Dawn Chorus - Tiritiri Matangi Island chorus/DC109.pdf · sent the following message of...

Dawn ChorusBulletin 109

ISSN 1171-8595May 2017

Generous grants keep SoTM

rolling

New native plants flourish on the Island

Bellbirds now our most numerous

species

Most of our takahe and several hihi, whitehead, kiwi and kokako are moving to new homes

Moving times

www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz 32 Dawn Chorus 109 May 2017

From the chair

Excitingtimes forTiritiri Matangi

Funding boost for IslandTiritiri snippets

COVER: Takahe photo by Derek Tearne.

GREAT RAPPORT: Educator Barbara Hughes’ work with visiting schools has been given a huge funding boost. Photo / Jim Eagles

Well, we have certainly had some dramatic weather in the past three months. At one stage the boat was cancelled for an entire week, which as far as I know is a first. Thank goodness we were able to get six truckloads of track metal over by barge be-fore the bad weather kicked in, and sum-mer returned in time for the next delivery.

It does not bear thinking about what the weather would have done to the Tiriti-ri concert if we had held it a week later. But yet again it was a great success, with Mary-Ann and her team doing a fantastic organising job, while Rob Thorne, with his traditional Maori instruments, and the massed throngs of OrigiNZ, with their eclectic mix of Celtic, reggae and other genres, provided great entertainment. The amazing Hauraki Gulf backdrop and the takahe family wandering around in the background lent a totally surreal atmo-sphere to the evening.

Things are progressing quite well with the submissions to DOC for the con-cession for the three building projects (lighthouse museum, signal mast and ac-commodation), with officials having vis-ited the Island en masse and expressing support for all three enterprises. This, of course, is not the same as consent in writ-ing but it is enough for us to kick on with the next stage, which involves biological and heritage impact analyses and updated accommodation plans. Watch this space.

Do you know how much effort our volunteers put into the Island annually? No? Well neither did we. But we have now started recording volunteer hours worked on behalf of the Island. We do not have a full year’s worth of data yet, but based on the first six months we are doing 57,000 hours per year! Put another way, at the average hourly pay of $27.50 this equates to $1,570,350 per year! Impressive figures.

The Island is still very busy, with boats consistently booked out, a situation which will probably carry on until at least Easter, so guiding and shop volunteers will still be in high demand. But you guys are amazing and I know that we can depend on you.

Finally, thanks to all who have con-tributed time, effort and support (money is good also!) to all these projects. Keep up the good work.

Brian Chandler

SoTM’s work has received a huge boost thanks to grants totalling more than $140,000 which have been received in the past few months.

Chair Brian Chandler said support from funding organisations was crucial to the work of the Supporters and the latest grants were fantastic. ‘2017 couldn’t have got off to a better start.’

Many of the grants are the result of painstaking work by fundraising co-ordinator Vincent Maire (at left). But others have just come out of the blue, or been the result of ap-

proaches by SoTM members.For instance, a couple of weeks ago a

cheque for $1296 unexpectedly arrived from department store Smith and Caughey’s. An accompanying letter from chief financial of-ficer Jason Copus said the money had been raised by sale of re-usable shopping bags which the company was pleased to pass on as a contribution towards ‘the valuable work being carried out by your organisation’.

Earlier in the year, as a result of efforts

by volunteer Caroline Parker, a donation of $8,560 towards the maritime precinct proj-ect arrived from the Swire Foundation, a charity associated with London-based Swire Shipping, which operates the China Naviga-tion Company.

There have also been some significant grants from regular donors.

In March, the Joyce Fisher Charitable Trust – which has a long history of sup-porting the Island – gave $40,000 towards our educational work and particularly visits by low decile schools under the Growing Minds programme.

Educator Barbara Hughes was thrilled at this generous support. ‘The Growing Minds programme offers funding for visits by decile 1 to 6 schools,’ she says. ‘In most instances these children come from communities where the $20 ferry fee would be prohibi-tive. This wonderful grant means we start the school year confident we can offer free visits to more schools.’

Next came a $64,890 grant from Lotto Auckland Community to support the Is-land’s volunteer programme. Lotto has been a long-time supporter of Tiritiri but this is probably its biggest grant yet.

Most recently Foundation North agreed


to a grant of $20,000 towards SoTM’s weed control programme.

On top of that, SoTM faced a $30,000 bill for the cost of bringing shiploads of gravel to the Island in November and twice in March to upgrade the roads, and the Pub Charity gave $15,000 and Lion Foundation $7,000 towards the cost.

Unfortunately, the need for such support never stops. ‘Our next big project is replac-ing the ute,’ Brian notes. ‘It is almost 20 years old and fast approaching its retirement date. If any members have any ideas about how we can access funds or get a replace-ment vehicle at no or little cost could they please make contact with Vincent Maire.’

Of course SoTM also gets a lot of do-nations from its members. Treasurer Kevin Vaughan says donations ‘come in by the bucket load’, in amounts from $5 to $1000, mainly when members pay their subs. ‘They amount to around $30,000 a year. Dona-tions basically double our subs income.’

Rubbish clearanceAs well as bringing in much needed metal supplies, one of the barges which arrived in March carried back one truck loaded with scrap metal and another piled with years of accumulated rubbish.

Stepping downMaria Galbraith (at left), who has played an important role in getting the message about Tiritiri to a wider audience, has stepped down from the Inspiration and Engagement (for-

merly Visitor Experience) Subcommittee on which she has worked for over 10 years.

