Projects
Environmental Programmes or EP’s (formally known as BMP’s) are five year ecological restoration and management plans that are carried out by conservation care groups or by landowners. They are developed with and funded by Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Western Bay District Council and the Department of Conservation, and at the end of five years they can be renewed.
We obtained our first EP for Maketū Spit in 2014 (at the time it was a called a Biodiversity Management Plan or BMP) and it is now into its second 5 year term.
We also have EPs covering Newdick’s Beach, Dotterel Point Pukehina, and Waihī Wetland. In partnership with Maketu Taiapure Trust we hold a 5th EP for Te Huauri o Te Kawa (previously known as the Borrow Pits or By de Ley Wetland).
Please CLICK HERE to view our annual BMP/EP reports up to 2016.
See below for more about information about each of our EPs.
Maketu Spit
Maketū Spit is 45 hectares of coastal duneland located at the mouth of Kaituna River. It is 3.5km long and is the most intact coastal dune ecosystem in the Tauranga Ecological District.
It is regionally significant as it has remained relatively unmodified, with indigenous flora species providing habitat for the diverse population of threatened native birds and invertebrates.
Maketū Spit, along with Dotterel Point in Pukehina, are the only example of sandspits running in opposite directions either side of a point in New Zealand, and one of only two in Australasia.
The Spit is crown land which is owned and administered by Western Bay of Plenty District Council as a Recreation Reserve. Works for our Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) are contained within the Recreation Reserve boundary.
There is an adjoining estuary habitat; the Maketū Wildlife Management Reserve, which is administered by the Department of Conservation and will benefit from the BMP. The Department of Conservation are supporting the BMP and MOWS by contributing towards ecological monitoring and pest control costs.
Ecological Restoration Work
The Biodiversity Management Plan aims to restore the ecological integrity of the spit as habitat for populations of threatened species, and maintain its important coastal ecosystem function.
The work on Maketū spit has three main focuses: first we run a year round pest control programme to protect the threatened northern New Zealand Dotterel, Charadrius obscurus, which breed at the eastern end of the spit. We monitor the breeding of this species and have recorded a significant increase in numbers to 15 pairs in 2016. We also run a pest plant control programme which focuses mainly on invasive grasses, and we are gradually removing the pine trees. Our third task is to maintain the dune system by planting native stabilising plants, spinifex and pingao, on the fore dune, and shrubs and trees on the back dune. This work will help to encourage the presence of native birds, invertebrates and skinks.
We have also removed much of the pampas, wattle and gorse along Ford Road, as well as tackling pampas, salt water paspalum and spartina on the sportsfield and along Maketū Road.
Our work on the Spit is now in its ninth year, and we are seeing real improvements. The removal of the causeways to Papahikahawai Island as part of the Kaituna rediversion project has been a great success in that it reduces the chance of pest animals coming across to the Spit. We are hopeful that we may be able to eradicate the worst pests on Papahikahawai and are working with BOPRC on this. We hope to work towards removing all pests from the Spit, the new wetland Te Pa Ika, and Papahikahawai. With upgrades to the Ford Rd causeway this has the potential to be the first pest free area in the Bay of Plenty, which is very exciting indeed!
Papahikahawai Island
The neighouring Papahikahawai Island in the estuary has recently been turned from farmland back into a nature reserve, and is becoming a haven for native wildlife. This is a joint project between the landowners, Regional Council, Ngā Whenua Rāhui, tangata whenua, and the local community.
A large amount of earthworks have been carried out such as the removal of the causeways connecting the island to the Spit, making Papahikhahwai officially an island again.
Allowing the tidal flow between the island the Spit again has reduced the algae in the water, and fish life is now returning.
The majority of the planting work has been carried out by local volunteers, and MOWS have been contracted to assist with work such as pest plant and animal control.
Kaituna River Diversion
Kaituna Cut was created in 1956, diverting the flow of water away from the river mouth in an effort to reduce flooding on the surrounding land. Since then, Tangata whenua and local residents have been concerned about the health of the estuary, and have been calling for a rediversion since 1979.
In 2009 work began on plans to increase the volume of water flowing from the Kaituna River into Ōngātoro/Maketū Estuary in order to improve the quality of the ecosystem. The re-diversion was designed to maximise the flow into the estuary while keeping Te Tumu cut open for flood protection and boating access.
The vision identified in the Strategy is: “to ensure that as a wider community our policies and plans, our activities and actions celebrate and honour Kaituna River and Ongatoro Maketū Estuary life as taonga – Whakanuia, whakamawawatia te mauri o te Kaituna me Ongatoro hei taonga.”
Work began in 2018, and was completed in 2020, restoring around 20 percent of the flow from Kaituna River into Maketū Estuary and recreating 20 hectares of estuarine wetland.
Follow this link to read more about the project and how the area has changed since the rediversion.
