Kokako bonanza - Tiritiri Matangi

Dawn Chorus
Bulletin 97
ISSN 1171-8595
May 2014
Kokako bonanza
A record 11 chicks fledged
Tiritiri snippets
New video microscope makes tiny
organisms big enough to be scary
Veteran Tiritiri guide Bob McHardy’s eyes
were glowing as he watched a crowd of youngsters marvelling at the sight of huge, scary,
spiky-looking insects, magnificent, brightly
coloured giant flower petals, the beautiful patterns on the surface of massive green
leaves or the difference between kiwi and kakariki feathers.
The cause of the excitement was a new
video microscope, which is now installed in
the Visitor Centre, allowing people to see
what the tiny organisms so important to the
Island’s ecosystem actually look like.
The video microscope has been developed
by Auckland-based Microeye Interactive,
which specialises in producing microscopes
for public places like museums, science centres, zoos, botanical gardens and arboretums.
Its system makes it easy for anyone to
move an object – including rocks, fossils,
feathers, shells, leaves, insects – under the microscope and to see a blown-up picture of it
on an HD television screen.
They’re not cheap, of course, but Tiritiri
has got one thanks to Bob’s generosity. 'It
came about,' he explained, 'because for several
years my wife and I looked after an elderly
couple through Presbyterian Support and
they left us $10,000 in their will.
'It was a bit embarrassing, because that’s
not why we did it, so we decided we’d each
give half the money to a good cause, and I’m
giving mine to Tiritiri for the video microscope.
'It’s a great idea, it will really help with the
education programme on the Island . . . and I
want to see the kids' eyes.'
To judge from the looks on the faces of
the children who have used the microscope so
far, and
the look on Bob’s face while watching
Visiting Tiritiri Matangi
them, it has been money well spent.
If you’d like to find out more about video
microscopes and the company that makes
Help look after this special sanctuary
them, go to www.microeyeinteractive.com
Pukupuku/Little spotted kiwi
Simon Fordham
Hihi/Stitchbird
Trev Storr
• www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz
• www.facebook.com/TiritiriMatangiIsland
Kākāriki/Red-crowned parakeet
Lara Dixon
Tīeke/North Island saddleback
Martin Sanders
If you enjoy your experience on Tiritiri Matangi and would
like to be involved, join The Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi Inc.
Visit:
How you can help
Thousands of people have volunteered their labour or donated
money to the conservation project since its inception in 1988.
The community group Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi Inc is
a major contributor to the development of Tiritiri Matangi as
an open wildlife sanctuary, and its support and involvement is
essential to the continuing success of the project.
Volunteer and community support
Guided tours offered by the Supporters for a small cost are
a great way for visitors to explore the island. The tours are
approximately 90 minutes long and the guides will help
identify the various species that you come across and highlight
the best spots to see wildlife. You can book your tour when you
reserve your ferry ticket.
Visitor Centre and facilities
The Visitor Centre and shop are located near the lighthouse.
The shop sells T‑shirts, books, New Zealand flora‑ and fauna‑
themed gifts and cold drinks, and accepts Mastercard and Visa.
Complimentary tea and coffee is supplied by Dilmah, Chelsea
Sugar and Nestlé. All profits from the shop go to support the
island and its conservation work. For more information contact
Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi Inc or Tiritiri Matangi shop,
phone 09 476 0010.
Toilets are located at Tiritiri Wharf, Hobbs Beach and the
lighthouse area.
Overnight accommodation
The bunkhouse can be booked for overnight stays at
www.doc.govt.nz. However, this facility has limited availability
as it is primarily used by volunteers and researchers.
Before you board your ferry to come out to the island,
please:
Check that your bags are free of rodents and insects; no
open bags are allowed on the ferry; and all food must be
packed in sealed containers
Check that clothing, footwear and bags are free of dirt and
seeds
On the island:
Keep to the tracks to avoid disturbing wildlife
No pets are allowed
Take all your rubbish off the island
No barbeques or fires are allowed
No camping is allowed
Published by:
Publishing Team
Department of Conservation
PO Box 10420, Wellington 6143
New Zealand
February 2014
Crown copyright
Cover photo of Bandit and
Morag Fordham by Kay Milton
Rangers live on the island and can offer further information
and emergency support, phone 09 476 0920. Note that
cellphone reception can be patchy on the island.
2
Cover: North Island kōkako in
pōhutukawa Jim Eagles
An open sanctuary
Tell your friends about Tiritiri Matangi and encourage them to
get involved too.
A reasonable standard of fitness is required for some tracks.
Tiritiri Matangi Island is a scientific reserve, a wildlife
sanctuary and one of New Zealand’s most important
and exciting conservation projects. It is managed by the
Department of Conservation in conjunction with the
community group Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi Inc.
A glance back in time
360 Discovery recently found two cockroaches on the ferry, providing a timely reminder
that it’s not just mammalian pests that pose a
potential threat to the ecosystems on Tiritiri.
It’s just as important to check bags for insects
as it is for rats and mice and they’re often
harder to spot.
New Zealand’s island sanctuaries help to ensure the survival of
many rare and endangered plant and animal species. They are
especially valuable because they are easier to keep predator‑
free than mainland areas.
Tītitipounamu/Rifleman
Simon Fordham
Tiritiri Matangi is a scientific reserve and a sanctuary for rare
wildlife. It has no introduced pests. Visitors are welcome, but
we ask that you treat this special island with care to help keep
its wildlife safe.
To ensure minimum disturbance to wildlife, many sanctuaries,
such as Hauturu/Little Barrier Island, only allow the public
restricted access. However, Tiritiri Matangi has been developed
as an open sanctuary, where the public are welcome to visit and
enjoy some of New Zealand’s rare and endangered wildlife up
close and in their natural environment.
Toutouwai/North Island robin
Jane Thompson
Tiritiri Matangi was settled by Te Kawerau‑a‑Maki. On the
western coast, these early settlers built Tiritiri Matangi Pā, from
which the island takes its name, and other settlements soon
developed along this coastline. The remains of building sites
and kūmara storage pits can still be seen on most ridges on
the western side of the island. A large settlement also existed at
Northeast Bay.
The walking tracks on Tiritiri Matangi provide great
opportunities for visitors to explore areas of scenic and wildlife
interest. Tracks are clearly marked and signposted. Points of
interest and facilities are marked on the map.
