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The Mohunga Restoration Group- Fact Sheet

Wildlife Management International Ltd Visit

Biz Bell of Wildlife International Ltd visited us in November last year and assisted by Joanne O’Reilly from Envirokiwi Ltd, Kate Lowe and Jacob Otter from Mohunga Peninsular she undertook species surveillance work on Mohunga Peninsular.
Click here for Biz’s report including suggestions for future management (550kb pdf).

Nesting Black, Grey faced and Cooks petrels were found which is very exciting. Black Petrel are only known to nest on Hauturu (Little Barrier) and Great Barrier Islands. Cooks petrels are only recorded nesting on islands. While suitable habitat for the native Hochstetters frog was identified, no frogs were found. Similarly suitable trees for bat roosts were identified but no bats found. Weather was not ideal for bat monitoring so further monitoring will likely be undertaken.

A good range of bush birds were identified in five minute bird counts including red crowned kakariki, a pair of which we suspect are nesting in the Nimaru block. It was disappointing to find so much pig sign around, particularly in areas we would have expected ground nesting sea birds to occur.

A BBQ at the O’Reillys (Envirokiwi Ltd) allowed for members of the group and Mohunga residents to talk with Biz Bell about options for management of the Peninsular.

Access Tracks

Bruce White is managing the development of the access tracks over the peninsular that Perry Foundation funding has provided for. The digger to undertake this work is expected out here 14 March.

If you would like to take the opportunity while the digger is out to get work done on your own property, please contact Bruce White on 021 471 421 or 021 809 612

Cat Control

Cat trapping will be activated later in the year when all risk to the resident black petrels has passed.

Rat Control

As well as the bait stations that individuals are maintaining around their properties, the group are continuing to service bait stations around the Port Abercrombie shoreline area. These are currently being serviced once a month.

Rat control has recently been extended by some landowners to the ridge line and after the access track has gone in, bait stations will be placed into the Nimaru block. This block has the highest biodiversity value on the Peninsular and the values are under threat by predatory mammals; for example, a small number of ground nesting sea birds occur here including Black and Cooks petrels and there is suitable habitat for significantly more but it is likely that the rat and or pig population is preventing this. Additionally, rat control that occurs in the Nimaru block will enhance biodiversity work on the rest of the peninsular by providing protection to a seed source for regeneration of natives and the potential expansion of populations of existing species from Nimaru to other parts of the Peninsular (and Island).

Tracking tunnel lines were monitored in November and earlier this month, to gauge rat presence. Rat presence is high across much of the peninsular. This is not a reflection of the work being undertaken in the Abercrombie shoreline area but rather the monitoring occurs over the wider Peninsular and reflects rat numbers in the absence of control over this area.

 Bait stations, poison bait and associated info are available from the group if you wish to undertake further rat control on your own properties.

 Also let us know if you would like your bait stations serviced as part of the monthly rounds.

Many of you have yet to respond to our stock take request. It is important for the group to maintain an accurate account of its assets for audit purposes eg by fund providers. Please let me know:

 What have you been supplied from the Mohunga Restoration Group?
 What condition is it in?
 Is it in current use?
 Do you want to continue to have it?

Opportunities for Involvement

 We welcome your involvement with the group and its objectives and we aim to represent you- the landowners of Mohunga Peninsular. We want your ideas, thoughts and suggestions. Let us know what you would like us to do for you or/and how you might be able to contribute to the Group and its objectives.

 Financial Contributions. The group is currently heavily dependent upon contestable charitable funds to reach its objectives. There is strong and increasing competition for these funds and to date our group has done very well; the value and scale of what we are trying to achieve is recognized. Future success of this project will depend upon ongoing funding.

Expenses associated with the project fall into two categories:
Capital expenses eg for a predator proof fence (should this go ahead), traps and associated gear and labour costs for track maintenance, predator control, monitoring, project management etc.

We welcome offers of assistance. You may consider a personal contribution or a business you are involved with may like to consider becoming financially involved. If you think you may be able to assist, or support this process, please contact us.

Contacts for the Group

Chairperson- Colin Griffiths, Okiwi,
Ph 09 4290 139
Email Colin@okiwischool.co.nz

Secretary- Brian Reed
Ph 09 437 3554
Email: mohungaaotea@yahoo.co.nz

Envirokiwi Ltd- Joanne O’Reilly, Okiwi
Ph 09 4290 809,
Email envirokiwi@xtra.co.nz