Dune Profile Monitoring
A sand spit is a very mobile landform, but there is concern that the gradual silting up of the harbour is helping to cause a high amount of erosion as the main channel is forced against the inside of the spit. This could have serious implications for the gull and shorebird colony at the distal end of the Spit.
MOWS have therefore joined with Bay of Plenty Regional Council to monitor this erosion at the narrowest point so that we can take remedial action should a breakthrough appear to be imminent. We assist BOPRC in carrying out dune profile monitoring four times a year to keep track of any erosion.
In early 2018 we also trialled the use of UAV (drone) technology in mapping each of our four BMP’s. We contracted Interpine to collected ariel orthomosaic data, as well as aerial footage. The data was then used to form a 3D map of each area which can then be used to calculate aspects such as the height of the dunes, and the total sand volume. This is amazing technology, and it will be exciting to see what the future of dune profiling looks like.
Newdicks Beach
Newdicks Beach is an area of coastal cliffs, dune land and beach located to the east of Okurei (Town Point), Maketu. The unique topography of the area means there are a variety of habitats within the coastal zone.
There is a range of native fauna found at Newdicks, one of the most popular being New Zealand fur seals which can nearly always be seen sunning themselves on rocks, or lazing around in the shallows.
Unfortunately, a high prevalence of pest plants and animals are impacting the area, so in March 2014 a group of locals, including Maketū Ōngātoro Wetland Society volunteers, made an Earth Hour pledge to start cleaning up Newdicks Beach.
With the support of BOPRC, WBOPDC, DOC and Landowners, the Newdicks Beach Biodiversity Management Plan launched in July 2015. Great progress has been made in the zones along Newdicks Beach such as:
- Upper car park: removal of gorse and replanting with mixed native trees, toi toi and flax which has improved the view down the beach.
- Lower car park: a fence was erected, and native plants such as Horokaka (native ice plant) used to anchor the soil and reduce erosion. This has helped to build a dune to protect the car park. Steps were set up to access the beach, the norfolk pines and a large palm tree were removed, pohutukawa and taupata have been planted, and a great deal of work has been done to protect the large pohutukawa tree which is being washed away by the sea.
- Cliff zone: invasive grasses are regularly sprayed, pine trees, pampass and gorse are being removed, and new native plantings have been completed. Sand binding dune plants such as pingao and spinifex have been planted along the base of the cliff zone to further protect from erosion.
- Dune zone: dune plants have been planted to help stabilise the dunes, invasive grasses sprayed, and there is a pest trapping program near the bird breeding sites.
Baseline monitoring of the ecology of these zones is carried out regularly so that we can study the effect of our work on native flora and fauna species such as shore skinks, dotterels, oystercatchers, and invertebrates.
Community Involvement
We run regular working bees at Newdicks which are always well attended by enthusiastic people willing to give up their time to restore their local beauty spot.
The beach is also frequented by the local schools, including as part of the MOWS education program. The tamariki help with important work such as planting native species, studying the fauna, and clearing up rubbish.
The beach is a favorite place for many of the local people, and a place of cultural significance, so it is vital that we preserve it for future generations.
Dotterel Point Pukehina
Dotterel Point lies to the east of Okurei (Town) Point at the eastern end of Pukehina, and together with Maketu Spit is the only example of sandspits running in opposite directions either side of a point in New Zealand, and one of only two in Australasia.
The sandspit is a fragile ecosystem, exposed to both currents and storm surge from the ocean, as well as the tidal movement of the estuary. The estuary is also prone to toxic algal blooms.
Dotterel Point Reserve is home to a wide range of species, and is a nesting habitat for many native shorebirds such as dotterels and oystercatchers.
In 2011, before the MV Rena disaster, Dotterel Point had only four pairs of dotterels, and very little breeding success. In 2012, after the disaster, one of our members, Ros Hunt, who had a bach in Pukehina, asked if we could help put up a fence around the dotterel nesting area at the end of the spit. We agreed and lent Ros some posts and tape as well as a few DOC signs. The first fence was pretty basic, but it did cut down some of the human and quad bike activity on the point, and allowed a little bit of vegetation to start growing, as well as proving more protection for the nesting birds. As a result in 2013, with support from Coast Care and a grant from the BOPRC Environmental Enhancement Fund, we decided to put up a more permanent fence.
Setting up the fence was quite a learning curve for all of us. We had the help of a PD gang who were very handy with a bit of machinery; in this case a post hole borer which is essential when you are setting up over 100 posts! The results looked good and the birds agreed, as on the whole they have been very well behaved, almost always nesting inside the fence! We have had to adjust the fence twice; in 2014 due to erosion on the inside, and then in 2015 after Cyclone Pam, which washed out nearly half the posts. In 2015 we also made a second fence at the foot of the dune.