Tiritiri Matangi (‘looking to the wind’ or ‘wind tossing about’)
lies 4 km off the coast of Whangaparaoa Peninsula, only 1 hour
and 20 minutes by boat from Auckland city.
Europeans arrived in the mid‑1850s, and the island was farmed
continuously from then until the 1970s when the farming lease
was not renewed and the island became a recreation reserve.
The Department of Conservation now administers Tiritiri as a
scientific reserve.
Members of Ngāti Paoa later moved into this area and
established the Papakura (red rock) Pā on the northern reach.
This pā was destroyed in the 1700s during conflict between the
two iwi.
www.doc.govt.nz
Bringing back the wildlife
North Island kōkako
Martin Sanders
Walking tracks
The new Tiritiri Matangi brochure – produced by SoTM rather than DOC – is now
on sale and looks superb.
It has several changes from the old brochure, including new photos, an improved
map which shows all the link tracks, updated
descriptions of the walks and a QR Code that
people with smartphones can scan to link up
with the SoTM and DOC websites to get further information.
The brochure has been designed by Louise
Belcher, a graphic
Tiritiri
designer
who,
Matangi
some
time
back
Island
sent in an email
An open sanctuary
volunteering to
put her skills to
work for SoTM.
Guiding and shop
manager MaryAnn
Rowland
had just decided
she would like to
do a Tiritiri calendar so she asked
Louise to help. 'I
ended up sitting
down at her dinThe 220‑hectare island was originally covered by a mixed
pōhutukawa forest, with kohekohe and taraire dominant in
the sheltered valleys. However, centuries of Māori occupation
followed by European farming saw the majority of the island
converted to rolling grassland, with only a few pockets of forest
remaining.
Tiritiri’s 20.5‑metre‑tall cast iron lighthouse at the southern
end of the island has guided ships through the Hauraki Gulf
since 1865. The original two lighthouse keepers’ cottages
were replaced in 1918 with the buildings that exist today. The
lighthouse is now fully automated and powered by solar panels,
and the lighthouse area, including the historic watch tower and
foghorn, is well worth visiting.
www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz
There is no food available for purchase on the island. Bring
your own supplies, order a lunchbox through 360 Discovery
(24 hours in advance) or purchase food on the ferry.
Tiritiri Matangi’s original wildlife suffered greatly when the
forests were cleared for pasture. Many bird species were forced
to leave in search of new homes and food sources, and only
the more resilient species, such as the tūī, pīwakawaka/fantail,
tauhou/silvereye, riroriro/grey warbler, korimako/bellbird and
pūweto/spotless crake remained.
Takahē
Trev Storr
Once you’re there
Since the island became a sanctuary, some of our rarer native
birds, including tīeke/North Island saddleback, hihi/stitchbird,
takahē, toutouwai/North Island robin, North Island kōkako,
pōpokotea/whitehead, pukupuku/little spotted kiwi, pāteke/
brown teal, mātātā/North Island fernbird, and tītitipounamu/
rifleman, have been re‑introduced to Tiri. Tuatara have also
been successfully re‑established on the island, along with
Duvaucel’s gecko, shore skink and wētā punga/giant wētā.
For more information about the island, visit:
Getting there
Ferry service to Tiritiri Matangi
phone 0800 360 3472
or visit www.360discovery.co.nz
MAGIC: Bob McHardy watches a group of youngsters enjoy the the video
microscope he bought for the Visitor Centre.
Photo / Martin Sanders
ing room table with a heap of photos all badly
glued to various bits of paper and an idea of
the format I wanted and she turned something very ropey into what is now an amazing
product!'
Since then Louise has continued to design the calendars and now the brochure
despite being based in Australia for a time.
She has now got a new job which, unfortunately, means she’ll probably have less time
to work for SoTM. But what she has already
done has been a huge asset to the Island.
Ranger Jason Campbell was giving his usual
talk to a couple of hundred people when he
noticed that he’d lost their attention. Jason
turned around to see what could possibly be
more interesting than his well-honed speech
. . . and stopped speaking. The visitors were
all looking in amazement at a huge black fin
that had appeared at the end of the wharf.
And they were even more amazed when that
fin was joined by three more.
A pod of orcas was after the rays often
found around the wharf. For about 30 minutes they hunted for food and every so often
a flurry indicated that one of the giant predators had made a kill. Trying to avoid becomDawn Chorus 97 May 2014
ing a snack a lot of the stingrays and eagle rays
moved into the shallows which only added to
the spectacle.
Anne Rimmer ran up the wharf to alert
the ferry crew with the immortal cry, 'Orca
off your port bow!' As she stood on the wharf
'the huge male and his smaller companion
approached fast, heading straight for me in
about 2m of clear water. They peeled off at
the last moment rather than going under the
wharf. What a thrill!'
Kathryn Jones, who was taking photos,
said, 'Because the water was so clear we were
able to see some of the orca underneath the
water and one poked its head up to have a
look at the ferry. An added bonus was that
afterwards we all got to see stingray and eagle
ray up close in the shallows.'
The Orca Research Trust identified the
big male, who had a tall floppy fin, as Rocky.
A smaller female with only half a fin is A1 and
the baby was probably hers. Another large
female is named Dianne. There was probably
also at least one youngster with the group.
The beneficial effect that supplementary feeding has on the reproduction of female hihi has
been confirmed by research at Maungatautari
Ecological Island carried out by Lydia Doerr
for her honours thesis.
Hihi, she noted, were originally found in
forests throughout the North Island but loss
of habitat and introduced predators meant
that by the 1880s they were limited to Little Barrier Island. More recently, however,
successful translocations have been made to
predator-free reserves at Tiritiri, Karori, Kapiti Island, Bushy Park and Maungatautari.
The majority of these sites require extensive management including nest boxes and
supplementary food in the form of sugar
water. However, Maungatautari differs from
other reserves in that its 3,400ha of mature
forest provides adequate natural nest cavities
and potentially a year-round food supply.
The focus of Lydia’s study was to evaluate whether supplementary feeding of sugar
water affected the breeding success of female
hihi. During the 2012-13 breeding season,
17 females were monitored to determine the
number of fledglings produced.
The study found that females which used
feeders produced 27 fledglings at an average
of 3.4 fledglings per female, while the nonfeeder users produced18 fledglings at an average of 2.5. None of the feeder-using females
had failed clutches, while seven out of the 16
clutches of non-feeder users did fail.
