Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration Society

TRACK CLEARING IN PUREORA

A huge thank you to our track clearers who have been hard at work maintaining bait lines in Okahukura Pureora.

Over two weekends in August and September, 19 volunteers carried out 492 volunteer hours of track clearing.

Tracking cards were also placed out over these weekends. During this time, volunteers also improved the marking along rat monitoring lines.

On 3 lines monitored, there was a rat index of 59% pre-baiting. Last years pre-baiting check for the same lines was lower, at 33%. There were lots of wētā prints picked up at 69% and 23% had mice.

Last week, a handful of volunteers attended two mistletoe seed sowing sessions held around the Kaniwhaniwha Reserve and Pirongia Forest Park Lodge.

Once Tupeia fruit was ripe at Lake Titikapu, DOC collected the seed to be sown on Mount Pirongia. This species, along with the green mistletoe would’ve once been a plentiful food source for wildlife on Mount Pirongia. Due to heavy browsing by possums in particular, the plants became locally extinct. Given the success of predator control by the Pironga… translocations are underway and in their second year.

Sowing the seed involves removing the seed exocarp to reveal a sticky seed which is placed in the nodes of a select few species of host trees.

If you are interested in helping out with the mistletoe operations, this is the perfect activity for volunteers of all fitness levels. Email Cara Hansen on [email protected]

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Volunteers are needed for the O’Shea road baiting on tomorrow, the 7th of September.

Start time is 08:00am at the end of O'Shea Road.
Please bring a raincoat, overnight pack for bait and water and snacks for the trip.

Refreshments will be provided on return from bait lines!

Kiingitanga (tohatoha)
𝘏𝘦 𝘒𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘪 𝘏𝘰𝘶 Rangatira from across the motu have today chosen 𝘕𝘨𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘪 𝘏𝘰𝘯𝘰 𝘪 𝘵𝘦 𝘱𝘰 as their Queen, the eighth Maaori monarch and successor to Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII.

The new monarch was raised up in a ceremony known as
Te Whakawahinga, in front of thousands of people gathered for the tangihanga of Kiingi Tuheitia.

After the Karakia Whakawahinga, Tumuaki Hone Taamihana placed a bible on the head of Nga Wai Hono i te Po, using the same bible that Tumuaki Wiremu Taamihana used to raise up the first Maaori King Pootatau Te Wherowhero in 1858.

Archbishop Don Tamihere said a karakia and used sacred oils to bestow prestige, sacredness, power and spiritual essence upon Kuini Nga Wai Hono i te Po.

Te Whakawahinga was followed by a funeral service for Kiingi Tuheitia after which he was carried by waka to the sacred Tainui burial ground of Taupiri maunga.

Tekau-Maa-Rua Chairman Che Wilson says Te Whakawahinga is an important ceremony dating back for eight generations to Pootatau Te Wherowhero.

“We follow the tikanga of our ancestors who created
the Kiingitanga to unify and uplift our people and we
have chosen Nga Wai Hono i te Po as our new Monarch.”

🖤 HE PAANUI WHAKAHIRAHIRA🖤
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS FOR TE WHAKAWAHINGA AND
TANGIHANGA AT TUURANGAWAEWAE MARAE
5th SEPTEMBER 2024

The Kiingitanga has confirmed the official proceedings for Te Whakawahinga (raising up) ceremony for the successor and the funeral service of Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, on Thursday 5th September 2024.

Proceedings will begin at Turangawaewae Marae at 10.00am when Tekau-maa-rua (the Kiingitanga advisory council) usher the new Maaori monarch to the throne. This will be followed by the Karakia Whakawahinga.

Tumuaki Hone Taamihana will then place a bible on the head of the Monarch, using the same bible that Tumuaki Wiremu Taamihana used to raise up the first Maaori King Pootatau Te
Wherowhero in 1858.

