DOC and Ngatiwai Trust Board sign management agreement for two of the Marotere (Chicken) Islands
Archived content: This media release was accurate on the date of publication.
Introduction
In a landmark ceremony, DOC and the Ngatiwai Trust Board signed an agreement for the management of two of the Marotere (Chicken) Islands to be undertaken by the Trust Board and that they are jointly planning to eradicate kiore (rats) off Taranga (Hen) Island.Date: 25 May 2010
Signing the Agreement
(from left): Chris Jenkins (DOC Northland
Conservator), Addie Smith (CEO Ngatiwai
Trust Board) and Hori Parata (Ngatiwai)
In a landmark ceremony, the Department of Conservation and the Ngatiwai Trust Board signed an agreement for the management of two of the Marotere (Chicken) Islands - Mauitaha and Araara to be undertaken by the Trust Board and that they are jointly planning to eradicate kiore (rats) off Taranga (Hen) Island.
"This agreement is significant and the culmination of years of island management work with the Trust Board" said Conservation Biodiversity Programme Manager, Keith Hawkins.
Clive Stone, the co-ordinator for the Ngatiwai Trust Board’s Resource Management Unit explained that Ngatiwai, as one of the few remaining iwi with kiore to manage, consider the kiore to be a significant species. "Our tupuna purposefully brought the kiore to Aotearoa and it is our ambition to manage this taonga tuku iho, and thereby fulfill our kaitiaki responsibility."
Mauitaha & Araara Islands
As kiore are culturally significant to Ngatiwai, it was important to them to retain an island site within their rohe where kiore presently exist. Mauitaha Island and its neighbouring Araara Island will be a kiore ‘refuge’ and these islands managed by the Ngatiwai Trust Board. Retaining a population of kiore on these Islands was also supported as it provides a basis for comparison within the same archipelago; where studies can be undertaken to gauge the ecological impacts of kiore and the changes that occur on islands where kiore have been eradicated.
Key people involved
The photo on the right shows the key people involved (from left): Keith Hawkins (DOC Biodiversity Programme Manager), Dr Mere Roberts, Hori Parata (Ngatiwai) and John Gardiner (retired DOC Whangarei Area Manager).
Both islands will maintain their protected Nature Reserve status under the Reserves Act 1977. Management and control will be transferred to the Ngatiwai Trust Board, under a provision in the Act.
The appointment of the Ngatiwai Trust Board to manage these two islands is via the Reserve Act provision and gives effect to Section 4 of the Conservation Act, which enables Ngatiwai to have a greater role in exercising their Kaitiakitanga rights and responsibilities.
The Department of Conservation and the Ngatiwai Trust Board will now plan together the removal of kiore off Taranga Island which will have significant ecological benefits. An exact date has not been set, but it is expected to be completed by winter 2011-12.