Summer

Bush Telegraph
Summer 2014
ROTOKARE
www.rotokare.org.nz
Welcome
 This year marks the 10th anniver-
sary of the Rotokare Trust!
Friends of the Lake
annual donation
 It’s that time of year again, when we
call for annual donations. Please
find attached the donation form.
 Your donation makes a big differ-
ence. Thanks to everyone that subscribes to our newsletter!
Thank you!
 BALLANCE Kapuni, recently hand
delivered a $2,000 donation raised
by their awesome staff.
 Phil Morressey Livestock, provided
product for a BBQ fundraiser.
 Bill & Sandra Hodges, for a gener-
ous donation of $1,000 towards
species re-introductions.
 RIVERLANDS Eltham, provided
product for a ‘Volunteer Celebration
BBQ’.
 Grant & Leonie Schneller, donated
trellis panels for Rotokare buildings.
 Stockwell family 125th reunion do-
nation of $200.
www.facebook.com/rotokare
Stalwart Volunteer Retires
Rotokare Trustees, volunteers and staff recently celebrated the amazing contribution made over several years by Gwen Muller. During this time Gwen has been
delivering Sunday lunch to the working bee volunteers, with an average of around
48 working bees per year.
Gwen's volunteer involvement began in 2006. She always said “I can’t run around
the hills, but this is something I can do to help. It’s not much, but it’s something”.
Over the years the working bee lunches became a central focus of the community
and social spirit, which has been such a huge part of the enjoyment and success
of the project. Gwen provided well over 350 meals, travelled around 50,000km’s
between New Plymouth and Rotokare, put in well over 3,000 hours and cooked
over 10,000 potatoes.
It was naturally with much sadness that Gwen recently retired
from her volunteer duties, not
because she wanted to, but at
the age of eighty-three it was
becoming difficult. Gwen invited
members of the Trust along to
celebrate all the good work done
by many over the years, and
yes, you guessed it……she
Gwen with her daughter Beverley (another Rotokare
put on a feast!
Gwen – you have
been a major part
of the many successes achieved by
the project! We will
miss seeing you
each week, but we
know we will see
you some more,
and look forward to
sharing many more
successes with you.
volunteer) back in 2008
On the 9th of February 2014 Gwen Muller was presented with a life membership certificate by Rotokare Trust Chairman Mike Weren. Gwen is Rotokare life member #001.
New Site Manager on Deck
In November last year the Rotokare family welcomed
Chauncy Ardell (right), Josie and Phoenix to the team.
Chauncy has taken over the role of Site Manager and has hit
the ground boots and all! Formerly from Taranaki, Chauncy
has worked in a wide variety of conservation roles around the
country. He most recently worked for Auckland Council before returning to Taranaki to become part of the Rotokare
family.
Becoming involved in kiwi work, and upcoming species translocations are obvious highlights to look forward to, as is the
ongoing development of sanctuary operations.
Royal Society Teaching Fellow
Working closely with the volunteers and wider community, a
huge amount has been achieved since Chauncy arrived. His
passion along with a wide variety of skills and knowledge will
do the project proud…….Welcome Chauncy!
Chauncy hard at work programming the surveillance system
Rotokare is excited to be hosting another Royal Society Teaching
Fellow for the first two terms of this year.
A few years back we hosted Janet King from Mangorei School. This
years fellow, Julz Jameson (left) is a teacher at Rawhitiroa School.
She will be focusing on a variety of biodiversity at Rotokare, including
lizards, weta and other invertebrates. She will also be involved in all
other aspects of Sanctuary life.
Much of the wetland habitat surrounding Rotokare includes a robust
grey willow (Salix cinerea) population. Willows are a threat to wetlands
as they quickly outgrow and displace native plant species, and their
dense root systems create a hard mat around the trees which effectively alters the wetland ecosystem. This creates an uninhabitable dry
environment for native bird species such as pukeko, fernbird/matata, Australasian bittern/matuku, spotless crake/puweto and
native fish such as banded kokopu. Drilling and filling willows in the lake’s east arm with glyphosate during summer 2013 was a
successful control method. In January 2014 control began on the remaining east arm willows and the large group near the
visitor car-park. Holes are drilled 3-5cm apart into the base of the trunk then Glyphosate 360 is injected into the holes with a
Keen volunteer Jenny applying the poison
drench gun. Any stems under 3cm diameter are left and cut and pasted with
Picloram gel.
