Hucks Wetlands is a small site (16,000 m²) which was carefully selected by the Wildflowlers Association as a trial site because the area can be easily accessed by both land and water, therefore allowing easy monitoring. In addition the site had a number of characteristics which strengthened the chance of a good outcome, such as higher natural banks separating the wetland from the river, a single inlet/outlet that is narrow and can be simply weired at relatively low cost.

The Physical works included building a bund and weir using geotech cloth. A simple gauge has been installed to measure maximum and minimum river levels. The main objective to establish a waterfowl breeding ground with stable water levels for all species has been achieved, however, minor maintenance work is expected to continue for the next year.

Construction is now well underway with earth moving machinery arriving on site just before Christmas.  Top soil has been removed from the borrow pit and bund and stock piled. Erosion trenches and bunds have been constructed and trees in the pathway of the bund have been removed.

This is an exciting project and one which we look forward to updating you as work progresses.

Earth works at Ohaaki

New Era Plastic produced the baffles, including construction and design of the moulds to make the baffles. Hamilton City Council provided funding to install the baffles and Environment Waikato is currently assisting NIWA in the monitoring of the baffles. The culvert in this project carries bankwood stream under River road after passing through Donny Park.    

Initial results to date confirm that the overhanging culvert prevented many fish species from entering the stream. The fish ramp was installed prior to the spoiler baffles and although the fish ramp provided access to the culvert for fish, the high water velocity within the culvert pipe appeared to still limit fish passage.

The baffles break up and reduce water velocities along the base of the culvert, providing resting areas for fish while passing through the culvert. Installation of the baffles was completed in late January 2009.

Monitoring early this year has shown that the fish ramp and baffles are now allowing inanga, smelt, torrentfish and common bully to access the stream, whereas previously only eels, giant kokopu and banded kokopu were present. Further monitoring will take place this summer (2009/10).

Baffles in place - West end of culvert

Nutrients, sedimentation and the presence of pest fish are key contributors to the decline in wetland biodiversity and water quality.  Exotic fish are  found in all Waikato lakes.  At Lake Serpentine, the Waikato’s highest biodiversity ranked Waikato lake, pest fish present include rudd, goldfish and catfish.  Each species cause harm in different ways such as competing for food with or predating native fish and eating or dislodging native plants from the lake bed.

There was good agreement amongst participants that a barrier was required at the site.  Further work is required including understanding more about: the lake and outlet stream hydrology and the ecology and behaviour of the pest fish present including other species that may enter the lake.

Planning and investigation is continuing on a number of hydrological and biological matters in order that background data and an improved awareness of the kinds of issues and problems that may arise can be considered.  It is expected Phase II -detailed design on both barrier and eradication techniques will commence next year.

Trap lines have been placed throughout the bush around the settlement and surrounding areas with the aim of protecting bird and plant life, and in doing so bringing back the birds.

Kereru and Tui in particular are seen in increasing numbers, feeding in Pukawa back yards and tall trees. The group, which relies on WCEET as a major sponsor, also work to protect the rare mistletoe and green hooded orchids which can be seen growing on the edges of the walking tracks.

Trust members by the new joint community sign at Pukawa - photo by Kim Alexander-Turia

 The project began in October 2008 with 160 traps set along both sides of the river 8km upstream from Turangi, in what will be a two stage process to trap the entire length of the river.  Volunteers check the traps regularly, and to date they have caught a large number of rats, stoats, weasels, hedgehogs and even a couple of wild cats.

Garth says one of the key motivations behind him getting involved is the fact that he has had a long personal and commercial interest in the river and it is great to be able to put something back into the river ecosystem. “As well as the rewards of being involved and protecting one of our important species, it also adds another dimension to the experience we are able to offer our clients. We can offer a unique experience where clients can feel part of the project and contribute by taking a trip with us, seeing the birds in the wild and learning a bit about their situation and the work we do to help out. Bringing Whio back to the river will be great for the birds and great for the town as well”.

WCEET is helping to progress stage 2 of the project, which will involve the installation of self-setting traps in the inaccessible gorges on the Tongariro River below the Poutu Intake structure.

Community members volunteering their time on the Tongariro River

Barry Pope with his well deserved Conservation Award

Late in 2008 Barry Pope, manager of Moerangi Station was awarded with a Tongariro Taupo Conservation Award for the work which has been completed in planting the riparian sections of the station.

Moerangi Station is located between Lake Otamangakau and Kuratau, and comprises a large part of the upper catchment of the Kuratau River. The award was presented by the Tongariro/Taupo Conservator and WCEET Trustee, Paul Green, who described the farm entity as a great model for the future of the Taupo catchment, and highlighted they had planted and fenced off 135ha of a protected wetland area using funding sourced from WCEET. He supported them in leading the way with changed land use practices and reducing the nitrate leaching into the lake.

Volunteers used a variety of methods to combat the willows and other species from straight cutting and pasting the stumps to boom spraying with a helicopter using a herbicide that did not target monocotyledon species, that is the cabbage trees, sedges, toe toe and raupo.

As well as eradicating pest species the volunteers have also been monitoring endangered birds in the region and are happy to report a healthy population of fern birds and other native species in the area.

The Trust has supported the great work that the Tongariro Natural History Society has been carrying out at Motuoapa for the past five years.  It is great to see that the effects of the works are really starting to improve the health of the wetland and is inspiring other landowners in the area to invest in weed eradication programmes on their own land. 

The Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust seeks to recreate, as much as possible, the ecosystem that once existed on Maungatautari and the release of Kokopu is an important step to achieving this within the stream system of the inland island.

The Kokopu were previously extinct on Maungatautari due to a combination of dams, pollution, predation by introduced predators and loss of the native forest.

In addition to assisting with the release, WCEET is funding the ongoing monitoring of the progress the Kokopu make in their new home.

Maungatautari is located in the Waikato basin, between Cambridge, Te Awamutu and Putaruru.

For more information about Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust visit their website at http://www.maungatrust.org/home/index.asp