The Environment
In and around Maketū we are incredibly fortunate to have an amazing range of habitats and wildlife. From the unique Maketū and Pukehina sandspits (the only example of sandspits running in opposite directions either side of a point in New Zealand, and one of only two in Australasia), wetlands, sand dune systems, rivers and estuaries, this area is exceptionally diverse.
Because of this, Maketū is home to a wide array of wildlife. The area provides habitats for shorebirds, seabirds, reptiles and invertebrates. Many migratory birds visit here on their journeys such as spoonbills, wrybills and godwits. Maketū was the start and end point for the legendary E7, a bar-tailed godwit which was tracked flying over 29,000kms over 6 months and 3 flights.
Sadly the area is also home to introduced pests such as rats, stoats, weasels, hedgehogs, feral cats and possums. These animals, while relatively harmless in their native environments, wreak havoc in New Zealand. Many of our native birds are ground nesting, having never previously needed to defend themselves from mammalian predators, and are easy prey for these animals. MOWS work tirelessly to reduce the number of pest species and increase protection for the native birds which nest in the area.
Pest plants are also a major problem. They out compete our native species meaning that many New Zealand plants are disappearing from areas. The introduced pampas taking over from the native toetoe is a prime example. One of our main ongoing tasks is to fight the battle with weeds and invasive plants in our project areas.
You can learn more about our work here, as well as the services we offer.
See below for more information on the flora, fauna and pests of Maketū .
Habitats
The main types of ecosystem MOWS are concerned with in terms of restoration and conservation work are sand dunes and wetlands. These are extremely important habitats for a wide range of native species, as well as protecting the coastline from erosion, and the waterways from pollution.
Even here in clean green New Zealand, human impact on the environment is significant. Deforestation, building, pollution, introduction of invasive species, and conversion of land use to farming and agriculture has drastically changed our landscape and ecosystems.
Thankfully there are now many organisations and community groups carrying out vital ecological restoration and conservation work, and the attitude of the populations seems to be changing in favour of protecting our unique biodiversity.
Sand Dunes
Sand dunes are critically endangered ecosystems, supporting a wide variety of specialist native flora and fauna. They have declined significantly in the past century, partly due to coastal development and invasive plant species.
Dunes are nature’s flood defence system, allowing sand to be dragged out during a storm to create sandbars, which reduce the power of the waves hitting the beach. The sand is then gradually returned to the beach and the dunes build up again over time.
This process is negatively affected by the use of marram grass (Ammophilia arenaria) to stabilise dunes. This European grass creates a steep dune profile, causing storm waves to gouge out the front of the dune, leaving an almost vertical face which takes a long time to repair itself. It also creates a narrow beach, and leaves little area for nesting birds above the high tide line.
In contrast, native grasses such as spinifex (Spinifex sericeus) and pingao (Ficinia spiralis) result in a shallower gradient and allow dunes to rebuild in a shorter space of time. As this photo shows, the grasses do an amazing job of holding the dune together, even after a storm.
Wetlands
Wetlands are nature’s filters; sifting harmful substances from the water, as well as protecting against floods and erosion. They are especially important in areas where land has been heavily modified for farming and horticulture, as they filter out the sediment, nutrients and fecal contamination before it enters rivers or oceans.
Nutrient runoff from farms can sometimes be linked to algal blooms, some of which as toxic to humans and animals. Even those that aren’t can be detrimental to the environment in that they can literally choke the waterways, leaching the oxygen out of the water and creating ‘dead zones’. It can also clog up the gills of fish.
Wetlands provide habitat and food for many species, and recreational areas for activities such as fishing and tramping. The wetland areas around Maketu are home to a wide range of resident and migratory shorebirds and seabirds, as well as proving vital habitat for young fish such as inanga.
Much of the former wetland in the area was drained for use as grazing for stock, and is often flooded during storms as it is still very low lying. This, along with invasive plant species, have changed the ecology of the wetlands around Maketu, but we are working hard to increase our project areas and increase and protect wetland areas and the species that call it home.
Flora
New Zealands flora is unique, with 80% being endemic, meaning it is found nowhere else in the world. From the tiny mosses and fungi, to the towering kauri tree and iconic pohutakawa, the vegetation is as diverse as the habitats in which they are found.
As New Zealand has been a separate island for millions of years, species here are under threat from invasive flora such as gorse, blackberry, and convolvulus. Native plants are not equipped to compete against species such as these, and can easily become overrun. For instance, our native toi toi is out-competed by the South American equivalent, pampas. Without extensive weed control many of our native plant species would become extinct.