Lydia concluded that that the results suggested that feeder use improves reproductive
success by decreasing the probability of nest
failure and increasing the number of young
produced per female.
www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz
ON THE PROWL: An orca surfaces off the end of the Tiritiri Wharf after diving
to hunt for rays.
Photo / Kathryn Jones
Concert strikes the right note
SWEET: The Sounding Tiritiri concert was again a huge success, raising
$3000 for SoTM and attracting packed ferries of enthusiastic fans who
enjoyed the musicians playing together, accompanying the birds (above)
and joining in with the diaphonic foghorn (below). Photos / Martin Sanders
3
FRESHWATER SPECIES, from left: Banded kokopu, shortfin eel, longfin eel.
Photos / Simon Fordham, Mike Joy, NIWA
Biodiversity plan
Making a home for freshwater species
Tiritiri Matangi has few native fish species in its waterways, but the Biodiversity Plan is proposing measures that would
make it easier for them to find a home on the Island, writes Jim Eagles, in the second in a series of articles on the Plan’s
recommendations for biodiversity development in the next 10 years.
There are 12 small dams and several small
freshwater streams on Tititiri Matangi Island,
notes the recently adopted Biodiversity Plan
for the Island, but they do not provide ideal
habitat for native fish.
The dams are all man-made, vary in their
ability to hold water and do not have significant inflow or outflow (except after heavy
rainfall) and have a predominantly clay substrate. As a consequence, they are often turbid, stagnant, shallow bodies of water which
lack dissolved oxygen and suitable cover and
shade to sustain native freshwater fauna.
Two species that have, nevertheless, been
able to survive on the Island are the threatened endemic longfin eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii) and the non-threatened shortfin eel
(Anguilla australis), which periodically colonise the ponds. Eels are excellent climbers and
on a small island like Tiritiri can easily move
overland to access land-locked ponds or migrate upstream and downstream during high
flow conditions.
Tiritiri has small but relatively steep-sided
catchments so its streams are prone to flashfloods likely to flush-out resident freshwater fish (with the exception of eels and large
galaxiids). The streams are largely ephemeral
and do not provide suitable habitat for native
freshwater fish year round.
The Bush 1 stream does provide suitable
habitat for some species of native freshwater
fish during most of the year and banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus), one of New Zealand’s
five diadromous whitebait species, have been
known to live there. However, anecdotal re-
4
ports suggest that they have not been seen in
the stream for some years. This could be due
to lack of access at the sea outlet, or to the fish
having left the stream during particularly dry
seasons.
In fact, the plan says, problems such as
drying up and the blocking of stream outlets
represent the main threats to freshwater species on the Island, though there is also a risk
of invasion by exotic species.
Fortunately, as far as is known, Tiritiri has
no exotic invasivePhoto:
freshwater
or fish. The
Ian weed
Southey
likelihood of incursions from the major invasive fish threat, gambusia, commonly known
as mosquito fish, is low due to the strict biosecurity measures visitors must observe, and
the Island’s distance from the mainland.
There is always a threat of an exotic
aquatic weed incursion. Weeds such as curled
pondweed (Potamogeton crispus L.) could be
transferred by waterfowl via seed dispersal
from nearby Motutapu Island but it has a
relatively minor impact and usually co-exists
with indigenous vegetation. A more serious
problem would be presented by the suite of
oxygen weeds (eg Egeria densa), which are
much more invasive, but the likelihood of an
oxygen weed incursion on the Island is low–
it would require stem fragments containing
lateral buds in order to give rise to new plants
– and would be relatively easy to control by
draining affected ponds and applying an appropriate herbicide.
The Plan concludes that because of the
lack of good habitat Tiritiri would not be a
suitable site for the translocation of freshwater
fish, and adds that there is insufficient knowledge to determine whether the introduction
of selected native aquatic invertebrates or
plants would be appropriate or feasible.
But there are steps that could be taken to
encourage freshwater fish to establish themselves on the Island.
The first measure recommended is to acquire better knowledge of freshwater flora
and fauna already present and of the freshwater habitats themselves. As far as is known,
there has never been a comprehensive freshwater flora or fauna survey conducted on
Tiritiri and the Plan recommends that one
be undertaken taken (and this has now been
commissioned).
It also proposes a survey to see if there are
any obstacles that might prevent upstream
migration by fish. And it calls for an assessment of the general health of the Island’s
freshwater ecosystems, including measuring
water quality in each of the ponds.
If necessary, the Plan suggests, work could
be done to improve access routes for fish
migrating from the sea to those streams and
ponds that that provide suitable habitat for
native fish.
It also recommends improving the ponds’
marginal and aquatic vegetation to provide
shade and cover, which will in turn lower the
water temperature during summer, provide
habitat for native fish and ultimately improve
water quality.
You can download a pdf of the Tiritiri
Matangi Biodiversity Plan at: www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz/biodiversity-plan
Dawn Chorus 97 May 2014
Argentine ant eradication almost complete
After 13 years of intensive work the campaign to remove two infestations of the dangerous Argentine ant from Tiritiri is
close to success, reports Department of Conservation entomologist Chris Green
Argentine ants were discovered on Tiritiri in March 2000, and in
February 2001 an intensive eradication programme was initiated.
Argentine ant is one of the world’s top animal pest species and has been
shown to modify ecosystems by killing many other species, especially
invertebrates but also lizards and birds.
Initially the entire 11ha infested area was treated, resulting in a
rapid decline in ant numbers. Subsequent yearly monitoring revealed
fewer and fewer ant colonies so only spot treatment of very small sites
was required. Then in 2009 there was a set-back with a new incursion
discovered at Hobbs Beach. Estimated to have arrived in 2008, this
infestation required an extra 0.5ha to be treated (see map).
Intensive efforts here and at remaining hot spots in the original area
have resulted in no Argentine ants being found during 2012 and again
during this last 2014 season. Evidence of a single very small nest was
found in 2013. Thus I believe we are very close to eradication.
Standard practice within DOC is to declare an eradication
programme successful after two consecutive years free of the pest.
However, due to the difficulties associated with detection of small,
remnant Argentine ant nests there needs to be three consecutive antfree years in this case.
The eradication programme aimed, not only to remove all Argentine
ants from Tiritiri, but also to formulate an eradication method that
could be used at other locations, particularly islands.