Maria, who was also on the main SoTM Committee from 2007 to 2011, has been instrumental in putting together the inter-pretation signs at the Visitor Centre and around the Island. She created the Tiritiri Facebook page and helped build its tremen-dous following around the world.

Among her most exciting contributions to the Island was travelling to the bottom of the South Island to accompany one of our takahe on its flight to Auckland.

Going green?In early March a group of 35 Blue/Greens (National Party members with an interest in the environment) visited the Island after holding a conference in the city and brought with them Lord Deben (aka John Selwyn Gummer), a former British Secretary for the Environment, now chairman of the UK’s Committee on Climate Change.

German couple return to Tiritiri 22 years after being married there

TWENTY-TWO YEARS AGO Monika and Joachim Bothe got married at Pohutukawa Cove on Tiritiri with Ray and Barbara Walter as their witnesses (shown in the photo below). And on this year's Anniversary Day Working Weekend they returned to meet up with daughter Viktoria, who had been working on the Island as a volunteer, and check up on their wedding venue (see the photo above).

They noticed at once that trees which were small in 1995 have grown into a forest. ‘When we walked from the Lighthouse to Pohutukawa Cove in 1995 we could oversee the Island and see the track all the time,’ says Monika.

‘Now you walk in a forest, finding the way only by signposts, and within the forest there are many more birds around: kakariki seem to show you the way, robins, hihi and bellbirds are all around, takahe, which just had arrived a year before we got married, dash out of the bush when they hear a vehicle approaching (hoping to highjack food?). Beside the rare birds we also saw tuatara and wetapunga. Unfortunately we couldn’t track a kiwi-bird but we heard it call.’

The working weekend let them catch up with Ray and Barbara, and meet some of the supporters they have read about in Dawn Chorus over the past 22 years, as well as working together on tracks, monitoring kokako and joining the barbecue. ‘It was a wonderful experience to be back on the Island where we got married, see how it had developed since and how thriving it is,’ said Monika. ‘And it was great to meet all the supporters. We will come back, and won’t wait another 22 years!’


Five groups of Blue/Greens were guided up the Wattle Track, with chair Brian escort-ing a group including Environment Minis-ter Dr Nick Smith and WWF NZ head of campaigns Peter King.

‘We were fortunate to see most of our denizens pretty quickly, so I had the oppor-tunity to promote SoTM and the need for the government to give community conser-vation groups more support (as well as the need to increase the DOC budget),’ Brian reports.

‘There were certainly many in the group who are involved in conservation efforts themselves. The extent of our past and planned activities, the large SoTM volunteer base and number of annual volunteer hours certainly impressed.’

How do you say that?If you’re not sure how to pronounce the Maori names of the Island’s birds and plants it might be a good idea to try a free app re-cently launched by DOC.

The app, Te kete o Tāmaki Makaurau, is designed to help people identify and pro-nounce the names of some of the most loved places, animals and plants in the Auckland

PAPARAZZI: The National Geographic Society now regularly brings groups of adventurers to Tiritiri Matangi to see the best wildlife New Zealand has to offer. On one recent visit the visitors were enthralled as Bandit (out of picture) put on a magnificent performance on stage at the Wattle Track. Photo / Martin Sanders

region. It is free to download and share. For iOS

devices it is on the App Store, for Android devices on Google Play.

Tartan Taonga ConcertThis year’s highly successful Tiritiri Matangi Concert (shown in the photos at left), fea-tured an exciting mix of Celtic, Maori and modern music, plus a piping of the haggis.

Perhaps the best indication of how well it went came from Aucklander Sheri Suck-ling, who won two tickets in a promotional giveaway through Facebook, and afterwards sent the following message of appreciation: ‘Thank you for the free tickets for Tiritiri’s Tartan Taonga Concert. My partner Leo and I had a most enjoyable afternoon and eve-ning, taking the ferry across from Auckland to Tiritiri Matangi, then a guided tour with Kathy along the Wattle Track. Kathy was a decidedly passionate and dedicated volun-teer who showed us the very best of plants, birds and giant wetas. We loved her enthu-siasm and desire to maximise the experience for everyone within reach.

‘What a magnificent sight to finally reach the lighthouse and look outward across the Hauraki Gulf toward other islands and the Coromandel beyond them. We blissfully stretched out on the grass and enjoyed the concert along with the rest of the happy and appreciative audience. The concert and hag-gis ceremony were delightful, a fusion of both tradition and humour, which we very much enjoyed. Now we are also keen to sign up officially as supporters.’

The performance also got a positive re-view from the Island residents. The light-house takahe family strolled up to listen as musician Rob Thorne opened with an ar-ray of Maori instruments that evoked the sounds of nature from long ago. When he then used flutes and trumpets, percussion and a dynamic whirling blade to paint a

TIRITIRI TAONGA: The annual concert featuring Rob Thorne (top right) and OrigiNZ (bottom) was a hit with humans and takahe (top left) alike. Photos / Helen Bucksey


mystical landscape for the captivated audi-ence, his efforts drew an enthusiastic com-mentary from tieke and bellbirds.

Tradition of a different kind took over for the second half of the concert featuring the 15-strong OrigiNZ band including sev-eral bagpipers, with melodic vocals backed by modern and traditional instruments, in-cluding a Breton bombarde, and featuring guide Derek Tearne on the bass guitar.

Guiding and shop supportMembership secre-tary Annette de Raat (at left) has been ap-pointed to work two days a week as as-sistant guiding and shop manager.

Annette will par-ticularly concentrate

on guiding bookings and stock control in the shop. This will free up manager Mary-Ann Rowland to focus on improving mer-chandising in the shop.

