Nelson's Brook Sanctuary hopes to introduce South Island kiwi this year

Friday, 24 May 2019

The Brook Waimarama Sanctuary CEO Ru Collin says the sanctuary is moving into a 'more positive' phase, including preparation for reintroducing species.

Kiwi could be roaming in the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary by Spring, as big increases in other native bird species are recorded in the predator-free bush.

Newly appointed sanctuary trust chief executive Ru Collin said the project was 'moving into a more positive phase', preparing to reintroduce birds that had been lost from the Brook valley.

First on the list is the South Island kiwi, or rowi, from predator-free Motuara Island in the Marlborough Sounds. Collin said it was too soon to put a solid date on the release, but the process was already underway, and the hope was to have rowi introduced into the sanctuary in Spring.

'We have a list of species [to introduce] but there's a lot of requirements and people involved … Our projected work might take 10 to 15 years, we're not just hiffing them over the fence and that's it.'

Scenes like this, when rowi kiwi were released into a new site near Fox Glacier, could be repeated in Brook Waimarama Sanctuary within the year.

* Brook Sanctuary to re-open to the public

* Rowi numbers on the increase**

The preparation at this stage involved discussions between the sanctuary, iwi, and the Department of Conservation, but there was also prepatoryo work inside the sanctuary's predator-proof fence.

Ecosystem ranger Robert Schadewinkel said he and his team of workers and volunteers were assessing the sanctuary for risks to the rowi's safety.

'We're working with the DOC kiwi team to assess and have a look for its suitability, see if there's any risks, like some old mine shafts and some things like ponds that we need to make safe so the kiwi won't fall in,' he said.

A wheelchair-friendly loop track is almost complete, with the last major step being a bridge built over the remains of the Brook Valley dam.

There are some sites, particularly near the river, which had remnants of dam-related structures which could pose a danger and which need to be kiwi-proofed. However, the hardest part of the job was already done, with the building of the predator-proof fence.

'The most important thing is being predator-free,' Schadewinkel said.

'We have a protocol in place so if there's a breach [of the fence] that could have let pest species in, we deal with it … Every four months we do a routine test to make sure nothing gets in or gets established.

He said there had been two separate breaches of the fence - both individual rats which were dealt with within days of their discovery.

'There's events that cause breaches [of the fence], and there's always a chance a predator could get in. That's why we have these protocols.'

Acting sanctuary trust chairman Peter Jamieson said the intention was to re-introduce species which originally lived in the valley, like saddlebacks, orange-fronted parakeets, and rowi.

The Brook Waimarama Sanctuary CEO Ru Collin, left, and Acting Chair Peter Jamieson, on the recently upgraded loop track.

'DOC are very happy with the site as one where they [rowi] can get over 1kg, and once they're that big they can fend for themselves, they can fight off a stoat,' he said.

'We're creating a place where people will have hopefully an interaction with native species where they're not behind a fence or glass, where they're not in a zoo.'

He said the population of birds in the area was already increasing since the 2017 poison drop to eliminate predators. Native insects like wētā were also experiencing a boom.

'We do bird counts, where volunteers go out to the same place in the park and count the birdsong. There's been a 400 per cent increase in tui and bellbirds, a 200 per cent increase for fantails and tomtits.'

The outdoor classroom, along the wheelchair-friendly track, has an electricity supply. Collin says they hope to upgrade it further.

He said some birds, like the South Island robin and rifleman, which had been 'clinging to the highest reaches of the sanctuary' where it was too cold for rats and other predators, were now venturing further down into the sanctuary.

'We had a few of them, and now they can breed and spread out. It will take a bit of time, but their population is only going to grow.

'There's also a halo effect. If we could repopulate the Richmond Ridges with birds that could use the sanctuary as a nursery, that would be amazing.'

Collin said predator control was still the 'top priority' at the sanctuary. Re-introduction work and projects to enhance the visitor experience were continuing.

One project Collin wanted to expand on was the outdoor classroom, a platform at the beginning of the beech forest in the valley which is supplied with electricity and educational tools for visiting school groups.

The classroom is about 10 minutes into a loop track that has recently been upgraded in a $120,000 project that has made it wheelchair accessible.

The accessible track will be completed with a bridge over the remains of the Brook Valley dam.

Collin said he was looking forward to making a positive contribution to the sanctuary, which he has been involved with as a trustee since 2017. His recent promotion to CEO was funded by two donors, after the sanctuary was without a senior manager for several months after former CEO Hudson Dodd stepped down last year.

The trust board also has a new head, with former chair Dave Butler stepping down from the position he has held since 2004. He said in a statement that he felt it was time to step down 'now that the idea has been turned into a reality', having been involved with the Sanctuary for 18 years since its inception.

His replacement, Chris Hawkes, has been on the board of trustees for five years.