Poutiri ao ō Tāne - Embracing the sacred knowledge of Tāne
Poutiri ao ō Tāne is a unique ecological and social project aimed at bringing native wildlife back into the lives of people in Hawke's Bay.
Embracing the knowledge of a wide range of collaborating partners, it is hoped that many species lost to the area will return and flourish in the midst of sustainable agriculture and forestry.
There are many gems scattered through the Hawke's Bay landscape - reserves, forest parks and private land often with covenants, most of which exist quietly in their own space.
Conservation sites are also being intensively managed, such as Boundary Stream Mainland Island, Lake Opouahi, Lake Tutira and the Cape Sanctuary. All are surrounded by well modified and familiar landscapes of productive farms, forestry and urban sprawl.
Sunrise over Boundary Stream, Hawke's Bay
An ecological and social restoration project of this scale, as proposed for the Maungaharuru-Tutira catchment, is unique within New Zealand. Equally distinct will be the level of collaboration between agencies, community and opportunities for businesses.
Where will this project be happening?
Why is it important?
What will be done there?
How and when will the project develop?
Who is involved?
How can you get involved?
Kakabeak, a native plant found at Boundary Stream
The Maungaharuru - Tutira catchment, 50km north of Napier is our focus for the short term, but who knows what will follow?
Hawke's Bay is ideally placed to be a leader in the restoration of our native plants and animals on such a large scale. Though the rich range of species that used to dominate our region is greatly reduced and fragmented, nationally significant fragments of land and wildlife remain.
Our past
The islands of Aotearoa - New Zealand, isolated from the rest of the world for millions of years, evolved with a unique assemblage of plants and animals. They flourished in this seclusion. The arrival of Māori, then Europeans led to the decline and extinction of many species and ecosystems. Large tracts of native forest were cleared, wetlands were drained and ecosystems were were modified as land was converted for agriculture, horticulture and forestry.
Today
Approximately one-third of New Zealand's land is legally protected, but in many cases the impacts of pests are still causing declines. Further, the protected areas are mostly represented by remote, hilly areas inhospitable to production. The remaining two-thirds of New Zealand's landscape, including where most of the population live, are now heavily dominated by farming and forestry.
Shine's Falls, Boundary Stream Mainland Island
New Zealand has a long and enviable history of protecting and restoring wildlife on off shore islands. More easily protected, they have been the focus of much learning.
During the mid-1990s it was decided to transfer the advances made and lessons learnt to our six 'Mainland Islands'.
Today the emphasis is on collaboration and realising conservation over rural New Zealand.
Our future
To allow our species and ecosystems to flourish, we need to do more. There is a need for communities, iwi, business and government to work together to protect our unique heritage. There will be a shift away from preserving our wildlife in 'conservation zoos' (uninhabited and isolated forests, islands). Instead, large scale protection will happen in 'our backyards'. This has never been attempted at this scale in New Zealand and this project is about working together to develop the tools needed for all of New Zealand. The future is bright.
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The project will comprise six complementary work streams over three years:
Initiatives will include planting along our rivers and lakes with the goals of enhancing small fragments of existing bush, controlling erosion, reducing silt into our waterways,
returning the rich whitebait resource to waterways, carbon forestry on marginal land and weed control. The Hawke's Bay Regional Council has the expertise to lead this work but we need landowners, community and volunteers to be involved.
Cook's petrel, Little Barrier Island, 1980s
The Cooks petrel, once common here, played an important part in our natural areas by bringing marine nutrients into the forests and being an important food source for early inhabitants. They will be returned to a protected pest-free site.
The kākāriki (yellow crowned parakeet) and kākā (bush parrot) are both endemic parrots (only found in New Zealand). They too were common and suffered following deforestation and the introduction of pests. They will be reintroduced to Boundary Stream where they will spread to protected lands. The Department of Conservation, the Cape Sanctuary and teams of volunteers will work closely together to reintroduce these species.
Introduced mammalian predators will be controlled over 10,000ha with the result of protecting ecosystems and species. Over time we hope the "spillover" of native species into surrounding land will ensure that our threatened species will become more common in the Hawke's Bay. Landcare Research, the Department of Conservation and Hawke's Bay Regional Council will design and implement the pest control programme. It is hoped that this will devolve to the community over time.
Research
New Zealand is known for cutting edge technologies in pest control, pest eradication and species management which will continue with this project. A research programme to monitor the results in this new extended landscape will be designed and led by Landcare Research. Research will be aided significantly by Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Department of Conservation, local contractors and volunteers.
This is a vital component of this project. As Baba Dioum, a Senegalese Conservationist says "In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will only love what we understand and we will only understand what we are taught".
Education providers are already working effectively in the region. Guthrie-Smith Outdoor Education Centre is an institution at Tutira; ECOED has established a purpose built education facility at Opouahi Scenic Reserve, and Boundary Stream Mainland Island and Opouahi Scenic Reserve both provide easy access and opportunities to experience threatened wildlife firsthand. Further education programme around this initiative
are planned.
Communication
This work will mean very little if we cannot share what is happening. All of New Zealand will potentially benefit from differing aspects of this programme. There will be an emphasis on sharing the stories, the science, the new techniques developed, and the special events with everyone.
This audacious ecological and social restoration programme for the Hawke's Bay captured the imagination of the Robertson Foundation which now actively supports our goals.
Year One - up to June 2011: Planning and set-up
Teams established to provide leadership and set up specific programmes; kākāriki reintroduced; aviaries designed for kaka reintroduction; and seabird restoration sites assessed.
Year Two - July 2011 to June 2012: Implementation
Pest control ramped up; kākā introduced, and a predator proof fence built at Maungaharuru providing safety for the impending return of seabirds.
Year Three - 2013: Review and move forward
Translocations continuing to be successful and juvenile Cook's petrels are translocated at the secure site at Maungaharuru; existing bird populations are slowly building; predator control is streamlined and learnings from research and work is published and promoted to other restoration groups around the country. Management of the ongoing predator control is devolving to the local community.
Aotearoa Foundation
Cape Sanctuary Matau a Maui
Community
Department of Conservation
ECOED (Environment Conservation and Outdoor Education Trust)
Forest Life Force Restoration Trust
Hastings District Council
Hawke's Bay Regional Council
Landcare Research
Local businesses
Maungaharuru Tangitu
Ngati Hineuru
Ngati Pahauwera
Pan Pac Forest Products Limited
People of Hawke's Bay
Tutira Maungaharuru Visionary Group
There are many ways to be involved with Poutiri ao ō Tāne over the coming years. This includes helping with translocations, monitoring, pest control, research, and education Find out about Poutiri ao ō Tāne volunteer opportunities
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