There are two key elements to such a method, a) a reliable technique
to kill the ants, and b) a monitoring or detection protocol to find any
remaining ants. The latter must also be sensitive enough to be able to
determine when no ants remain so eradication can be verified. Both
these elements have required continual development and refinement
during the eradication programme and this has resulted in a longer than
expected timeframe.
Poison baits are used for ant control because they have a very low
impact on non-target species. Ants are attracted to baits then take the
poisoned food back to their nests which subsequently die.
There are many very effective spray or granule insecticide
formulations that could potentially eradicate Argentine ants but they
would also have very significant impacts on a wide variety of other
invertebrates. Such impacts would be totally unacceptable on Tiritiri
or other island reserves, particularly those with endangered species
present. The Xstinguish Argentine ant bait used throughout the
Tiritiri eradication programme is very attractive to ants but relatively
unattractive to other invertebrates.
A key issue on Tiritiri has been the presence of very small, isolated,
remnant Argentine nests. In order to find these nests the ants must
be able to locate the non-toxic baits used in monitoring. To achieve
this several key criteria must be optimized, including the time of year,
the weather conditions (both before and during monitoring), the
condition of the attractant bait, the density of baits and the length of
time they are on the ground.
In order to ensure maximum ant activity, monitoring is only
carried out during the warmest month of the year, February, and only
when the ground is very dry. Baits are left out for 24hrs, must be
moist and in key ant-preferred habitats should be placed 2-3m apart.
Similar environmental criteria are required for poison baiting of nests,
particularly keeping the baits moist for at least 4 -5 days, but spacing
should be down to 1m.
Tiritiri has been an incredibly important site for the 'research by
management' eradication programme. Results from this programme
have been used in other, larger programmes aimed at eradication in
New Zealand and overseas.
www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz
INVADERS: The map shows the extent of the original
Argentine ant infestation in 2001 and the Hobbs Beach
infestation in 2008. The Northeast Bay infestation was
eradicated in 2001. Below, Argentine ants on a bait.
Photo / Chris Green
5
The Big Picture
Helping brown kiwi to thrive on the mainland
The northern Coromandel is home to the largest predator-controlled kiwi habitat on the New Zealand
mainland, allowing brown kiwi to thrive, thanks to the work of the Moehau Environment Group. But, as Natalie
Collicott writes, the group is also helping many other native species to return to the area.
Moehau Environment Group is a volunteer
organisation based in the Northern
Coromandel. Formed in 2000, the group has
around a hundred members, mostly locals,
landowners and others keen to see the area
once again alive with the sights and sounds of
indigenous fauna.
From small beginnings the group’s projects
now cover over 13,500ha, primarily on private
land. From the outset its goals were to enhance
biodiversity by engaging the community and
doing habitat restoration that would allow the
re-introduction and recovery of endangered
species. Whilst volunteers are the lifeblood of
the organization, MEG also seeks to provide
sustainable employment to locals in this
remote part of the country.
The initial focus of the group was possum
control. Its first project was possuming on the
coast north of Waikawau Bay, where possum
browse was causing the prime coastal forest
canopy to collapse. Today MEG undertakes
possum control on 3500ha of public and
private land, employing local contractors to
fill bait stations across farmland and bush that
buffers Mount Moehau.
MEG has since expanded its activities into
many areas.
The fence
In 2003 the group formulated an ambitious
proposal to create New Zealand’s largest
fenced sanctuary, a 20,000ha pest-free zone
on the Northern Coromandel. The proposal
required the construction of a pest-proof fence
across the narrow isthmus between Colville
Bay and Waikawau Bay.
The group hoped to eradicate possums,
feral goats and mustelids within this sanctuary
by 2016. An open sanctuary was proposed, a
fence supported by a trapping network which
would allow road access for residents and
visitors to the campsites, beaches and farmland
north of the fence.
While the community was generally
supportive, the fence concept had some fierce
local opponents. Critics believed the project
would increase the likelihood of toxins being
used on private land, increase rates and restrict
the rights of fenced-in landowners. The idea
was eventually abandoned in 2006 after a
sample of fence was vandalized.
Undeterred by this set-back, MEG has
continued with Plan B: installing a buffer of
integrated predator control stretching from
coast to coast. Being situated on a peninsula
6
safe kiwi habitat on the mainland. While all
other brown kiwi populations are declining in
the wild, in the Coromandel they are increasing
in number, thanks to the efforts of community
groups and DOC.
Kiwi numbers doubled on Moehau in
the last nine years and their distribution is
also growing. With stoats controlled to low
numbers, dogs are now the biggest threat to
Coromandel kiwi. The group collaborates with
other organisations to inform the public about
the risks dogs pose to kiwi.
Returning lost species
GOTTCHA: A young volunteer
demonstrates the success of the
predator control programme.
means pests typically invade from the south,
and to do so they now have to get through a
virtual fence, a 6km-wide coast-to-coast buffer
zone filled with traps and bait-stations.
Real Kiwi Country
In 2005 kiwi protection became a goal,
with the opening of an 8000ha kiwi sanctuary
on land south of the DOC-managed kiwi
sanctuary at Moehau. The project was inspired
by Baggins, an adventurous kiwi who left the
DOC sanctuary and travelled an astonishing
70km south before settling in unprotected
bush near Coromandel. Baggins’ story
resonated with the group which saw the need
to extend the area under protection to provide
safe habitat for the expanding Moehau kiwi
population.
MEG now employs part-time trappers
to check 800 stoat traps monthly in the area
and the project recently reached a remarkable
milestone with over 1000 stoats caught since
trapping started in 2005.
Further down the peninsula another
1000ha is protected by MEG volunteers
trapping in the hills above Coromandel town.
Coromandel Peninsula is a hotspot for
kiwi protection with a plethora of community
groups working to protect kiwi. Almost
30,000ha of contiguous kiwi protection makes
the Northern Coromandel the largest area of
In 2005 the Port Charles Rat Attack project
was born, with a vision to provide safe habitat
for birds that find it difficult to breed when
rats are present. Impressively the group has
managed to keep the incidence of rats below
5% in its Small Mammal Index monitoring
since the project began. Some 2500 Victor rattraps spread over 350ha are regularly checked
by volunteers and part-time trappers.
Archeys and Hochstetter frogs (both
vulnerable to rat predation) are found within
the project area. Low rat numbers have
allowed some morepork to revert to their
natural instincts and nest successfully on the
ground. Several translocations of pateke have
been a roaring success with their population
exploding from 60 to over 500 birds.
