Notes from Meeting
Te Tangi o te Ata
(Eastern Bay of Islands Mainland Pest Control)
Kaingahoa Marae, Tuesday 11 March 2014
Present: Fleur Corbett (Chair), James Bettridge, John Booth (scribe), Tim Booth, Dianne Boundy,
Robert Clendon, Terry Dent, Scott & Shelley Gall, Anya Hook & mokos, Teina Hook, Marara Hook,
Colin & Marion Lowe, Ross McIntyre, Geoff Muir, Helen Ough Dealy, Margaret Pascoe, Alvin
Rewha, Chris Richmond, Sandra Scowen, Kei Tauariki, Dylan Tovey, Ngaire Tyson, Adrian Walker,
Blandy Witehira, Lew Woods.
Have you seen this?
Giraffe beetle and purloined NIWA ballpoint
The giraffe beetle (tuwhaipapa) is found only in New Zealand. Our longest beetle, males measure up
to 85 mm (including their long head-protrusions), whereas females have more modest protrusions and
reach 45 mm. The males come in two forms: the real McCoy and the sneak (view
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OETDdxCeR6Q)
Giraffe beetles spend most of their time in logs on the forest floor or on tree trunks eating dead wood.
The female bores deep into karaka, houhere, and pigeonwood trees to lay her eggs. When the grubs
hatch they tunnel further into the wood where they stay feeding and growing until they are ready to
change into their adult form.
The reason why this beetle is of interest to us is that – apart from it being a quirky and rarely
encountered part of our native biodiversity - it may be an excellent species for telling us how well we
are doing with our pest control (an ‘outcome-monitoring’ species). There is little doubt that these
insects are prone to rats in particular, but also to cats. We could set up some permanent count-stations
– but we need to know where the giraffe beetles are in our district. Also, hot-spots of abundance could
be extra-armoured against predators.
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The beetle above was one of about 40 on a dead pigeonwood near Pipiroa Bay. If you come across
what you think may be giraffe beetles, please let Chris Richmond know
(pacificecologic@gmail.com).
Round-up of local projects (AUC = All under control)
Prefaced by assertion from Mike Knight that this is likely to be a particularly hot year for rats; Pestoff
is available from John Booth to deal with any particularly pernicious outbreaks.
Islands (Adrian Walker) – still essentially clear of pests, although one or two worrisome signs being
investigated; NI robin transfers being negotiated (AUC)
Project Strip (Robert Clendon) – similar pattern of catches to this time in previous years (AUC)
CPCA (John Booth) – similar pattern of catches and bait use to this time in previous years (AUC)
Omakiwi (John Booth) – similar pattern of catches & bait use to this time in previous years (AUC)
Kokinga (Dianne Boundy) – similar pattern of catches as in previous years (AUC)
Parekura (James Bettridge) – a lot of possums trapped (AUC)
Bentzen Farm – no information made available
Bedogni properties (Colin Lowe) – rats and hedgehogs, but not much action (AUC)
Omarino - no information made available
Orokawa (Robt Clendon) – similar pattern of catches & bait use to this time in previous years (AUC)
Noose & Necklace (John Booth) – high stoat catches (AUC)
Whangamumu (Alvin Rewha) – relatively low catch rates (AUC)
Cape Brett Peninsula (Blandy Witehira) – pest numbers greatly reduced (dealt with again later)
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Reconnecting Northland, and the Kiwi Coast (Ngaire Tyson)
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The first of the Tindal Foundation ‘big-picture,’ landscape-scale, native-biodiversity
restoration and protection projects, this is a joint enterprise with NZ Landcare Trust.
The east coast of Northland was chosen because of the level of community engagement in
pest control right now, and how, with a relatively modest amount of effort, effective kiwi
corridors can be established.
Kaupapa includes connecting and supporting local pest-control initiatives; connecting other
native biodiversity strongholds; and encouraging back what we want back.
Image from Ngaire’s presentation. It’s not just about connecting kiwi populations, but also connecting
other native biodiversity strongholds and encouraging back what we want back. Our local CPCA and
Pest-control Groups don’t appear on this map – but I have sent the details to Ngaire.