The fence has allowed an impressive build up of sand inside, almost all of it without additional planting. This just goes to show the value of our two sand binding plants, spinifex and pingao, and also the effect of stopping vehicles crossing the area. On top of that the size of the dotterel population has doubled, with eight, possibly nine pairs breeding there, along with at least a dozen pairs of variable oystercatchers which is a great reward for everyones hard work!
In 2014 we started a Biodiversity Management Plan working with BOPRC, WBOPDC and DOC.
We carry out extensive weed control, and run an animal pest control programme, but there are surprisingly few of them there to remove. The one that is a bit of a problem is rabbits. They tend to reappear about 8 months after we remove them, so it is likely to be an ongoing problem.
We also monitor reptiles and invertebrates, and while this programme is in the early stages, we do know that we have a good population of shore skink there.
While helping and monitoring the dotterels and oystercatchers is a big part of the plan, we are spend the majority of our time working on the vegetation to get rid of invasive weeds, in particular ice plant, dimorphotheca, kikuyu and sea couch. We are also gradually removing the Norfolk pine trees growing in the reserve to return the area to a natural, native environment.
Waihi Harbour Wildlife Management Reserve
The reserve is home to Australasian Bittern, Banded Rail, Spotless Crake and Pied Stilt, all of which breed there, as do Australasian Shoveler and mallard. It is also frequented by the flock of Royal Spoonbill that are often seen the Maketu/Waihi harbours.
In October 2016 two rescued bittern were released into the reserve with radio transmitters attached so that MOWS volunteers and BOPRC staff could keep track of them. Unfortunately the male was hit by a car and killed, near Maketu the following year, but the female is still in the area and appears to be doing well. This is the first time that a bittern has been successfully released into the wild in New Zealand, and is a significant plus for DOC, MOWS and the community.
The reserve is regularly used as part of our education program, and students from the local schools have played a part in planting native species as part of the restoration project, as well as learning about the importance of maintaining areas of wetland such as these.
Little Waihi Estuary is prone to toxic algal blooms and high bacterial loads, which may be attributed to the loss of wetlands in the catchment. The area up stream has been heavily modified for farming and horticulture. There is a need to create more wetlands to filter out the sediment, nutrients and fecal contamination flowing in to the estuary.
This is a long term project, and each year the reserve will become that little bit better, and home to an increasing number of native species.
Te Huauri o Te Kawa Wetland
The Te Huauri o Te Kawa Wetland, formally known as the By de Ley Wetland, is an area near the mouth of the Kaituna river which is being managed to improve the spawning of whitebait species.
Originally named the Kaituna Borrow Pits, work was first carried out there in the 1950’s, excavating several pools as part of stop-bank creation on the Kaituna River Drainage Scheme.
The area was identified as an inanga spawning ground in 1990, despite the fact that it was infested with weeds, and grazed by dairy cows.
The Maketu Taiapure Trust took over management of the project in 2002 and extensive work has since taken place, with the area being expanded, new ponds added, and large scale planting of native species.
The wetland is now managed by MOWS and is one of our six Environmental Projects funded by Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
The project is a high priority biodiversity site, and surveys carried out there have shown that it provides vital spawning habitat for the at risk inanga as well as several other fish species.
Managed by MOWS Chairman Peter Ellery, work in the wetland is supported by Western Bay of Plenty District Council as well as the MOWS team and volunteers from The Maketu Taiapure Trust. The area requires a high level of maintenance with regular weed spraying, pest control, and planting.
It also provides an educational opportunity, with local schools often visiting to gain a better understanding of the importance of protecting inanga spawning habitat.
Inanga are the smallest and most common of the five whitebait species, the others being banded kokopu, koaro, shortjaw kokopu, and giant kokopu. Their decline in numbers is thought to be due to several reasons, with one of the most important being a reduction in suitable spawning areas of swamps and wetlands due to drainage.
Inanga spawn in the vegetation of stream and river banks during spring high tides. The eggs then stay above the high tide mark until the next spring tide when they are hatch and are washed out to sea. They return and use the same spawning sites year after year, making it even more important to continue to protect areas such as the Te Huauri o Te Kawa Wetland.
Inanga are also under pressure from predation, flood protection works, and barriers such as weirs and culverts which can affect their migration.
What you can do
Everyone can do their bit to help improve whitebait populations and habitat. You can:
- Keep your whitebait catches to a minimum and only take what you need.
- Follow whitebaiting regulations and restrictions.
- Improve stream health on your property by planting natives along the banks, removing pest plants and maintaining fencing to keep livestock out.
- Reduce sediment and pollution in waterways on your property.
- Install fish-friendly culverts, dams, weirs and floodgates on your property.
- Assist with local conservation efforts such as riparian planting and fencing.
- Learn more about whitebait and what you can do to help.
Resources
For further information please see these links:
Inanga Spawning at Te Huauri o Te Kawa
Restoration of Inanga Rearing Habitat in the Kaituna River Margin