Song in the concrete jungleWandering into the concrete and steel sur-rounds of Silo Park, in Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter, it comes as something of a shock to hear the sounds of tieke and bellbirds echoing around the huge tanks which once stored chemicals, oil and cement. But that was what thousands of people experienced during this year’s Auckland Arts Festival.

Anyone following the sounds also got to enjoy an exhibition of all-weather posters carrying a mix of artwork and bird photos plus information about the Tiritiri Matangi Project disseminated by two enthusiastic ad-vocates (photographed above right).

This is the Halo Project, a collaboration by Tiritiri guide and photographer Derek Tearne, Wellington artist Paul Forrest and soundscape artist Matu Booth. Their de-clared aim is ‘to celebrate the dynamic beauty of our native birdlife through contemporary visual art and sound [and] generate conver-sations about the importance of native tree planting projects and supporting initiatives that stimulate a healthy native birdlife . . . If our native birdlife is healthy then the land is healthy. It’s as simple as that.’

The collaboration was initiated by Der-ek, who saw some of Paul’s artwork and thought it would combine well with his bird photos. It had its first outing on the Wel-lington waterfront highlighting the recent explosion of birds throughout the Capital due to the Zealandia Eco-sanctuary.

The second was at the Auckland Arts Festival display which focussed on Tiritiri Matangi. Derek said he was happy with what had been achieved there, with lots of

people stopping to talk about Tiritiri, and native birds and forests, and $1200 raised for the Island from the sale of postcards and posters. ‘Many people went away with a new perspective on art, nature and birds, one per-son even went away with the intention of re-assessing sparrows. Each of these moments is a small victory.’

Now, Derek says, the plan is to take the Halo Project on tour to other places round the country. ‘We are in discussion with oth-er festivals such as the Nelson Arts Festival where the project will support the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary.’

Volunteers wantedThe Inspiration and Engagement Subcom-mittee is looking for volunteers with specific skills to help with its work.

The subcommittee has a variety of proj-ects supporting the way in which Tiritiri seeks to inspire and engage with people, both on and off the Island. The skills it is looking for are: marketing and communi-

cations, education, social media, retail and merchandising. If you have expertise in any of these areas and would like to be involved then please contact subcommittee chair Hel-en Bucksey at [email protected].

Ant-warrior honouredThe successful 16-year campaign to eradicate Argentine ants from Tiritiri has seen DOC entomol-ogist Chris Green (at left) honoured by his scientific peers.

The New Zealand Ecological Society gave him its Ecology in Action award in recognition of the successful campaign to get rid of the unwanted ants.

They were first detected on the Island in 2000 and despite intensive treatment Chris did not declare them to be eradicated until three consecutive years had gone without any further sightings.

HALO PROJECT: Paul Forrest and Derek Tearne with their display in Silo Park, and two of their posters combining Derek's bird photos and Paul's art.

Photos / Jim Eagles


Fauna Notes

Moving time for takahe, kokako whitehead, kiwi and hihi

WELL BELOVED: (from left) Dylan Boocock, a Year 8 pupil at Kristin School, thrills at the chance of getting a photo of Anatori feeding her chick right beside the lighthouse; Mary-Ann Rowland had just sent some takahe photos to the Dawn Chorus editor when, ‘You won't believe this. Just as I sent your email I heard a click at the door and there was Cheesecake. First time in ages she has come to say good morning!’ Photos / Jim Eagles, Mary-Ann Rowland

It has been an autumn of dramatic weath-er. Along with some beautiful calm, sunny days, there have been some spectacular downpours and strong winds.

In mid-March the Island had 126mm of rain in 24 hours, followed by an even bigger downpour in early April.

The impact of this on the fauna will never become fully clear, but it will certainly have caused the deaths of some animals, with ground-living invertebrates being among the most vulnerable.

We can expect quite a lot of movement of birds on and off the Island during autumn and winter, with translocations planned for hihi, whitehead, kiwi, takahe and kokako.

TakaheAll but two of our takahe will be on the move during the next few months. DOC’s takahe recovery team is planning a new recovery site in Kahurangi National Park and around 30 birds are needed from around the country to establish this new population.

One of these is likely to be Nohoa, our single female who has been seen most often

along the Ridge Road. Another is likely to be Edge and Turutu’s juvenile, hatched last No-vember. This youngster needs to be moved to the breeding centre at Burwood Bush, where he/she will be taught to eat tussock – a necessary skill for life in the South Island uplands.

These two birds are due to leave Tiritiri in May, along with Cheesecake, who has been without a partner since Te Mingi moved to Tawharanui in September 2015. She is a valuable bird genetically, and will join the breeding population at Burwood.

Cheesecake and Nohoa will be sadly missed. Cheesecake has been with us for 11 years and Nohoa has become very popular with visitors and an excellent bird for ad-vocacy. But both birds need partners and, due to a shortage of males in the managed population, it has been impossible to pro-vide them on Tiritiri.

In August, the family based near the lighthouse – Anatori, Tussie, Jenkins and her young sibling – will be going to Burwood, where the three adults will enter the breed-ing programme and the youngster will prob-

ably be moved on to one of the other secure sites. All these birds are important geneti-cally, and at the Burwood centre they can be managed to maximise their productivity.

Not surprisingly, people within SoTM have been very concerned at this sudden drastic depletion of our takahe population, but we have been assured that we shall be re-ceiving a new pair – probably a young pair – to replace the lighthouse family. With Edge and Turutu at the north end of the Island, this will give us two breeding pairs, as we have had for the past two seasons.

