as a big group on their first trip of the season in April. The group included some keen and more experienced trappers and I hope to see more of them again throughout the year.
Oroua Whio Survey 4-6 May
Thanks to Helen Jonas and her dog Ash who came from Wairoa to do this survey. The Oroua was last surveyed with a dog in around 2017 so some time ago. This spring we knew of 4 pairs with ducklings so we were hopeful of a good count. Conditions have been more challenging than ideal in the river this summer. The date for this survey was earlier but the flooding changed that and we moved to early May. We surveyed from around 2km above Triangle Hut - (1 whio sex unknown) down to Iron Gates Gorge. While some sign was seen only 1 other whio was found. A disappointing result.
Here are a couple of excerpts from Helens report as she sums up.
"I suspect the flooding that has occurred in the last couple of months has affected the food (invertebrates) on the main river and pushed the birds up sides streams. Ash and I did check up most of the side streams – only a short distance, until they tightened up, the wind was normally favourable – wafting down towards us, Ash didn’t pick anything up.
Another thing I noticed, is that normally in a healthy river system there are lots of whio poo, but also Ash would indicate on locations, and then move on. These would be sites that birds had been in recently but were no longer. On this river there were very few whio poo seen, and no indications from Ash. I think we just hit the river at the wrong time, to close to flood events that had cleared out the food resource".
On the plus side we took full advantage of having a helicopter to fly in the survey team. A team of 4 were dropped off on the tops above Iron Gate Hut - Malcolm and Graham serviced the traps to Tunupo and walked out while Ernie and Neil worked their way down to Iron Gate Hut, replacing aging trap mechanisms as needed. All river traps were serviced as the teams worked down the river - a very satisfying pre winter trip.
"I suspect the flooding that has occurred in the last couple of months has affected the food (invertebrates) on the main river and pushed the birds up sides streams. Ash and I did check up most of the side streams – only a short distance, until they tightened up, the wind was normally favourable – wafting down towards us, Ash didn’t pick anything up.
Another thing I noticed, is that normally in a healthy river system there are lots of whio poo, but also Ash would indicate on locations, and then move on. These would be sites that birds had been in recently but were no longer. On this river there were very few whio poo seen, and no indications from Ash. I think we just hit the river at the wrong time, to close to flood events that had cleared out the food resource".
On the plus side we took full advantage of having a helicopter to fly in the survey team. A team of 4 were dropped off on the tops above Iron Gate Hut - Malcolm and Graham serviced the traps to Tunupo and walked out while Ernie and Neil worked their way down to Iron Gate Hut, replacing aging trap mechanisms as needed. All river traps were serviced as the teams worked down the river - a very satisfying pre winter trip.
Pohangina River and Longview Line
The Longview Line on the eastern side of the Pohangina River has historically caught a large number of stoats - it is just at the right altitude. Robin Fields has been checking the line regularly over the season - thanks for all the hard work on that challenging line.
The Pohangina River A24 line was serviced in December and again in May. Teams mostly flew in and out, which saves a lot of time and energy and is particularly appreciated in May when it is very cold and the days are short. Chris Tuffley has been diligent tramping in to service the upper river line around Top Gorge Hut.. On a recent trip there was a female whio near the hut. A lone male whio seems to have taken up residence near Leon Kinvig Hut - he is seen regularly. It's funny how there seems to be "hut ducks". The Ngamoko Hut ducks raised a nice family this season - seen in December - see pic.
While at the huts in December we helped out with FMC's "Love Our Huts" campaign, "loving" Leon Kinvig and Mid Pohangina Huts. We find the A24 traps are generally working well - evidence of kills is common. See pic below - one of the older traps still killing. Some in the network are now well over 10 years old, still holding their gas and firing well on test fire. They are ideal in a remote location such as the Pohangina River.
Thanks again to all who help out - the Pohangina is a lovely river when it is behaving but flooding is an ongoing issue - the same comments as per the Oroua survey probably apply there as well.
Makaretu Valley Restoration Project
There is good news on the access to Happy Daze Hut!!!!
I have cut with permission from their Manaaki Ruahine facebook page - which is great and full of trip reports and data - here is part of one recent post. Check out their FB for more info.
I have cut with permission from their Manaaki Ruahine facebook page - which is great and full of trip reports and data - here is part of one recent post. Check out their FB for more info.