On 8 April 2009 North Island robins (or
toutouwai) were reintroduced to the area after
HONOURED: Moehau Environment
Group's chair Lettecia Williams and
committee member Wayne Todd accept a Green Ribbon Award.
Dawn Chorus 97 May 2014
being regionally extinct for around 100 years.
The translocation was the culmination of years
of planning and hard work by volunteers from
MEG and DOC. Some of these birds have
gone on to breed, so re-establishing a local
population looks on-track.
The group has also ventured into wetland
restoration. Waikawau Bay wetland is a rare
gem, an accessible intact wetland and estuarine
system teeming with wildlife at the end of a
white sandy beach. Here, MEG is working to
protect threatened birds and invertebrates by
trapping rodents.
A testament to the project’s success is the
increase in many rare wetland bird species
within the area of predator control. Fernbirds
have increased from about 20 to 110 and
pateke have re-colonized, going from none
to over 100 in five years. Bittern, which are
extremely rare, are breeding within the wetland.
Populations of banded rail, spotless crake, New
Zealand dotterel and variable oystercatcher are
all either up or stable in the wetlands.
Sharing the passion
MEG is semi-famous for the summer
holiday programme it organizes each year. Every summer volunteers run a series of guided
walks, boat trips and a junior ranger programme
at local Coromandel campgrounds. The
programme is now in its 12th year and boasts
over 20 nature activities, including Upclose
Kiwi Encounters, a chance to see a kiwi in the
wild.
For MEG the programme is a chance
to engage visitors to the region, and share
members’ passion for conservation with the
public. It also partners with local schools to
raise awareness about environmental issues and
undertake restoration projects.
In 2012 the achievements of Moehau
Environment Group were recognized by a
national Green Ribbon Award. Looking to the
future, the group is focused on strengthening
the linkages among its projects, furthering
partnerships with government agencies,
educational institutions and corporate
sponsors, securing ongoing funds to allow
continuation of progress and, hopefully,
helping to bring kokako back to Moehau.
If you would like to support Moehau
Environment Group, or would like further
information, visit www.meg.org.nz or email
[email protected]
BIRDS, clockwise from top: Rehua
the kiwi and admirers; bittern have
returned to the
Waikawau Bay
wetland; Koro the kiwi and project coordinator Natalie Collicott on a school
visit; morepork can now safely nest on
the ground.
Pictures/Moehau Environment Group
www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz
7
A taste of the Island's
unique maritime history
The annual Tiritiri Matangi Historic Open Day gave over 200 visitors a chance to appreciate the
Island's special place in Maritime History.
There was a rare opportunity to go inside the oldest working lighthouse in the country, built in
1864, and climb the spiral staircase to enjoy the spectacular view 21m up. The Diaphonic Foghorn,
one of only two in New Zealand, sent its two-tone call booming across the Hauraki Gulf.
The Watchtower, probably the last of its kind in the country, built as an observation point for
staff keeping an eye on the weather, watching for ships and signalling information back to the city,
showed off its exhibition of signalling and meteorological gear. In the old workshop there was a
display on the proposed Lighthouse Museum, including some of the lighthouse equipment already
collected.
And, if that wasn't enough, the birds put on their usual display, with Cheesecake, Te Mingi and
their increasingly big chick keeping visitors to the centre enthralled.
A LONG WAY DOWN, above: The lighthouse staircase. Right, the lighthouse
casts a long shadow.
OUR HISTORY: Jim Battersby, founding chair of the Supporters of Tiritiri
Matangi, came to the open day to tell
visitors the story of how the Island
was restored.
8
Dawn Chorus 97 May 2014
OPEN FOR BUSINESS: The recently restored Watchtower, built in 1912, isn't just open to the public on Historic
Open Day. Historian Anne Rimmer and a team of retired
guides are now there most days. Above: Sue Minchen
tells some young visitors about the signalling flags.
Below: Ross Wilson, whose father was a lighthouse keeper, called at Tiritiri many times on the lighthouse boat
when he was a boy but was never allowed to go ashore.
When he finally got there and checked out the tower the
radio set was a familiar sight.
SEEING THE LIGHT, above: The Tiritiri light, shortly to be replaced, enjoys a magnificent view. Below: Ray Walter checks
out the two old lights stored in the tower. Left: Jim Foye, engineer with the Maritime Safety Authority, came to Tiritiri to
open the lighthouse and explain how it works.
SOUNDING THE ALARM: Members of the ToiToi Trekkers first came to Tiritiri to plant trees and when that work ran out
spent 10 years restoring the amazing Diaphonic Foghorn built in 1932. At left: Colin Johnson and Carl Dickinson were
among seven members who attended the open day to start the engine and run the compressor that pressures the tank
that powers the foghorn. At right: Carl Hayson enjoys the thunderous power of the foghorn blasting out from the red
horn just above his head.
Photos / Jim and Chris Eagles
www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz
9
Call for
Nominations
Nominations are sought
for Chairperson, Secretary,
Treasurer and up to nine
Committee members
for Supporters of Tiritiri
Matangi to be elected at the
Annual General Meeting in
September.
If you are keen to become further
involved in the management of
our outstanding organization, do
consider a role on the Committee.
Meetings are held every six weeks
at a central location.
Nominations (including a
nominator and seconder) must
be received in writing by the
Secretary, on or before 31 July
2014.
Send to PO Box 90 814, Victoria
Street West 1142 or
[email protected]
Please include a brief resume for
inclusion in the August issue of
Dawn Chorus.
From the chair
Your memories of great times
on Tiritiri will help us celebrate
SOTM's 25 marvellous years
I’ll begin by thanking those of you who have responded to our appeal for photos and
stories illustrating an event or some aspect of what Tiritiri means to you. We still need
more contributions, as part of our 25th anniversary reflections, so put pen to paper, finger to
keyboard or have a look through your photos and send something to me.
We’ve had two recent events, our musical day, Sounding Tiritiri, and an Historic Open
Day, when the lighthouse was opened to the public, both of which were highly successful
with full boats and lots of excited visitors. Planning has started for a celebration of the 150th
anniversary of the lighthouse on the 1 January 2015.
Thanks to a generous donation from one of our members, we now have a wonderful
video-microscope installed in the Visitor Centre. It’s proving to be a big hit with visitors
young and old and Barbara Hughes is making good use of it in her education programmes.