Decisions about takahe transfers can seem harsh and inexplicable without know-ing the background, but they are never made lightly, and always with the welfare of the birds and the benefit of the population as a whole as the top priorities.

SeabirdsAs reported in the last Fauna Notes, a team from Auckland University has been study-ing our diving petrels. We cannot say much about the results at present, but they do show that our birds feed in different loca-


TRAVELLING BIRDS: (from left) Nohoa, who has become extremely popular with visitors who find her close to the Ridge Rd, will be moving on; Rotokare site manager Fiona Gordon with a male hihi recently arrived from Tiritiri.

Photos / Kay Milton, Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust

Name Band combination

Sex Parents

Shelly RM-RJ f Freedom and Taitoko

Jenny J-RM f Tiara and PoutamaTangi G-RM f Te Rae and

ChattersSkye GM-WW f Pureora and CrownPōrutu JM-GW m Phantom and Te

HariRakataura GM-WJ m Awatea and

WaipapaMuso GM-WY f Discovery and

SarangUnbanded - ? Lucky and Bariki

tions from other diving petrels in the Gulf.The sound system and nest boxes for

Cook’s petrels, just off the Totara Track, have now been in place for several months. So far there has been no evidence of any birds be-ing attracted to visit us, but this will be a long-term project so we must be patient.

KokakoAfter a very mixed breeding season, with some nest failures and some young birds disappearing shortly after fledging, we have a total of eight fledglings, five females, two males and one unknown, entering the popu-lation. Their names, band combinations and parentage are given in the table below.

The female bias helps to redress our over-all balance a bit. We now have around 32 known males and around 28 known females,

plus three of unknown gender. Happily, Waipapa is no longer one of these. He has been confirmed as a male following analysis of feather samples.

The planned translocation of up to 20 kokako from Tiritiri to Parininihi in north Taranaki, which was postponed last Au-gust, now looks likely to go ahead in May and June. It is possible that a few birds from Tiritiri might go to Pirongia, but this has not yet been confirmed.

Hihi/stitchbirdForty young hihi were translocated from Tiritiri on 1 April to Rotokare Scenic Re-serve, in southeast Taranaki, to start a new population. Catching started at the begin-ning of the week and was completed within two days despite wet conditions. The birds

then had a few days in the aviaries to feed up in preparation for the transfer.

All went well and the release at Rotok-are, accompanied by a powhiri, took place on 2 April. Their return to Taranaki marks the end of 130 years of extinc-tion in the area.

Tiritiri is the only site that regularly pro-vides hihi for other sites. This is only possible due to the work of our hihi

contractors, researchers and volunteers, who work to ensure that as many chicks as pos-sible make it through to fledging.

For Mhairi McCready, our hihi contrac-tor this year and last, the translocation is a welcome reward for her efforts. She will stay at Rotokare to monitor the hihi during their first few months. Early reports say that they are being seen in their new habitat and using the sugar-water feeders provided.

Transect SurveyWe have just completed our third annual slow-walk transect survey on the Island. The survey allows us to estimate the populations of bush-dwelling birds. We are working on a detailed analysis of the results, which will appear in a future edition of Dawn Chorus, but here are some initial findings.

The whitehead estimate has fallen each year from 2,644, to 2,011 and now 1,794, though when confidence limits are consid-ered it is still possible the population hasn’t actually dropped. However, since around 1,000 whiteheads have been translocated off the Island over the last six years, it would not be surprising to see a reduction.

In contrast, the estimated bellbird popu-lation has risen from 1,063, to 1,717 and 2,332. This appears to be a genuine increase and means that bellbird takes over from whitehead as our most common bird species.

Tieke/saddleback, robin and kakariki numbers are steady, while tui, kereru, king-fisher and blackbird seem to have declined. Fantail numbers are up.


JUVENILE SPOTLESS CRAKE: Seen several times near the bunkhouse. Photo / Simon Fordham

RED ADMIRAL: Spotted on the Cable Track. Photo / Kay Milton

TWO FINE FAT WETAPUNGA: Spotted by guides hanging out in adjoining trees at the start of the Wattle Track. Photos / Jim Eagles

Tieke/saddlebackThis has been the poorest season for many years for chicks fledging from nestboxes, with only around half our average over the past five years. There was some concern that this pattern might also apply to the majority of tieke which nest in natural sites. However, there does seem to be a good number of juvenile birds around the Island and the transect survey showed that the popula-tion hasn’t changed much over the last three years.

Ruru/MoreporkSarah Busbridge’s report on ruru diet and breed-ing success during the 2016-17 summer is com-plete, and we plan to present the results in a fu-ture article. In the meantime, this study, observa-tions from the previous season, and the results of the ruru call surveys undertaken in March 2016 and 2017, enable us to make an estimate of the number of ruru living on the Island. Sarah was able to identify 53 individuals present following the 2015-16 breeding season, and 51 present fol-lowing the most recent season. We believe there is a minimum of 20 breeding pairs on the Island.

As well as hoping to discover more about their diet and impact on prey species, we would like to learn more about the dynamics of this popula-tion. Are the numbers as stable as the figures from these two seasons suggest, or do they fluctuate de-pending on conditions? Is the population more or less self-contained, with birds that hatch on the Island replacing older birds that die there, or is there an exchange of individuals between Tiritiri and nearby areas such as Shakespear Regional Park and Motuora Island?

We shall be exploring ways of increasing our understanding of our ruru during the coming sea-sons, and would like to thank all those who have contributed observations so far, including partici-pants in the two ruru call surveys.