The dominant vegetation on the fore dunes is the native grasses spinifex (Spinifex sericeus), pingao (Ficinia spiralis) and sand tussock (Austrofestuca littoralis). These fore dune plants are well adapted to the dynamic environment, tolerating high temperatures, low moisture conditions, salt spray and burial by sand. These species are in good condition on Maketu Spit, Newdicks beach, and Dotterel Point as we have planted a large number, and use fencing to prevent people walking or driving over them, but invasive pest plant species and rabbits are always a threat. The back dune is dominated by wiwi (Juncus pallidus), and pohuehue (Muhlenbeckia complexa) which provides perfect habitat for shore skinks.
As well as these species, we also plant toi toi, coprosma, five-finger, and cabbage trees among others. We often use weed matting and covers, as well as weed control to give the young plants a chance to get going, and then, as they grow bigger, they begin to shade out many of the invasive weeds.
Pingao and spinifex doing what they do best, binding the sand and helping to build and support the dunes
Fauna
The areas within our BMP’s are populated by a wide range of species, both native and invasive. The wetlands are popular with resident and migratory shorebirds, and the dune systems provide fantastic habitat for native reptiles such as shore skinks, as well as many different invertebrate species.
Unfortunately, these areas are also home to pest mammals such as rats, stoats, and feral cats, which are devastating to ground nesting birds.
One of the main aims of our work is to provide a safe, natural environment in which native species can flourish, and to minimise the impact of pest animals through our eradication programmes.
Birds
The native flora of Maketu provides high-value breeding habitat for native birds, specifically the Northern New Zealand dotterel (Charidrius obscurus), variable oystercatcher (Haemantopus unicolor), red-billed gull (Larus scopulinus) and white-fronted tern (Sterna striata). Breeding success of birds such as the New Zealand dotterel has improved recently, which, combined with the presence of the rare black-billed gulls nesting on the spit, is a sign that pest control by MOWS volunteers is having a positive effect.
A wide variety of native and migrant birds also use the spit and associated mudflats for feeding and roosting, especially during the winter, including: bar-tailed godwits (Limosa lapponica), royal spoonbills (Platalea regia), wrybill (Anarhynchus frontalis) and the extremely rare and threatened fairy tern (Sterna nereis).
The Waihi Harbour WMR is an excellent place for bittern, with large areas of natural saltmarsh, an enclosed mainly freshwater wetland, streams and farm drains, all of which seem to be favoured by Matuku. We are fairly certain that they breed regularly in both parts of the reserve and we are working with DOC to develop a better protection and monitoring programme.
The breeding season for the majority of the shorebirds around Maketu is between August and March. Over this period we put fences around the nesting areas to help avoid disturbance. It is important to keep disruption to a minimum and to keep an eye out for nests while walking. Nests can be extremely inconspicuous, and chicks are often well camouflaged, so be aware of where you are putting your feet!
We are now in our tenth year of monitoring the shorebird populations, and the numbers recorded are encouraging. The numbers of most species have increased, which we hope is due to our pest control program, giving the best possible chance of survival. We carry our rodent control on Maketu Spit just prior to breeding season, laying out 160 bait stations.
Once cleared of pests we try not to disturb the birds, apart from the regular monitoring, which is done almost exclusively by walking around the perimeter. The species we are most interested in are the northern New Zealand Dotterel, red-billed gull, black-billed gull, variable oystercatcher and white-fronted tern.
The Amazing Journey of E7
It has long been known that Bar-tailed Godwits undertake incredible migrations from New Zealand to Alaska and back, but to find out more about this amazing journey, in 2007 several godwits at Miranda and Farewell Spit were fitted with radio trackers.
The journey of the bird known as ‘E7’ then became legend. The battery on the transmitter surpassed it’s expected lifespan, as was able to track the godwit on it’s whole voyage. From Miranda to Alaska she had a brief stop at Yalu Jiang Nature Reserve on the Yellow Sea. This was impressive enough, but it was the next leg that really got jaws dropping, with a non-stop eight days flight of 11 700kms back to New Zealand!
E7 has since chosen Maketu for her retirement, and has been seen at Dotterel Point, Pukehina.
Reptiles
Shore skinks (Oligosoma smithii) are a small native lizard found along shorelines. They can vary a lot in colour, being black, grey, brown, greenish, speckled or striped.