Archbishop Don Tamihere will say a Karakia to bless the new Monarch with sacred oils. Te Whakawahinga will be followed by the funeral service for Kiingi Tuheitia after which he will be taken from Turangawaewae Marae to the banks of the tupuna awa, Waikato River, where he will be guided by a guard of honour of Ngaati Maahanga and the New Zealand
Defence Force.

A fleet of four waka – Taatahi Ora, Waikura, Taakitumu and Te Tiimatanga – will take Kiingi Tuheitia to his final resting place of Taupiri Maunga. He will be met there by members of the Turangawaewae and Taniwharau rugby league clubs, and rope handlers from Raungaiti Rugby Club who will carry Kiingi Tuheita to the summit of Taupiri Maunga.

Following the interment, the funeral procession will return to Turangawaewae Marae where Tekau-maa-rua will lead Whare Ariki (Members of the Royal House) onto the marae, followed by a haakari (feast) to conclude the tangihanga.

There will be a no-fly zone over Taupiri Maunga and the Waikato River will be closed between Pukete and Huntly boat ramps during the ceremony.

💙

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DEATH OF THE MAAORI KING
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has died peacefully this morning, accompanied by his wife Makau Ariki and their children Whatumoana, Korotangi, and Ngawai Hono I Te Po.
Kiingitanga Spokesman Rahui Papa says Te Kiingi had been in hospital recovering from heart surgery, just days after celebrating the 18th anniversary of his coronation.
"The death of Kiingi Tuheitia is a moment of great sadness for followers of Te Kiingitanga, Maaoridom and the entire nation."
He kura kua ngaro ki tua o Rangi-whakamoe-ariki. Moe mai raa (A chief who has passed to the great beyond. Rest in love)

Oo torohanga Kiwi House
Annual General Meeting
29 o Akuhata 2024

TUPEIA ANTARTICA TRANSLOCATION

The fruit of mistletoe species, Tupeia antarctica, is now ripe at Rotorua and ready to collect for another round of translocation to Pirongia maunga.

The Department of Conservation and Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration Society are planning to sow the mistletoe seed in host trees at two sites this Sunday the 1st September. Seeds will be sown at the Pirongia Forest Park Lodge between 9.30-11.30am and Kaniwhaniwha campground between 12.30-2.30pm

Please email [email protected] if you are available to attend either the morning, afternoon, or both for further details.

Below is a photo of the Ileostylus micranthus mistletoe seed sown in April that has now germinated!

BUTTERFLIES ON PIRONGIA

Did you know that Pirongia Maunga is home to native butterfly species?

The Forest Ringlet Butterfly (Dodonidia helmsii), has been found on Pirongia by research surveyors. These butterflies lay their eggs on Gahnia and Chionochloa sedge species and fly at height, above the shrub line. This species is at serious risk of extinction and is thought to be predated on by introduced wasps.

Pirongia is also home to kahukura, or New Zealand Red Admiral (Vanessa gonerilla). The native stinging nettle, Ongaonga (Urtica ferox), is the primary host plant for Kahukura. This plant has been threatened by removal, being commonly viewed as a w**d.

Since the 1900s, Red Admirals have reportedly disappeared from Auckland. The Moths and Butterflies of NZ Trust is looking for Ongaonga plants on private land in Pirongia and surrounding areas for a potential translocation. If you know of any plants, or have any on your land, please get in touch with [email protected] to help this project.



Photos
1: Moths and Butterflies of NZ Trust (non-Pirongia Butterfly)
2-4: Halle Aish (Pirongia Butterflies)

UPCOMING DATES - OKAHUKURA

It’s a busy month at Okahukura, Pureora with the Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration Society at the moment. There are a few upcoming dates for which volunteers are needed to get pest control operations off the ground preceding the nesting season.

This week, 19 – 22 August, bagging of the rat bait is being undertaken in Rukuhia for bait placements in early September. Over the weekend of the 29 Aug – 1 Sept, volunteers will help to clear bait lines for the first bait placements over the weekend of the 7 – 8 September. This weekend will be a big push. Volunteers are needed to fill bait stations over an area of 1000 hectares in Okahukura.