A BLOODY GAMECHANGER Feb 10 2026 The new access into the valley from Paget Road is an absolute bonus for our work. It means we can access our trapping network easier. It means that we will also be able to expand the network. It'll be easier to install new traps and service them. A new line in to Mākāretu Hut is on the cards, and new lines from the hut up to the Ruahine Whio Protector's Longview Line is being thought about. On Sunday we tested the new route for the first time. Karen drove a team of us up to Kashmir Road. She and Fraser serviced the first few SA2s and the 6 AT220s we've put around Awatere Hut, while Fiona, Anthony and newby Damon headed south down the river to service our box traps and the rest of our SA2 possum traps. The plan was for the river team to do the line, then head straight out to Paget Road. It was a time trial. Both teams gave themselves five-and-a-half hours to get their work done before getting to the rendezvous point. Karen and Fraser, the Autotrap team, arrived at Paget Road about half an hour earlier than the others - which isn't too bad. We were all back at Paget about half an hour sooner than we would normally arrive back at Kashmir Road. This meant we could get our pies at the Dannevirke BP early! Yes! ...............go to https://www.facebook.com/manaakiruahine/
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North Eastern Ruahine Traplines -Geoff Whittle
Photos Mark Wilcox
Photos Mark Wilcox
Lisa and I have been trapping in this area for fourteen years. Originally all our lines were accessible from the top of No Mans Road. But over time more lines have developed and we’ve “inherited” lines further south in the upper Makororo, Piopio tops, Aranga Hut zone. It’s definitely become a challenge for us to service the lines adequately on our own. The good news is that our community of willing trappers has grown and this year we’ve had a record number of trap servicing trips.
Despite a difficult start with seemingly endless spring gales the key Apias line has been serviced six times. The typical trip is a circuit from No Mans --- down the Apias Stream to Ikawetea Forks Hut, then up a ridge to Tauwharepokuru. There is a beautiful 2 kilometre flat section about half way up that is dominated by red beech and has a rich bird life. We camped there --- as we often do --- in early May. I never trust myself when I think I hear kiwi, but this time it was obvious. At least three timesduring the night we heard a male kiwi pinging out as clear as a bell. It’s moments like that that make all the effort worthwhile!
Despite a difficult start with seemingly endless spring gales the key Apias line has been serviced six times. The typical trip is a circuit from No Mans --- down the Apias Stream to Ikawetea Forks Hut, then up a ridge to Tauwharepokuru. There is a beautiful 2 kilometre flat section about half way up that is dominated by red beech and has a rich bird life. We camped there --- as we often do --- in early May. I never trust myself when I think I hear kiwi, but this time it was obvious. At least three timesduring the night we heard a male kiwi pinging out as clear as a bell. It’s moments like that that make all the effort worthwhile!
Most other lines were serviced about six times too. Even the line across the open tops past Piopio was serviced three times. This line can be a challenge to include in a typical trip.
We had a record stoat catch, as well as plenty of weasels. The line along the Main Range from No Man to Parks Peak Hut caught the most. We made extra trips to keep the traps fresh along this line. In recent years stoat catches along the Apias have been rare, but we did get quite a few there this year. The good news is that stoat numbers had declined a lot by Autumn, so here’s hoping that we got on top of them.
A huge shout out to the willing crew who made all this possible. To Raine and Jeff Williams, Sarah and Mark Wilcox, Andy Jenkins, Sarah Fisher, the father and daughter team of Darren and Heather Morris, Elly Grover, Kev O’Donnell and Mauri Oho team members Jayeden Clark, Bruno King, and Erana Motu. Ngā mihi tino nui rawa atu ki a rātou katoa
We had a record stoat catch, as well as plenty of weasels. The line along the Main Range from No Man to Parks Peak Hut caught the most. We made extra trips to keep the traps fresh along this line. In recent years stoat catches along the Apias have been rare, but we did get quite a few there this year. The good news is that stoat numbers had declined a lot by Autumn, so here’s hoping that we got on top of them.
A huge shout out to the willing crew who made all this possible. To Raine and Jeff Williams, Sarah and Mark Wilcox, Andy Jenkins, Sarah Fisher, the father and daughter team of Darren and Heather Morris, Elly Grover, Kev O’Donnell and Mauri Oho team members Jayeden Clark, Bruno King, and Erana Motu. Ngā mihi tino nui rawa atu ki a rātou katoa
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Ngā Kaitiaki o Ruahine – Taiao Wānanga
In April, several members of the wider Ruahine trapping community attended this worthwhile event at the Makirikiri Marae in Dannevirke. Malcolm Thomas and Janet attended for the Oroua and Pohangina, Anthony Behrens for the Mareretu Valley Restoration Project, Lisa Whittle for Mauri Oho plus representatives from organisations such as DOC, Good Nature, Autotraps and Southern Ruahine kiwi. It was like a mini trapping expo with lots of gear on display. After we were all welcomed to the marae school groups came through and checked us out. There was also interactive activities outside and inside with Anthony Behrens keeping the kids enterained setting off DOC 200 traps.