MOWS conduct regular surveys to estimate the population size and distribution within our project areas. Animals are collected in pitfall traps and details such as location, length, weight and health condition are taken as part of an ongoing project. All animals are released immediately after measurements are taken.
There appears to be an overall decrease in the number of skinks detected at all sites over time. Of particular concern is strong decline in the number of lizards being caught at Dotterel Point, with the lowest recorded number in February 2019. Possible causes for this long-term downward trend could be predation or change in vegetation. Following this result, Maketu-Ongatoro Wetland Society volunteers trapped Dotterel Point intensively and caught 13 hedgehogs in a short period of time.
We hope that our continued pest control program at all our sites will help to protect this species from predation, and allow their populations to recover and thrive.
Invertebrates
The dune systems have a high incidence of native invertebrates. Well over 150 species have been recorded, including five new or un-described species, notably a new spider and a new beetle. MOWS conduct surveys on a regular basis, using pitfall traps to collect specimens.
Marine Life
New Zealand is home to a wealth of marine life, and a wide variety of species are found in the waters around Maketu. There is a large population of New Zealand Fur Seals (Kekeño) as well as sharks, dolphins, whales, orca, stingrays and jellyfish.
Unfortunately, marine mammals are sometimes found stranded on the local beaches. If you find one, either alive or dead, please call DOC on 0800 362 468 or Project Jonah on 0800 494 253. Fur seals, especially pups, are often just resting, so make sure they are not disturbed or obstructed from getting back into the water. Keep dogs on leads and well away from any marine mammals.
Pests
New Zealand has amazingly unique ecology, with a large percentage of our flora and fauna being endemic, meaning that it is found nowhere else in the world.
80% of plants, 90% of insects, all of our reptiles, a quarter of our birds, and our only terrestrial mammals – bats – are found only in New Zealand.
Yet they are under threat, with a very real possibility of extinction for many species. Invasive plants and animals brought over by humans either on purpose or by accident, are causing serious harm to our indigenous wildlife. Native species are being consumed, killed, or out-competed for resources. Thankfully a huge effort is underway to tackle this problem, and ensure our native species are here for generations to come.
Pest Plants
At present the Maketu spit is one of the least modified dune systems in the Western Bay of Plenty. However, pest plants such as pampas, marram grass, gorse, radiata pine, boxthorn and tree lupin would, if left unchecked, change the nature and biology of the spit by smothering open sand areas desired by nesting birds, and providing coverage for mammalian predators. Habitat restoration is vital to ensure the continued survival of the spit for native biodiversity, and as an invaluable natural protection from storms and other natural events.
MOWS members help to control pest plants through hand weeding, herbicide use, using chainsaws and diggers to remove invasive trees and gorse, and re-planting native species.
Pest Animals
Introduced mammals and feral cats pose a major risk to the breeding success of native bird species, especially ground-nesting birds, as well as having a negative impact on reptiles and invertebrates. Black-backed gulls are a serious threat to dotterel eggs and chicks, being able to devastate a nest in a matter of seconds.
We control pest animals in our project areas using kill traps (DOC 200/250’s and Good Nature automatic traps), live cat traps, bait for possums, rats and rabbits, and tracking tunnels to see what species are present. We also have three pest proof fences on Maketu Spit to further protect the bird nesting area.
Human Impacts
Humans are really at the heart of all the pest problems in New Zealand, as we are responsible for the introduction of most of the pest species present in New Zealand today, as well as being a direct threat to native wildlife themselves.
Careless discarding of litter, chemicals and waste have a serious impact on the environment and our native flora and fauna. Fishing debris is a particular problem around Maketu, with birds regularly being found entangled in it, or having died from swallowing it. On one occasion, two variable oystercatchers were found tied to each other by fishing line. Luckily they were still alive, and were rescued by MOWS members and disentangled, allowing them a much better fate than if they had not been seen and caught.
Plastic Pollution
Plastic pollution is a very hot topic at the moment, especially with China closing it’s doors to recycling from the West. We now have an obligation to minimise our use of plastic as much as possible, and a good place to start is by doing away with plastic bags. With the Government announcing that New Zealand will gradually phase plastic bags out over the next year, it is time we all switched to reuseable bags. Small changes such as buying loose produce from bulk stores, and using paper rather than plastic bags for fruit and vegetables will make a big difference to the amount of plastic that ends up in landfill or, even worse, in the oceans and countryside.
By the simple act of taking responsibility for our rubbish, we can avoid a great deal of unnecessary harm.