A new sign about our Kokako restoration project has also been erected at the entrance to Okahukura Valley which explains our rat control project to hunters using the area. A big thanks to Harvey and Dianne for organising this.

Contact Selwyn or Dianne if you’re keen to attend any of these dates. Any help is welcome, we’ll look after you and team you up with experienced volunteers. [email protected] or [email protected]

Photos: Selwyn June

Ruru / Morepork

A great local event to learn all about New Zealand's wonderful wetland bird, the matuku-hūrepo, held by the Love Bittern project.

The New Zealand Bittern was once thought to be extinct due to its cryptic nature. Today, there are estimated to be less than 1000 individuals left.

PUREORA MAINTENANCE

A small team, led by Selwyn June, have spent 3 days in Pureora doing track clearing.

More track clearing with the rat monitoring are planned for the end of the month over 4-5 days. Accommodation will be at the fire station in Pureora village.

If you are interested in attending, contact either Dianne or Selwyn June at [email protected] and [email protected] for more details.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

This a reminder that this coming Thursday 8th August will be our AGM.

This will be held at the chapel in Crozier St, Pirongia and starts at 7.30pm and a light supper and refreshments will be provided afterwards.

The minutes of last year’s meeting and the agenda have already been circulated, but can be forwarded again if those intending to be present have not yet seen them.
Nau mai haere mai. All welcome.

TRACK MAINTENANCE WEEKEND

Pirongia Te is carrying out track maintenance in the Okahukura kōkako project are in the Pureora Forest Park this weekend, from Friday the 2nd to Sunday 3rd of August.

Volunteers are needed to help with this mahi. Work will include walking along bait lines and clearing vegetation that obscures line of sight to the next markers and removing branches that people could trip over and marking around windfalls.

The Society will provide safety gear, but volunteers will need to have suitable boots and clothes for the bush. Bringing loppers, handsaws and secateurs would also be helpful. The Fire station at Pureora Village will be provided for accommodation and volunteers will travel into the valley each day.

Contact Selwyn June if you’re interested in helping out on 0274 978151

📷: Biodiversity in Okahukura, Halle Aish

It’s Biosecurity week!

This year’s Biosecurity Week, run by the New Zealand Biosecurity Institute is themed 'Maintaining the Gains - Puritia te Aronga’

Mammalian pest control is a huge part of biosecurity in NZ. Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration Society's pest control operations include mustelid trapping and rat baiting.

Trap lines are regularly checked and maintained by a group of committed volunteers. With plans for expansion in the near future, we are looking for more volunteers to commit to monthly trap checks on the mountain. If this interests you, get in touch with [email protected]. Full training will be given to new volunteers.

Our baiting grid covers 1030 ha on the eastern side of the mountain. We have community baiting days coming up in the next few months. If you’re keen to get involved, get in touch with [email protected]

📷: Brian Bowell

Annual General Meeting 2024

The Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration Society annual general meeting is being held next month on the 8th of August starting at 7:30pm.

This meeting will be held at the Pirongia Community Chapel on the corner of Crozier and Ross Street. Members of the society will be sent the minutes from the 2023 meeting and documents for this year’s meeting.

Volunteers, supporters and members are welcome!

UPCOMING BAITING DAYS ☠️

Baiting days within the pest management areas of Pirongia Maunga will involve filling bait stations with toxins throughout the autumn months. This is crucial time for protecting our native birds, reducing rat populations before the summer nesting period 🐀.

This mahi will involve volunteers trekking toxins along bait lines in the bush. Baiting days are currently scheduled for August 17th for Grey Road, August 24th for Sainsbury Road and the 7th of September for Corcoran Road and O'Shea Road. These dates will be weather-dependent ☀️.

Each day will begin at 8am, with volunteers being given bait lines ranging from easy to hard, for all fitness levels. Volunteers will be rewarded at the end with some light refreshments 🍰

If you are interested in attending a baiting day, contact Mike Pudney on [email protected] for more details, or to be added to the email list for future baiting operations.