Regular visitors will probably have noticed that school visit numbers have increased
significantly, almost doubling over last year’s 3,500. It’s great to see so many youngsters
enjoying the Island. Well done to Barbara, Mary-Ann Rowland and all those brilliant
guides who help to make these visits special for the kids.
Now that we have a new Biodiversity Plan, it’s time to act on some of the
recommendations and we have commissioned studies of freshwater habitats and the
potential for establishing burrow-nesting seabirds in the bush. Thanks are due to the
Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund which has provided grants for these two projects.
This time last year, we contacted several thousand lapsed Supporters and asked them
to rejoin. The response was encouraging – thanks to all of you who signed up again.
Unfortunately, as expected from the last few years' experience, nearly a quarter of our
existing Supporters failed to renew. I can’t emphasize enough how important your support
is in securing the future of Tiritiri Matangi. So please don’t set your renewal request aside to
deal with later.
John Stewart
Tiritiri Matangi on the move
____
Preliminary Notice
of Annual General
Meeting
Notice is hereby given that
the Annual General Meeting
of the
Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi
will be held as follows:
7.30pm Monday 22
September 2014
Further details will be
included in the August issue
of Dawn Chorus
10
EARTHQUAKE: It's not often that you see a whole island on the move. But
that's what happened when the fibreglass model of Tiritiri Matangi, that
usually takes pride of place in the Visitor Centre, went to town for repairs due
to years of picking and poking from sticky fingers. Ian Higgins sawed round the
surrounding sea so the model could be lifted out, it went down the road on the
back of the truck and many hands lifted the island on to the ferry for the trip
to the mainland. While it is being fixed the opportunity is being taken to update
the track information.
Photo / Jim Eagles
Dawn Chorus 97 May 2014
Flora notes
Tree daisies lighten up
the Island landscape
There are 25,000 members of the daisy family
worldwide, writes Warren Brewer, and Tiritiri has three
of them
The large daisy family, Asteraceae, has a worldwide presence with
over 25,000 species which include such plant forms as herbs,
succulents, shrubs, trees and climbers. A distinguishing feature is
the way their flowers are presented as a headlike inflorescence. This
is made up of densely packed stalkless small flowers or florets. The GAZANIA FLOWER HEAD
outer ray florets look like the petals on a normal flower. The inner
florets in the central part of the head, the disc, are smaller and very
tightly packed.
A typical daisy, Gazania, has an outer ring of petal-like ray florets
enclosing the central tiny disc florets. The whole head looks like a
single flower. Our three plants, akepiro, cottonwood and rangiora,
all have versions of daisy heads, hence their name, 'tree daisies'.
Photos / Warren Brewer
Akepiro
Akepiro (Olearia furfuracea) is found growing in shrubland and
along streamsides in the upper half of North Island. It forms a bushy,
small tree with leathery dark green leaves. The leaves’ undersides
have a dense light brown covering of short hairs called tomentum.
Flowering occurs from mid-spring to mid-summer with many
flower heads containing 5-12 small white florets. Seeds with tufts
of hair are formed in late summer: they are wind dispersed. The
genus Olearia contains about 180 species, found in Australia, New AKEPIRO FLORETS
Zealand and New Guinea. New Zealand has 32 endemic species.
Olearia is the Latinised name of a German botanist. Furfuracea
means 'bran-like' or 'scurfy', describing the tomentum.
Cottonwood
Cottonwood (Ozothamnus leptophyllus) forms a large shrub
with small, narrow leathery leaves. It has a heath-like appearance.
Cottonwood is often found in coastal dunes and scrubland.
Flowering occurs from November to February. The flowers appear
at the tips of branches as a dull white body of papery scales in tight
clusters. The seeds that form are covered in fuzz and are spread by
wind. Ozothamnus is a genus of about 53 species. The majority are
endemic to Australia. New Zealand has 2 endemic species and a
few are found in New Caledonia.
Ozothamnus means 'smelly shrub', referring to the foliage of
some species. Leptophyllus means 'thin leaved.'
Rangiora
Rangiora (Brachyglottis repanda) forms a shrub or small tree
which occurs widely in lowland forests of the North Island. In the
South Island it is restricted to just the northern regions. Its large
leaves are wavy edged, broad and leathery feeling with a white
underside. Rangiora is also called 'bushman’s friend’ as the leaves
can be used for writing or toiletry. Maori used the leaves to dress
wounds and sores. They were also used to line food baskets and
to wrap food such as eels for steaming. In September tiny creamy
white flowers appear, clustered in large sprays. Tiny wind blown
seeds, each with a parachute of fine hairs, are dispersed through
summer. Brachyglottis is a genus of about 30 species found in
Australia and New Zealand. We have 24 endemic species in New
Zealand.
Brachyglottis means 'short tongue', describing the flowers.
Repanda means 'bent back', describing the irregularly undulating
margins of the leaves.
www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz
COTTONWOOD
RANGIORA
11
Fauna Notes
A record year for kokako chicks
Tiritiri's kokako population got a marvellous boost during the 2013-14 breeding season with seven females and four
males successfully fledged.
The 2013-14 breeding season is well and truly
over and most of the birds have completed
their post-breeding moult. We devote much
of this issue of fauna notes to our kokako, who
have had their most productive year ever.
Kokako
The best ever breeding season ended with
11 chicks successfully fledged and a possible
total of 42 kokako on the Island. The success
was tempered with a degree of failure, as three
nests (two of them with well-grown chicks)
were lost to predators, and one chick died
shortly after fledging as a result of injury.
But there was much for the kokako team to
celebrate, as Crown and Pureora, Kikorangi
and Mawhero and Takara and Aria all fledged
chicks for the first time.
Crown and Pureora’s daughter Discovery,
named for the valuable support 360 Discovery
have given to the kokako programme over the
years, is especially welcome, as she is the first
purely Waipapa bird to be raised on the Island.
Provided she produces offspring herself, she
will help to increase the genetic diversity of
our small population. The same can be said,
to a lesser degree, of Aquarius, whose mother
Mawhero came from the Waipapa region.
This season has almost completely
restored the balance of the sexes amongst
kokako on Tiritiri. We ended the 2012-13
breeding season with 18 males and 13 females.