 |  Anthony (left) and Malcolm (above) hard at work entertaining and informing |
Most Awesome Sighting since the last newsletter
Thanks to Craig Davey for this photo taken between Barlow and Upper Makaroro
Ruahine Birding News - Chris Tuffley
During the May Te Pōtae trap check I had five toutouwai / NI robin come and check me out on Ikawetea Ridge: a pair at one trap, a single eight traps later, and then a second pair another nine traps after that. In six years Atlasing and eBirding the Ruahine I've often heard robins - but only in the right places. They seem to just be in isolated pockets, unlike whiteheads, riflemen, grey warblers, tomtits and fantails, which are widespread throughout the range. And in that time I've only seen them twice before - so seeing not just one but five all in the same day was very exciting. Callum also saw one on the way from Iron Bark to Colenso, and Aimee thinks she saw one between Wakelings and Maropea Forks. The next day on our way to Ruahine Corner we saw three kārearea / NZ falcons on the Makirikiri plateau: one perched on a rock near point 1206, as we reached the plateau, and then two perched on the trig near Makirikiri highpoint.
On a trip to Top Gorge for the midyear service of the upper section of the Pohangina River trapline I heard four mātātā /fernbirds on the way up the hill to Longview, catching glimpses of two of them; and on the walk back out I heard at least 15, along the Longview tops and on the way back down to Kashmir Road. The Kashmir Road / Longview Hut area is great habitat for fernbirds, with lots of subalpine scrub. I've heard fernbirds here many times, tramping or trapping in the area several times a year; over my last few trips it's really felt like I'm hearing more and more of them.
You can watch a short video of whio preening
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/657729471 and to listen to a couple of fernbirds calling back and forth to each other on the Longview track here: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/658394013
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/657729471 and to listen to a couple of fernbirds calling back and forth to each other on the Longview track here: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/658394013
Parawai Tramping Club trip to Iron Gate Hut - Tony Quayle
When I walked this trap line with an RWP team exactly seven months ago, project coordinator Janet Wilson suggested I bring some Parawai trampers back to see what this trapping lark is all about. After all, we always enjoy our occasional encounters with whio and would like to see more of them.
Our team of five met up with Janet and her husband Graham, at their Oroua base Saturday morning, leaving a frightfully wet Kapiti in our wake. The wet would catch up with us later.
Our work began at Heritage Lodge: opening, clearing, resetting and closing each of the sixty seven traps along the Iron Gate track. Between us we were carrying four dozen size 8 eggs - too large for Janet’s usual rigid plastic egg boxes, so packed instead in standard retail cartons: extra care required. Once a pleasant, benched sidle track, the walk to Iron Gate has become a somewhat challenging journey. Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 destabilised the hillsides between Cumberfield and Tunupo streams, triggering a series of slips that are becoming increasingly impassable with each successive storm. Officially, the track is closed, but DOC has cut a bypass around the largest slip. More on that later.
Janet had marked a detour around the first slips, a five star detour compared with what lay ahead. Roughly halfway between the carpark and Iron Gate Hut there’s a nice spot where the track comes down to the river. This is where, four years ago, we met an energetic solo tramper named Inny (Yeun An) who was instantly recruited to the Parawais. It’s also the spot where Janet pointed us at the DOC bypass before racing the clock back to an appointment at their base. The bypass starts out steep, as climbs out of rivers usually do, but unlike most tracks the gradient doesn’t ease off. It gets steeper. And steeper. Until it feels close to vertical. There are some exposed roots to hang onto, and handy stumps left behind where saplings have been cut off: hopefully they don’t get pulled out of the ground by trampers clutching for support. For good measure, there’s an awkwardly placed windfall to cope with at the very top, before the bypass descends in a much more respectable fashion to meet the original track.Light rain set in for the final stage of our mission, making the roomy and comfortable Iron Gate Hut all the more welcome.
As forecast, it rained hard overnight, flooding the river and ruling out any possibility of taking the low level route around the base of the biggest slip, so we unanimously agreed that the twice-as-long tops route over Tunupo was our best option for getting out. June, Mark, Owen and Petr were, as always, great companions and, as it turned out, eager trappers. Thanks too to Janet and Graham for their support and hospitality. I’m not in any hurry to traverse that DOC bypass again though.
Note - this is an edited version of Tony's report to Parawai Tramping Club. If you would like to read the whole refer to the Parawai Tramping Club newsletter. Tony is currently writing a book on the Ruahine Range so good to have him along to see what modern day pest control and volunteering is all about.
Note - this is an edited version of Tony's report to Parawai Tramping Club. If you would like to read the whole refer to the Parawai Tramping Club newsletter. Tony is currently writing a book on the Ruahine Range so good to have him along to see what modern day pest control and volunteering is all about.
Wild Ruahine Calendars
Thanks to everyone who has purchased a calendar for 2026 we are producing another for 2027 - thanks Anthony Behrens. They should be available from late
July.
July.
Thanks to All our Supporters - and to everyone who volunteers their time for these projects.
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