Other wildlifeA pair of riflemen has settled and is seen regularly in the area around the implement shed.

Ten female little spotted kiwi will be moved from Tiritiri to Shakespear Regional Park at the end of April, and 10 replacement females will be introduced from Kapiti Island, in order to im-prove the genetic stock of the Tiritiri population.

Spotless crakes have been seen a lot on the Is-land during the summer; the wetter weather may be attracting them in bigger numbers. In early January, a juvenile was periodically seen around the compost bin by the bunkhouse and could be photographed from the dining room window.

Wetapunga are proving to be a big success with the visitors. They have been seen frequently throughout the summer and autumn from the Wattle Track and often turn up in nest boxes.

On 22 March, a red admiral was seen on a cabbage tree next to the Cable Track.

Compiled by Kay Milton, with contributions from Morag Fordham, Mhairi McCready, John Ewen, Simon Fordham and John Stewart.


In the summer of 2013, 186 Duvaucel’s geckos were translocated to Tiritiri Matangi Island and Motuora Island to supplement the existing resident populations established in 2006. My Master’s thesis aimed to assess the suitability of captive-bred geckos for future restoration projects. Thus, the newly translo-cated populations included a combination of captive-bred and wild-sourced geckos so that comparisons could be made between the two groups.

I used radio telemetry to investigate movement patterns and habitat use during the first year following the respective releases. Radio-tracked geckos were fitted with back-packs containing radio transmitters. Follow-ing the movements of some of these geckos proved quite challenging, especially when they ventured into dense bush which had to be crawled through, or when they moved down steep cliffs. Overall, most radio-tracked Duvaucel’s geckos remained within the vicin-ity (ie within 100m) of the original moni-toring sites. However, I also observed large-scale movements greater than 200m. Radio-tracked Duvaucel’s geckos also tended to have overlapping activity areas, showing that the geckos had not become isolated post-translo-cation.

Duvaucel’s geckos are considered habitat generalists as they can utilise a wide range of plant species and will occupy shelters both on and above the ground. Although translocated Duvaucel’s geckos were encountered in an ar-ray of different plant species, they appeared

to favour more open, sunnier habitats with lots of dense vegetation, such as flax. This is probably related to their need to thermo-regulate, as night time temperatures offer few opportunities for nocturnal geckos to behav-iourally regulate their body temperatures.

There were no major differences in the movement patterns and habitat use of cap-tive-bred and wild-sourced geckos, indicat-ing that rearing history does not influence the post-release behaviour of this species. I also radio-tracked resident geckos and they displayed similar habitat use and movement patterns.

Mark-recapture surveys, involving ar-tificial shelter checks, spotlighting and live trapping, were used to investigate popula-tion health for the first year after the releases. Translocated Duvaucel’s geckos were found throughout the monitoring period, although I found more captive-bred geckos (30%) than wild geckos (17%) one year after the release.

There were no differences in body condi-tion between captive-bred and wild-sourced geckos after the release, showing that both groups were able to forage efficiently. There were also no differences in body condition between translocated and resident geckos, suggesting that Duvaucel’s geckos are able to establish in new environments relatively quickly.

I encountered gravid (ie pregnant) fe-males from all groups during the breeding season and at least 50% of juveniles born to translocated females gravid at the time of

the release were encountered alive during the monitoring period. The resident populations showed evidence of population growth and I recaptured eight of the original founders re-leased in 2006, three on Motuora and five on Tiritiri Matangi.

Overall, captive-bred Duvaucel’s geckos were comparable with their wild counter-parts and my research showed that they are equally suited for restoration projects. The results from my research have already been implemented in the most recent Duvaucel’s gecko translocation. In November 2016, Duvaucel’s geckos, sourced exclusively from captivity, were released at Tawharanui Open Sanctuary.

This translocation re-introduced Duvau-cel’s geckos back onto mainland New Zea-land after an absence of more than a century. The knowledge learned about their habitat use and post-release behaviours during my research also influenced the selection of the release sites and the release strategy used at Tawharanui.

Throughout my fieldwork, I took the op-portunity to explore as much of Motuora and Tiritiri Matangi as I could and was fortunate enough to encounter many native species, some of which I had never seen before, such as tuatara, kokako, rifleman and wetapunga.

Vivienne Glenday’s Master’s thesis was completed for Massey University and supervised by Dr Manuela Barry ([email protected]).

Captive-bred geckos thrive in the wildMassey University Master's student Vivienne Glenday followed the release of captive-bred Duvaucel's geckos on Tiritiri and Motuora and found they do every bit as well as their wild cousins.

LOOKING GOOD: (from left) a Duvaucel's gecko with a transmitter relaxes on a flax leaf; researcher Vivienne Glenday measures a gecko. Photos / Vivienne Glenday, Alaine Holdom.


Warren Brewer takes a close look at four of the new plants introduced to the Island last year under the Biodiversity Plan and finds an interesting mix of the prickly and the welcoming, the tasty and the beautiful.

In late July 2016 several new native plant species were planted on Tiritiri Matangi as part of the programme to increase our bush’s biodiversity.

The following four species, two trees and two prickly climbers, have survived their first cool windy spring and very dry early summer and now look to have a future presence on the Island.

Kotukutuku (Fuchsia excorticata), also known as tree fuchsia, is considered to be the world’s largest fuchsia. In damp forest it can reach over 12m tall and form a trunk up to 1m in diameter.

The tree’s bark is orange-brown, loose and papery, earning the species’ name excorticata, or ‘with peeling bark’.

It is described as one of New Zealand’s few deciduous native trees, losing its leaves in winter in all but the warmest regions.

