Ngāti Manuhiri

Ringi Brown, Kaumatua www.ngatimanuhiri.iwi.nz

Returning taonga species

Ten kiwi were translocated to Tamahunga in March, an operation undertaken together with our friends from the Tamahunga Trappers and the Forest Bridge Trust. Countless hours by all involved over the past several years created a suitable habitat for kiwi to survive and thrive on the maunga and it is something we would like to see happen more in the future, in other areas in the rohe of Ngāti Manuhiri. A translocation is the movement of something from one place to another. In this instance, kiwi, but over the years we have translocated many taonga species such as korimako (bellbird), pāteke (brown teal), tūturiwhatu (NZ dotterel), tīeke (saddleback), takahē, hīhī (sitchbird), wētāpunga (giant wētā) and many others for various reasons. Providing all goes well with these birds, 30 more kiwi will be released over the next two years, to build a strong founding population. The kiwi will be closely monitored by electronic tracking to ensure they thrive in their new environment.

Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust has the aspiration of creating a green corridor or pristine habitat for all taonga species to thrive, which is only achievable through environmental restoration, robust pest management and several groupings of people coming together and working as one.

Korero from the Forest Bridge Trust “The Forest Bridge Trust was privileged to have a number of our staff participate in the release of kiwi onto Tamahunga. In the years leading up to the big day, the trust’s predator team has supported Tamahunga Trappers in their ongoing quest to control pests on the maunga. The Forest Bridge Trust built on that work by extending a 6000 hectare buffer zone of traps out into the landscape beyond the core release site. The Forest Bridge focus is to rid the landscape of the mustelid threat so that kiwi and other vulnerable native species can be returned to areas where they have previously thrived.

“Our operations manager, Matu Booth says that often, the work has the feeling of a never-ending task but on these occasions, when a taonga species is welcomed back into their forest, we are all touched by the moment. And we celebrate together.