So far we have been able to reach the
willows on foot with only the occasional
wet sock, but trees on the lake edge
may require the use of the boat in the
coming months.
Southwest willows dying three weeks after the poison application.
Bequest and Endowment Fund
The trust recently received a very generous $20,000.00 bequest
from the estate of long-time supporter Garry Willan. He greatly admired the achievements of the project, in particular the incredible
work done by the volunteers. With his kind donation he wanted to
help ensure the future of the Trust by supporting the on-going
maintenance of Rotokare Trust structures, tracks and buildings.
Family members including Garry’s brother and son visited Rotokare
in January to present Trustees with the cheque, and to share
thoughts and memories of their beloved Garry. The Trust is honoured and humbled by this significant gesture of support and appreciation, and wish to extend a heart-felt thanks to Garry’s family.
Endowment fund securing the future
The Trust has always had an eye firmly fixed on the future. As the years have gone by the Trust has received generous support
in the form of donations and grants, but has always seen the future as being self-sustaining funding. The trust works hard to
ensure on-going funding through subscriptions, merchandise, fundraisers and the mowing and toilet cleaning contracts from
STDC which is run by volunteers.
The next step is the establishment of an endowment fund to secure the Trusts’ future for the long-term. The recent bequest
made by Garry Willan will be the opening chapter in this story. Whilst it is well understood that it will take some time to grow a
fund sufficient to support the project independently, this community project will succeed.
This is always a sensitive topic, however, it is relevant and timely to suggest that people can help this community-led project by
making a contribution in the form of a bequest. The future generations that will benefit from this sanctuary project, and enjoy
the results, are firmly in the Trusts’ thinking. If anyone wishes to know more about how their support can be of benefit, please
feel free to talk with either Simon Collins (Sanctuary Manager - 06 764 8500) or Mike Weren (Trust Chairman - 06 765 7474).
Kohanga kiwi update
The Taranaki Kohanga Kiwi at Rotokare project (partnership with Taranaki Kiwi Trust) is progressing well. 26 kiwi have now been released into Rotokare, some are breeding already and
we estimate the population (including chicks) to be closer to 40 individuals - very exciting! A
minimum of 4 more kiwi are due to be released during 2014 to complete the genetically unrelated founder population. The project is already delivering kiwi to other areas of Taranaki with
releases of ‘2nd chicks’ (siblings of founders released into Rotokare).
Mathew Francis & Nui
Recent highlights include more founders arriving at Rotokare, 2 kiwi released into Egmont
National Park and the fundraising trademe auction expedition successfully completed. The
auction initiative was developed by Kiwis for kiwi, a national kiwi conservation trust.
Release party - Egmont National Park
Trademe auction winners experience ground-level kiwi conservation
You can help bring back the birds!
Be part of Taranaki conservation history
This Autumn Rotokare intends to reintroduce saddleback/tieke and whitehead/popokatea to
Rotokare. Approximately 100 birds in total will be brought in. Whitehead are present in Taranaki, but are sparsely represented in low densities. Saddleback meanwhile, have been
extinct in Taranaki for up to 150 years.
Local individuals, families and businesses are invited to sponsor one or more
birds at $250 per bird, and to be part of Taranaki conservation history.
The release event will include a ceremony, guest speakers and refreshments. Sponsors will
take part in releasing the birds into their new home, be represented on a permanent fixture
and receive a complimentary booklet marking the occasion. This sponsorship supports the
reintroduction, monitoring these precious new arrivals, and their ongoing protection.
The major sponsor for this reintroduction project is OMV. They have been involved with
Rotokare since 2011, sponsoring the ridge-walk project and also general sanctuary operations. We are delighted to have OMV on-board again!
Limited availability, so be in quick! For more information about being a sponsor please contact the Rotokare office: P: 06 764 8500
E: [email protected]
Rata flowers in early February.
Stockwell family reunion. Planting kahikatea
to commemorate the lives of William Stockwell (1841-1920), his wife & family.
Rotokare Trustees at Stratford A&P show.
Proud to recognise major sponsors & supporters:
Printing sponsors of the
Rotokare Bush Telegraph
Thomson O’Neil & Co
Lawyers and Solicitors
KOALA
TRUST
Rotokare Bush Telegraph , Summer 2014
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