Kotukutuku begins flowering in late winter. Many small pendulous flowers appear along twigs, bare branches and the trunk.The flowers are green and purple at first and change to red after pollination.

Nectar feeders like tui, bellbirds and hihi pollinate the flowers while feeding. The pollen from the flowers is blue, a colour which is unusual for plants.

The fruit, which ripens in midsummer, is lozenge-shaped and dark purple in colour.Known as konini, the ripe berries are an important food for many birds. The berries were also eaten raw by Maori and are said to be delicious and tasting like tamarillo. Early settlers made a jam out of them.

The genus Fuchsia contains about 100 species, the majority of them native to Central and South America. New Zealand has three endemic species and Tahiti has one.

Fuchsia honours Leonhart Fuchs (1501-1566), a German professor of medicine who is regarded as one of the founding fathers of botany.

Putaputaweta (Carpodetus serratus) forms a small tree about 10m tall with a trunk 20cm or more in diameter.

Its smallish round or oval leaves are distinctively mottled, giving rise to the common name, marble leaf. The leaf margins are finely toothed (serratus means ‘with a saw-

like edge’).Putaputaweta has a juvenile stage with a

divaricating growth form. Pretty small white flowers appear in

branching clusters in late spring and fruit forms in midsummer to autumn. The small fruits are fleshy and globe-shaped, ripening to a black colour.

They have a distinct ridge around their middle showing where the sepals and petals of the flower were attached. The fruits contain many small seeds. Carpodetus means ‘seeds bound together’.

The trunks of mature putaputaweta trees are often riddled with the burrows formed by the caterpillar stage of the puriri moth Aenetus viriscens. These holes are often occupied by tree wetas after the moth larvae have left. Putaputaweta means ‘full of wetas’.

The genus Carpodetus has one endemic species in New Zealand, with other species in New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

The two prickly climbers both belong in the genus Rubus.

Bush lawyer (Rubus cissoides) can become a lofty climber, using its backwardly curving hooks, which are on the undersides of leaf stems and midribs, to attach to nearby trees.Bush lawyer stems may be about 10cm

THE WETA TREE: Putaputaweta – shown at left with flowers and at right with fruit – is very attractive to insects such as weta and puriri moth caterpillars. Photos / Warren Brewer

Flora Notes

Introducing four of Tiritiri's fascinating new plants

The trunks of putaputaweta are often riddled with burrows formed by the

caterpillar stage of the puriri moth. These holes are often occupied by tree wetas . . .

Putaputaweta means ‘full of wetas’.


in diameter and can climb up to 15m.Australasian and tropical species of Rubus are climbers.

Northern Hemisphere species such as blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) are shrubs or scramblers in open habitats.

New Zealand has five endemic species of Rubus. They are all dioecious with separate male and female plants. The female plants bear edible berries which are sought after by birds but have an insipid taste when compared to blackberry fruit.

The blackberry plant is bisexual, with larger white-petalled flowers which have functional male and female parts.

Swamp lawyer (Rubus australis) is our second prickly climber. It is found mainly in swamp forest. It has thinner stems than bush lawyer, is more prickly and climbs to about 10m. It has a juvenile phase with leaves resembling those of putaputaweta.

Maori call both vines ‘tataramoa’, which means ‘a heap of prickles’. Rubus is Latin for ‘a bramble’. Cissoides means ‘ivy-like’. Fruticosus means ‘bushy’.

The genus Rubus belongs in the large rose family, Rosaceae, which contains many popular edible plants such as apples, pears, quinces, plums, cherries, peaches and strawberries.

WELCOME NEWCOMERS: (clockwise, from top left) bush lawyer starts to establish itself on the Island; the hooked prickles which give bush lawyer its fearsome reputation; new swamp lawyer shoots spread across the leaf litter; a healthy young kotukutuku.

Photos / Warren Brewer, Phil Bendle


How does SoTM actually work?

When our illustrious editor observed that we rarely (if ever) mention the backroom work done by the SoTM Committee and sub-committees and suggested that I write an article about it, alarm bells rang. This seemed like the ultimate hospital pass, as making this topic seem vaguely interesting sounded like an impossible task. I had to acknowledge, though, that he was probably correct and that few members would be aware of the work that goes on in the background to keep things ticking over.

So here goes. I will start with the governance of the society before going on to describe some of the actual work being carried out.

The society is governed by our constitution known as the Compiled Rules of Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi (Incorporated). This is a legal document and binds us to a specific course of action. Any activity outside the scope of these rules requires that the constitution be changed at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting which can be called as required.

Chairman, treasurer, secretary and ordinary members are elected at each AGM. Then the work begins, which means that, in reality, SoTM members are the bosses.

Back around 2003, it was found that the society had developed to a stage where there was just too much work involved in

managing its activities for the Committee to cope, so a number of subcommittees were formed. It was decided that Infrastructure, Biodiversity and Visitor Experience were the three main activity groupings and later Employment was added. Recently we have added the Special Projects Subcommittee to deal with nominated large, complex projects.

We prefer a member of the main Committee to chair each of these groups, and encourage all members of the main Committee to belong to at least one subcommittee. The rest of the subcommittee members are seconded on according to their skills and interests but must be approved by the main Committee when first joining and reconfirmed annually.

But wait – there’s more! We have many other specialist groups covering topics such as education advisory, membership, finance, archiving, editing Dawn Chorus, managing the website, etc, where we usually ask for volunteers as required. As if this was not enough we also have permanent guiding and educator roles to fill and manage as well as contracts for funding, weeding, wildlife monitoring and translocations and infrastructure work. So, as you can see, the back office is fairly busy.