The latest season has ended with a possible
22 males and 20 females. These totals are
not confirmed because we cannot be certain
whether birds that haven’t been seen for a
while are still alive. This year, for instance,
we are wondering what has become of three
of last year’s fledglings, Hunua, Rangiohua
and Rangikata, who haven’t been seen for
some months. We are not giving up on them,
however. The welcome reappearance of Rimu,
DISCOVERY
Photo / Alison Bray
who has been seen several times this season
after being missing for more than two years,
shows just how secretive these birds can be.
We are hoping that this year’s new cohort
of seven females and four males will make it
through the winter and begin to find their
own territories in 2014-15. Look out for them
on your visits to the Island – the complete
list, with band combinations, is in the table
below. Takahe
The season’s only chick is growing big and
strong and is often seen with his/her parents,
Te Mingi and Cheesecake, around the
Lighthouse and Visitor Centre. Mahuika is
often in her old haunts around the bunkhouse
and ranger’s house. The remaining five birds
– Mungo, Edge and daughter Anatori, and
the relative newcomers Nohoa and Ranfurly
– have been wandering far and wide and
have been seen on the Kawerau Track, the Pa
Track, the Ridge Road and in Bush 21.
Whitehead
In early April, a further 100 whiteheads were
caught on Tiritiri and translocated to the Ark
in the Park project in the Waitakere Ranges.
The bands on the newly fledged kokako chicks are as follows. Bands on the
bird’s left leg are given first, followed by the right. Band codes: M = metal, R
= red, G = green, J = jade (pale green), W = white, Y = yellow
Females
Parents
Bands
Males
Parents
Bands
Tiara
Aria, Takara
RM-WJ
Hotu
Lucky, Bariki
RM-J
Mere
Te Rae, Chatters
RM-YJ
Taitoko
Aria, Takara
RM-JG
Discovery
Pureora, Crown
GM-RY
Whakatere
Te Rae, Chatters
RM-GY
Awatea
Lucky, Bariki
RM-YW
Bandit
Phantom, Te Hari
JM-G
Hinerau
Lucky, Bariki
RM-JY
Aquarius
Mawhero, Kikorangi
RM-GJ
Narangi
Rehu, Noel
RM-WG
12
This is year four of a six-year programme to
re-establish whiteheads in the Ark. As in
previous years, the birds were caught in little
more than a day, allowing the transfer and
release to take place two days later.
In previous years, the release has
immediately brought to life a quiet forest as
the birds celebrate their new-found freedom
with song. However, on this occasion, the
forest came to life whilst the new arrivals
were awaiting release, when a resident flock of
whiteheads occupied the surrounding trees,
presumably attracted by the sounds from the
transfer boxes.
A few days after release, many whiteheads
were seen in the vicinity of a nearby track,
apparently heading in a northerly direction
towards the heart of the predator-free area;
encouraging signs for the future of these birds
in the Waitakere Ranges.
Saddleback
The saddleback study has continued with
more birds banded, especially juveniles from
the 2013-14 breeding season. Look out for
birds banded with orange and metal or yellow
and metal on their left legs. John Stewart
([email protected]) would be very
interested to hear of sightings of these and
other colour-banded saddleback, which will
help to build knowledge of how these birds
disperse across the Island and across different
habitats.
Hihi
Donal’s suspicions that a few fledglings from
unknown natural nests (i.e. not in nest boxes)
might turn up has proved correct. Young hihi
without bands have been spotted in Wattle
Valley and in Bush 21.
Other birds
In the last issue we reported that whitefronted terns had not nested in their usual
locations in 2013-14, but there have been
reports of some pairs breeding on the reef
near the wharf.
A spotted dove was seen and heard near
the Visitor Centre during the autumn and
at least one white-faced heron has been seen
several times on the Island during April.
Wetapunga
Big things are happening in the invertebrate
world as 150 wetapunga were released at a
public event on 1 May. This is by far the largest
number released on the Island at one time, and
reflects the great success of Auckland Zoo in
Dawn Chorus 97 May 2014
WELCOME (from left): Mere casts a wary eye the world: the newly banded Hinerau.
breeding these charismatic insects in captivity.
Butterflies
It has been a good year for butterflies, with
several red admirals seen on the Island and
at least two sightings of Australian painted
lady (Vanessa kershawi). Chris Green saw
one at the northern end of the East Coast
Track (where it overlooks Northeast Bay) on
26 February, and Heidrun Schinke saw and
photographed one (see below) on the Lands
and Survey Track on 25 March.
The painted lady is an infrequent visitor
to New Zealand. It likely depends on getting
assistance from fast moving weather systems
to cross the Tasman Sea. Although eggs can be
laid by these visitors they are unable to survive
our winters so the species dies out before
the following spring. It is very common and
widespread in Australia.
Compiled by Kay Milton: information
provided by Morag Fordham, Simon
Fordham, Donal Smith, Chris Green and
Heidrun Schinke.Photo: John Dowding
www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz
Photos / Sandra Whyte, Jim Eagles
A place where the extraordinary
becomes everyday
This year's hihi researcher, Donal Smith from Dublin, has completed his term
on the Island and he sends a farewell message about his time on Tiritiri Matangi.
'Donald?'
'No: Donal'
'Right, Donald'
'Doe-null'
'Daw-null?'
'No... '
Sigh. It’ll do.
Five months on
Tiritiri.
I think that amounts
to at least several thousand runs through of
that conversation.
A couple of hundred times lighting
that bunkhouse cooker
(masterfully, I might add – you saw me).
Enough gallons of sugar water mixed to fill a
swimming pool, which would, I guess, make
for a sticky experience.
These things become innumerable, and
I prefer it that way. Because the really great
things also become countless, routine, everyday. Of course my daily wanderings are
backed by a saddleback soundtrack, obviously I have staring contests with moreporks,
naturally I have late night heart-to-heart chats
with the kiwis.
Not to mention my encounters with the
other kiwi, that peculiar breed that is the New
Zealand human, indeed the even peculiarer
(sic) sort that ends up on Tiritiri. Sometimes
they come bearing beer,
sometimes cake, occasionally even ice-cream
(I still consider hokey
pokey to be New Zealand’s finest achievement), but they always
come with kindness and
humour.
I think there’s a lot in
the kiwi psyche an Irishman can identify with.
A subtly defiant independence, the product
of having a neighbour
that is bigger, louder,
and brasher, but ultimately a little crass.
I’ll enjoy more of that in the coming
months, but my whirlwind romance with
Tiritiri is sadly over. It ended the moment
when, at half-past-three, I found myself standing on the ferry instead of the wharf. To be
the one sliding away, watching Dave getting
smaller as he waved, seemed somehow incongruous.