KANIWHANIWHA CAMPGROUND PLANTING

A community planting day between Department of Conservation and Te Pahu landcare is being held on the 21st of July at Kaniwhaniwha reserve, Pirongia.

750 plants which will be put in around the Kaniwhaniwha campground and walkway, including 150 whauwhapaku (Pseudopanax arboreus) trees. Whauwhaupaku is a host species for Tupeia (Tupeia antarctica), one of our endemic mistletoe species. Opperations are currently underway to establish a new population of Tupeia on Pirongia.

If you’re interested in attending the planting, email Cara Hansen at [email protected]

MISTLETOE GERMINATION

Green mistletoe (Ileostylus micranthus) seeds sown by volunteers are germinating at Kaniwhaniwha reserve.

Green mistletoe is one of New Zealand's endemic mistletoe species. These plants are hemiparasitic and grow on a selection of native trees. Browsing by possums is the main threat this species faces, resulting in their at risk / declining conservation status.

Green mistletoe is now being reintroduced to Pirongia maunga from seeds collected at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, after becoming locally extinct on the mountain. Mistletoe seeds have a very low germination rate of less than 5%, so we are excited to see some promising results in this area.

📷: Zoe Loader



If you are interested in helping with mistletoe monitoring and sowing projects, contact Cara Hansen on [email protected].

PLANTING AT POKURU

On the 8th of June, Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration Society volunteers planted 1000 native seedlings in two gullies on Riverside Farm, Pokuru. This planting is part of a corridor linking Kakepuku with Pirongia maunga. Neighbouring farms are also planting up substantial areas for this project.

A total of 18 volunteers smashed out the planting in 3 hours, with a special thanks to helpers from Kiwibank Te Awamutu. This mahi also doubled as a fundraiser for the Society’s operations. Trees were supplied by Trees That Count.

WHANGAMARINO PLANTINGS

After several weekends at Whangamarinpo swamp, the planting for this year is finally finished, with 8136 plants planted and $9954 raised for the society. A total of 51 volunteers gave up their time and put in the mahi to make this possible, over 3 weekends and 5 days of planting.

The Whangamarino project involves planting monocot plants, in particular Carex sedges and Ti Kouka, to help stop the spread of the Cascuta. Cascuta is a highly invasive w**d which parasitises and kills its host plant by sucking the nutrients out. It isd toxic to stock. This w**d is unable to parasitise monocots, so the idea is to form a barrier between the swamp and farmland.

A very special thank you to our amazing team leaders, Dianne and Selwyn June who led and organised these plantings, and to Amanda Collins who took over for them for the April 13th planting. A huge thanks to the DoC Te Rapa team for making this fundraising opportunity possible.

FUNDRAISING PLANTING THIS WEEKEND

Volunteers are needed to help plant 3000 plants around the Whangamarino swamp this weekend on the 18th and 19th of May.

The plantings will be held at 406 Island Block Rd, Meremere from 9am, finishing up around 2.30-3.30.

Volunteers should bring along lunch, a water bottle and an extra pair of shoes to wear in the cascuta contaminated area. Bringing a deckchair, hat, gloves and cup for a hot drink are also suggested.

Friends and whanau all welcome. Home baking will be provided.
Car pooling may be an option for potential planters too.

Contact Dianne June on [email protected]

PUREORA HUNTING COMPETITION 2024

The DoC Pureora Hunting Competition has been held annually since 1988. This year, volunteers from the Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration Society set up a display for the pest control work protecting Kookako in Okahukura, encouraging some keen hunters to sign up to help out with rat baiting.

For the competition, hunters bring in tails and antlers and prizes are awarded for the best heads. This year, women took out the top three spots for the deer category.

At the same event, kiwi aversion trainer W***y Marsh put through more than 20 dogs through the training sponsored by the Ōtorohanga Kiwi House.