Pest plants (Sandra Scowen)
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Focus continues to be pampas and ginger – but also concern over privet and tobacco plant
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Major operations to rid Te Kauri and Halley’s of Elaeagnus almost done - this is a dig-out
then paste-stump job
Always grateful to have volunteers to assist; there are still NRC-provided chemicals available
Tangatapu Wetland Restoration (Chris Richmond and Sandra Scowen)
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Plantings in winter 2013 have generally taken well, with the name of the game since then
being releasing from, and control of, weeds.
Preparations are being made for this winter’s plantings, with spot spraying on the slopes
(2000 trees) and blanket spraying on the flats (possibly 3000 trees).
Planting day is Saturday 10 May (with backup Sunday 25 May) – as many volunteers as
possible please. Register with Sandra if you can help (sandrascowen@vodafone.co.nz).
Pateke counts (Sandra Scowen)
Pateke (brown teal) are the highly vulnerable native dabbling duck now confined to just a few spots.
At the insistence of Fleur Corbett, the annual pateke census this year once again took in the eastern
Bay of Islands. Sandra took part in this year’s count, with none observed in the mangrove channels of
Parekura Bay (where they used to be), but were seen in Clendon Cove (and Bentzen’s Creek?).
Pateke are being catered for in the Tangatapu wetland restoration, with shallow scoops in addition to
the natural oxbow pools.
Keeping local beaches clear of rubbish (John Booth and Lew Woods)
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Locals are concerned over debris on Te Rawhiti beaches – an issue not just of the beaches’
beauty but also for its special wildlife
Local beaches are feeding areas for – among others – NZ dotterel and variable oyster catchers
(both with total world populations in the low thousands). Nylon lines, baited hooks, etc are
risks
Project AWARE is a world-wide initiative to gather up (and document sources of) rubbish in
the sea and on the shore (http://www.projectaware.org/)
Funding to be sought for at least rubbish bags for beach collections. (Stop press: supply of
rubbish bags has been obtained!)
Bird-call counts (Dianne Boundy)
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Bird-call and -count days underway/being organised in both Kerikeri and out here.
Half-day bird-call familiarisation workshop still to be held - let Dianne know if you are keen
to participate (dianne_giles@xtra.co.nz); those wanting to can then go on to do formal
training
NZ Birds on Line is a very useful site (http://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/#)
(via Sandra Scowen) Vic Turner has recently heard what is almost certainly kiwi calling in
the Tangatapu area
Kiwi aversion training
Please contact Helen Ough Dealy for upcoming dates (hodealy@doc.govt.nz)
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Science Fair Projects (Helen Ough Dealy)
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If you have suggestions for year 7-13-student science projects, please contact
hodealy@doc.govt.nz
A local student almost took away the top prize last year by developing a method to kill kikuyu
in amongst pingao: she determined the appropriate amount of salt to add to the water.
Russell Landcare Trust DVD
‘Free guide to making your Bay of Islands garden and grounds a beautiful natural and sustainable
habit’, Highly recommended, and available from Helen (hodealy@doc.govt.nz) or Chris
(pacificecologic@gmail.com) with a koha.
Omakiwi Pine Forest
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Access roads being constructed; felling underway shortly
Water clarity readings now being taken weekly
NI robin translocation (Blandy Witehira)
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Members of the Guardians, together with locals, visited Pureora to negotiate a source of NI
robins for release on the islands – the first of a series of translocations planned
Return visit by Pureora people likely to happen before translocation goes ahead
Rakaumangamanga (Cape Brett) Peninsula (Blandy Witehira)
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Most of the 1500 ha of trust lands on the Peninsula under pest management
Rats well under control (apparently, down to 2%): bait stations at 50 m spacings; DOC 200s
and sentinel traps
Other trust lands
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600 ha are without pest control
DOC BioFund grant of $30K to be used to put this pest control into the context of an overall
strategy for Cape Brett Peninsula
Random lines of monitoring tunnels and biodiversity-values to be sampled
Also to be considered: options for intensively managed sites; use of 1080; and future of
predator proof fence
Report due the end of July
Meeting closed at 6.10 pm and was followed by kai and korero.
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