When I first came to Tiritiri, I called it a
triumph. I’m sticking to that line. It’s easy to
take it all for granted. And that, in a way, is the
point. All the planning, negotiation, dedication, research, outreach and hours upon hours
of hard yakka has succeeded in a rare feat: that
of making the extraordinary everyday.
13
Hand this to your kids – or pass it on to someone
else’s kids – to enjoy a range of activities about
Tiritiri Matangi Island
Hi guys, Winter is just about here and the whiteheads are busy fattening up for the cold months ahead. Can you spot all 15 differences between the two pictures? Which tree species the whiteheads are feeding in? Have fun, Jo 14
Dawn Chorus 97 May 2014
Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi
Dawn Chorus is the quarterly newsletter of the Supporters
of Tiritiri Matangi (SoTM). We are a volunteer incorporated
society working closely with the Department of Conservation
to make the most of the wonderful conservation restoration
project that is Tiritiri Matangi. Every year volunteers put
thousands of hours into the project and raise funds through
membership, guiding and also through our Island-based gift
shop.
For further information, visit www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz
or contact P O Box 90-814 Victoria St West, Auckland
SoTM Committee
Chairperson: John Stewart
[email protected]
09 428 4541
Secretary: Linda Worth
[email protected]
Treasurer: Kevin Vaughan
Committee: Alison Bray, Roger Bray, Brian Chandler,
Hester Cooper, Simon Fordham, Carl Hayson,
Kay Milton, Ray Walter
Guiding and shop manager: Mary-Ann Rowland
[email protected]
09 476 0010
Membership: Annette and Malcolm de Raat
[email protected]
09 817 9964
Educator: Barbara Hughes-Cleland
[email protected]
Fundraiser: Vincent Maire
[email protected]
Dawn Chorus editor: Jim Eagles
[email protected]
09 445 2444
Island rangers: Dave Jenkins and Jason Campbell
[email protected]
09 476 0920
Coming Events
10-11 May
Supporters' non-working weekend
12 May
7.30pm Tiritiri Talk at Unitec
24 May
7.30pm Teams quiz competition at Onehunga Bowling
Club. Enter as a team or join a team on the night.
Register your interest with Mary-Ann.
31 May-2 June
Queen's Birthday working weekend
1 June to 31 August
Discounted ferry rates for SOTM members
8 June 8
Planters’ Day trip around the Island
26-17 July 26
Supporters’ Weekend
7 September
Planters’ Day – trip around the Island
6-7 September
Supporters’ Weekend
22 September
Annual General Meeting
4-5 October
Supporters’ Weekend
5 and 12 October
Dawn Chorus trip. A chance to hear what ancient
Aotearoa sounded like. Ferry leaves Gulf Harbour (ie
not from the city) at 5am. Book with 360 Discovery
Non-working weekends are led by guides who will show off the
Island's special places. Reduced price on the ferry and half price in
the bunkhouse. Children welcome.
Working weekends are your chance to give the Island a hand.
Travel is free, as is accommodation in the bunkhouse.
Supporters’ Weekends must be booked through Mary-Ann at
[email protected]
Visiting Tiritiri Matangi
Day trips: 360 Discovery runs a return ferry service every
Wednesday through Sunday from Downtown Auckland and
the Gulf Harbour Marina. Bookings are essential. Phone
0800 360 347 or visit www.360discovery.co.nz. Call 09 916
2241 after 7am on the day to confirm the vessel is running.
School and tertiary institution visits: The Tiritiri
education programme covers from level 1 (5-year-olds), to
level 13 (17-18-year-olds), to tertiary students. The focus in the
primary and secondary areas is on delivering the required Nature
of Science and Living World objectives from the NZ Science
Curriculum. At the senior biology level there are a number of
NCEA Achievement Standards where support material and
presentations are available. An exciting development in 2013
for senior students has been the implementation of the Draft
Education for Sustainability (EFS) Achievement Standards that
relate directly to Tiritiri. There is huge potential here in that these
standards are cross-curricular and they may be used in various
subject areas: science, economics, tourism, geography, religious
education, marketing, health and physical education. The Island
also provides a superb environment for creative writing and art
www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz
workshops. For tertiary students there is an opportunity for a
generalised presentation on the Island or to look at population
genetics. Groups wishing to visit Tiritiri Matangi should go
to www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz/schoolvisits.htm or contact
[email protected]. Bookings are essential.
Overnight visits: Although camping is not permitted on the
Island, there is limited bunkhouse accommodation available.
Bookings are essential. For information on booking
overnight visits, go to: www.doc.govt.nz/tiritiribunkhouse.
Bookings can also be made by phoning the Department of
Conservation's Warkworth Area Office on 09 425 7812,
though an additional booking fee will apply. Volunteers
who are undertaking official SoTM work can obtain
accommodation at no charge but this must be booked through
the Guiding and Shop Manager at guiding@tiritirimatangi.
org.nz or 09 476 0010.
Supporters' discount: SoTM members who wish to stay
in a private capacity can get a discounted rate by booking
through the Department of Conservation's Warkworth Area
Office 09 425 7812.
15
Celebrate 25 years of SOTM with
our special anniversary T-shirt


This original design, featuring the irrepressible tieke,
is available in men's and women's styles for just $36


 
 
 

Treat yourself to
the new Tiritiri
recipe book
Only $15 including postage
See the bird and buy the tee shirt
Come and spend a day on Tiritiri Matangi Island, see the wonderful
birdlife and the unspoiled forest, enjoy free tea and coffee, buy
treasures for yourself and gifts for family and friends, and know that
you have also supported an amazing conservation project
Our shop has something for everyone, including nature books,
ceramics, bags, puzzles, jewellery, soft toys, works of art, natural
beauty products and so much more
For more information see www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz
ring 09 476 0010 or email [email protected]
Eftpos and credit cards accepted
Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi
PO Box 90 814
Victoria Street West
Auckland 1142
Packed with delicious
recipes, entertaining stories
and information about the
island's flora and fauna,
supplemented with beautiful
line drawings and photos.
Thanks to the generous support of
the book's advertisers – Xelocity
Limited, Earth Energies, Kokako
Cafe, Nestle, Harraways and Rod
Vickery Gasfitting – proceeds will go
towards the Island's conservation
and education programmes.
New Zealand
Permit No.
243683