"Guardians of the Kiwi Bird"
The kiwi, a native of Aotearoa New Zealand, is a fascinating creature known as te manu huna a Tāne - the hidden bird of Tāne. This elusive bird has always been under the protection of Tāne Mahuta, the god of the forest. Today, various guardians ensure their protection, like the bold Lake Waikaremoana Hapū Restoration Trust.
One of their remarkable achievements was the creation of an inland island on the Puketukutuku Peninsula, a beautiful 750-hectare area surrounded by water on three sides. This island serves as a sanctuary, keeping kiwi chicks inside while keeping pests at bay. The fence around the peninsula is electrified to deter animals like pigs and deer.
The Lake Waikaremoana Hapū Restoration Trust has primarily focused on controlling predators, particularly stoats, to increase the kiwi population. They've been meticulously setting traps since 1995, and their efforts have paid off spectacularly. Within a 10-year period, they've seen a 56% survival rate among brown kiwi chicks—a significant improvement compared to the surrounding bush area with no trapping, where survival rates are a mere 10%. With these efforts, the Trust estimated that the Puketukutuku Peninsula now supports about 50 pairs of adult and 50 juvenile kiwi, a far cry from its initial population of 24.
In addition, the Trust formed another inland island on the Whareama Peninsula, moving surplus kiwi from the Puketukutuku Peninsula. This island, too, is fenced and secured to protect its kiwi population.
The Trust views its work as an intergenerational mission—one that requires the continued efforts of future generations to ensure the regeneration and prosperity of the kiwi, flora, and fauna of Lake Waikaremoana. This dedication reflects their kaitiakitanga and mana whakahaere, their staunch guardianship and connections to Te Urewera.
While specific details about the Lake Waikaremoana Hapū Restoration Trust's methods may be limited, the broader approach in the region includes predator control, community-led conservation efforts, and habitat preservation. The Trust likely collaborates with local Māori values and engaging with the community to achieve their conservation goals.
- By focusing on environmental science, specifically predator control and habitat preservation, the Lake Waikaremoana Hapū Restoration Trust has adopted a lifestyle that prioritizes the protection of the kiwi and other native flora and fauna in the home-and-garden-like environment of their sanctuaries.
- The lake's protected islands serve as microcosms of climate-change resilience, demonstrating the potential for environmental-science efforts to successfully balance the needs of native species and their habitats with the challenges of modern environmental changes.