The main Committee meets eight times per year at the Community Centre in Parnell while the subcommittees meet at various

venues (including private homes and the odd pub) and produce reports prior to these main meetings. The subcommittees have a reasonable amount of autonomy but decisions of significance (including spending) must be ratified by the main Committee.

If you have taken in what I have been saying, by now you may be asking ‘What do all these group do?’ Well, lots of stuff actually.

Biodiversity is responsible for the management and monitoring of flora and fauna on the Island. This means strategic planning to maintain and improve biodiversity, conducting and commissioning research, overseeing translocations, and liaising with DOC and other conservation bodies on a range of matters including permit applications and biosecurity.

Infrastructure manages and maintains the guiding tracks and vehicles, does much of the roading work, purchases and maintains assets, arranges barges and transportation of materials, liaises with DOC on health and safety and other matters, arranges working weekends, manages the maritime heritage work and lots more beside.

Inspiration and Engagement (formerly known as Visitor Experience) manages the Visitor Centre, marketing and communications and Island signage. It also oversees the shop, education, guiding activities, event arrangement and generally

From time to time a few readers of Dawn Chorus have commented that they don’t really know how the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi works. In a bid to provide an answer, chair Brian Chandler has written this overview of the Supporters’ structure. The plan is for chairs of the various subcommittees to outline their areas of responsibility in subsequent articles.

RECENT CHAIRS OF SoTM: (from left) Peter Lee, Simon Fordham, Brian Chandler (current chair) and John Stewart at a recent working day on the Island.


makes sure that our visitors have a fun and educational time on the Island.

Special Projects is currently managing the design and resource consents for the planned new accommodation/field centre, lighthouse museum and signal mast, which involves much liaison with, and complex submissions to, DOC, Iwi, Auckland Council, Heritage NZ and so on.

Employment is responsible for the appointment of permanent staff and their career and performance management.

The Education Advisory Group helps to develop and oversee our education strategy and provides input to the programme.

This leaves the main Committee with overall responsibility for overseeing and ensuring adequate funding for all the above, plus carrying out a host of more general tasks such as managing both formal and informal relationships with DOC and other partners including iwi, 360 Discovery, Auckland Council, other conservation groups, etc.

With DOC this involves quarterly management meetings, monthly operational meetings, maintenance of formal agreements and concessions, memorandums of understanding, health and safety plans, etc. We are also part of the DOC process for making key Island decisions such as ranger appointments, ferry concessions and conservation strategy.

Finally, as with any organisation, we have to ensure our own future. The development and management of a long term strategy is key to this as we mature and are confronted by ongoing changes to the environment in which we operate. Equally importantly, the Committee must vigilantly ensure that all legal, statutory, financial and ethical

commitments are met and that we continue to fulfil our constitutional remit.

Believe it or not, this is a very abridged version of what goes on behind the scenes, but further information might breach OSH guidelines for mental health safety. So if you would like to know more about any aspect of the governance process I suggest that you

EARLY DAYS: (from left) Mel Galbraith (fourth chair), Jim Battersby (founding chair), unknown, Jim Henry (DOC liaison with Tiritiri for many years), Dell Hood (third chair) and Ray Walter. Photo / Anne Rimmer

could talk to a Committee member.As well as chairing the main Committee

I am chair of Employment, Special Projects and nominally the Education Advisory Group, Helen Bucksey is chair of Inspiration and Engagement, Carl Hayson is chair of Infrastructure and Kay Milton is chair of Biodiversity.

When you reach a Certain Age you find it’s a time of looking back and looking forward. As part of that process I have recently updated my will after 10 years.

Things have changed a great deal for me since I previously made a will.

I now have new interests and hobbies, and the time to devote to them. Tiritiri has become an abiding joy for me, as I know it is for many others.

I love the ferry trip and the Island. The scientific work is stimulating and inspiring. The volunteers and staff on Tiritiri are wonderful. Every time I guide, the visitors help me see the treasures of the Island anew. Tiritiri is a place of inspiration and hope.

So, when it came to drafting my will, Tiritiri was on the top of my list of causes that I wanted to support.

I have specified that my bequest should be used to support the Growing

Minds programme, since, as a teacher, I take great delight when guiding these groups.

I’m delighted that SoTM are streamlining the bequest process, and I hope that others may wish to consider remembering Tiritiri in their will.

I have emphasized to the Committee that the amount that I will eventually be donating is not huge. But, hey, it’s the thought that counts! And if there are lots of small sums, they will all add up to a bigger contribution to the development and maintenance of this little slice of heaven.

For more information on how to make a bequest to SOTM either talk to your lawyer or contact chair Brian Chandler or Fundraising Coordinator Vincent Maire.

See page 15 of Dawn Chorus for details.

Have you thought about making a bequest to SoTM?

Tiritiri Matangi guide Vicki Bass explains why she has decided to leave something in her will to support the ongoing work of SoTM.


Hello there! My name is Turutu, I’m a takahē living on the beautiful Tiritiri Matangi Island. Us, takahē, are very colourful: we have a bright red beak, a blue head, turquoise chest, and an olive green back! I’m looking pretty plain right now, so please colour me in! Use my normal colours, or be creative!

Do you know your takahē trivia? Fill in the blanks using the words listed below:

Fly, Fiordland, Critically Endangered, Extinct, Pukeko

We, the takahē, are very rare, unique, and special birds!

