Progress report

Progress to Date

Possum control

Since 1993 there has been an increasing amount of possum control in the Karioi Rahui, utilising combinations of trapping and various applications of pesticides. Sustained possum control now occurs over a continuous area of 4500 ha which covers the full altitude sequence. In addition to these control measures, along the entire eastern boundary of the Rahui, Winstones Pulp International Ltd has controlled possums in order to protect its exotic pine forest since 1997. This has slowed migration of the possums into the Rahui and has assisted with control measures where none occurred (Singers 2001).

Kiwi protection

Ongoing survey and monitoring of kiwi has shown that although there are few adult kiwi in most of the Rahui forest, 1-2 pairs are still present near the bushline near Mangaehuehu Hut. There are at least eight other birds present to the west, between the Rahui and the Ohakune Mountain Road.

Thirteen Operation Nest Egg (O.N.E.) chicks have been released within the Rahui to date, eight of these birds are still alive and being monitored. Two of the missing kiwi were killed by ferrets & stoats, one died of unknown causes, the other two have been lost due to transmitter failure. They resulted from eggs laid in the Waimarino Forest. Their release into the Rahui was a major accomplishment for the project.

Short-tailed bat monitoring

Short-tailed bats (Mystacina tuberculata rhyacobia) are very mobile and live in a sequence of variably sized, large colonial (e.g. 5000 individuals) and individual roosts. A proportion of roosts are located each spring by mist-netting bats, fastening transmitters to them, then tracking back to their roosts which are then monitored.

Monitoring has indicated that the population of bats may be as large as 10,000. No evidence of a systematic decline has been seen from the counts obtained since 1995.

Vegetation

Possum browsing palatable plants is a large threat to ecosystem functioning and the life of a forest. Destruction of plants important to Maori is a specific way in which possums affect cultural values. Ten species of Rongoa Maori were selected by Ngati Rangi from a list of 30 suggested by DOC. Of these ten, five species showed significant differences in the amount of possum browse between treatment and non-treatment areas. Lesser browse by possums on these species in the treatment area can be regarded as an enhancement of mauri there.

There is significant evidence to show that the possum control that has occurred in the Karioi Rahui over the last three years has directly benefited the health of the red and scarlet mistletoes.

Hands-on conservation project

In the Karioi Rahui with Ruapehu College
Students

A joint project between DOC, Ngati Rangi, Ruapehu College and Rex Bartholemew has resulted in the production of an NZQA recognised Ecological Restoration course syllabus. This is being offered as a transition education course this year. Students will gain unit standards toward their NCEA and gain skills and experience that may assist them into a career in conservation whilst contributing to the preservation and conservation of the Karioi Rahui.

Future directions

Biodiversity protection and ecological restoration work will continue as will management and control of other pests such as mustelids, deer, rodents and hare.

The community will continue to be involved in the project through summer programme visits, volunteer programmes, the Ruapehu College conservation course and the ongoing management partnership with Ngati Rangi.

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