We were once through to be ________________, until we were rediscovered in 1948, high up in

the mountains of __________________. Even though humans have worked hard to protect us,

we are still ________________________ _______________________. Although we are very different;

because of our colouring, we’ve been told we look like a chubby version of this common

bird called the ___________________. Unlike them, our wings are small and stubby, therefore

we cannot ________________.

I’m a baby takahē!Do you know what colour we are?

Hello there. My name is Turutu and I'm a takahe living on the beautiful Tiritiri Matangi Island. Us takahe are very colourful. We have a bright red beak, blue head, turquoise chest and an olive-green back. I'm looking pretty plain right now so please colour me in. Use my normal colours or be creative.

I'm a baby takahe.Do you know what colour we are?

Do you know your takahe trivia? Fill in the blanks using the words listed below:

fly, Fiordland, critically endangered, extinct, pukeko.

We takahe are very rare, unique and special birds!

We were once thought to be __________________ until we were rediscovered in 1948,

high up in the mountains of ________________. Even though humans have worked

hard to protect us we are still _____________ _____________. Although we are very

different because of our size and colouring, we've been told we look like a chubby

version of a common bird called the _________________. Unlike them, our wings are

small and stubby so we cannot _________________.


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 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. For senior students the Sustainability (EFS) Achievement Standards are available on the NZQA website. There is huge potential in that these standards relate directly to Tiritiri 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, photography and art workshops. Tertiary students have

Supporters of Tiritiri MatangiDawn 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 our Island-based gift shop.For further information see www.tiritirimatangi.org.nzor contact P O Box 90-814 Victoria St West, Auckland

SoTM CommitteeChairperson: Brian [email protected] 832 983 Secretary: Gloria [email protected]: Kevin VaughanCommittee: Helen Bucksey, Hester Cooper, Simon Fordham, Barry Fraser, Chris Hannent, Carl Hayson, Peter Lee, Kay Milton, Ray Walter

Guiding and shop manager: Mary-Ann [email protected] 476 0010

Membership: Annette and Malcolm de [email protected] 817 9964

Educator: Barbara [email protected] educator: Liz Maire

Fundraiser: Vincent [email protected]

Dawn Chorus editor: Jim [email protected] 445 2444

Island rangers: Kata Tamaki and Vonny [email protected] 476 0920

the opportunity to learn about the history of Tiritiri and tools of conservation as well as to familiarise themselves with population genetics, evolution and speciation. Groups wishing to visit should go to www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz/schoolvisits.htm or contact [email protected]. Bookings are essential.

Overnight visits: Camping is not permitted but there is limited bunkhouse accommodation. 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.

Supporters’ discount: Volunteers who are undertaking official SoTM work can obtain accommodation free but this must be booked through the Guiding and Shop Manager at [email protected] or 09 476 0010. SoTM members visiting privately can get a discounted rate by booking through DOC's Warkworth Area Office 09 425 7812.

Coming Events1 June-31 August

Discounted ferry rates for Supporters. To book a trip phone 360 Discovery (09 307 8005) and have your membership number

handy (it's on the label of your Dawn Chorus magazine).

3-5 JuneQueen's Birthday Working Weekend.

15-16 JulySupporters' Hosted Weekend.

2-3 SeptemberSupporters' Hosted Weekend.

18 SeptemberAnnual General Meeting, 7.30pm, Mt Eden Village Centre, 449 Mt Eden Road, corner of Mt Eden Road and Ngauruhoe Street,

Mt Eden. Guest speaker to be advised nearer the time. Check the website for details.30 September and 7 October

5am, Dawn Chorus sailings, from Gulf Harbour only.

21-23 OctoberLabour Weekend Working Weekend.

30 October Evening talk. Guest speaker to be announced.

Check the website for details.

4 DecemberEvening talk. Guest speaker to be announced.

Check the website for details.

Supporters' Hosted Weekends are led by guides who show off the Island's special places. Reduced price on the ferry

and half price in the bunkhouse. Children welcome. Working Weekends are a chance for members to give the Island a

hand. Travel is free, as is accommodation in the bunkhouse. Book through [email protected]

Visiting Tiritiri Matangi for education or recreation

Hello there! My name is Turutu, I’m a takahē living on the beautiful Tiritiri Matangi Island. Us, takahē, are very colourful: we have a bright red beak, a blue head, turquoise chest, and an olive green back! I’m looking pretty plain right now, so please colour me in! Use my normal colours, or be creative!

Do you know your takahē trivia? Fill in the blanks using the words listed below:

Fly, Fiordland, Critically Endangered, Extinct, Pukeko

We, the takahē, are very rare, unique, and special birds!

We were once through to be ________________, until we were rediscovered in 1948, high up in

the mountains of __________________. Even though humans have worked hard to protect us,

we are still ________________________ _______________________. Although we are very different;

because of our colouring, we’ve been told we look like a chubby version of this common

bird called the ___________________. Unlike them, our wings are small and stubby, therefore

we cannot ________________.

I’m a baby takahē!Do you know what colour we are?

For more information see www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz ring 09 476 0010 or email

[email protected]

Just arrived in the shop on TiritiriMake your feet picturesque

They may look like pictures of kiwi, whales and paua. But in fact they're comfy

Pawshotz unisex socks. Only $10 a pair. Keep your hands cosy this winter in Merino Mittens.

$32 a pair.

Just out, a superb new edition of this classic book on the origins

of New Zealand's unique wildlife, incorporating the latest scientific

discoveries. $59.99.

Scary but fun

These creepy, crawly spiders, weta, bees, moths and butterflies come as flatpacks which are easy to post, fun to assemble and make great decorations. $16.

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