Huge eco-sanctuary on the cards for Wainuiomata a 'game changer' for threatened species

Monday, 23 November 2020

Kākāpo could live in a proposed eco-sanctuary in Wellington. Pictured: Ruapuke survived hatching from a crushed egg and is now living on Whenua Hou/Codfish Island. (File photo)

The hills above the Hutt Valley could become the first mainland home for the nationally critical kākāpo, with plans on the table to build a massive, fenced eco-sanctuary.

The Greater Wellington Regional Council is considering a proposal that would fence-off 3350 hectares of native bush behind the suburb of Wainuiomata to create a “threatened species sanctuary”.

The star of the new sanctuary would be the world's largest parrot and recent Bird of the Year winner, the flightless kākāpo.

According to a report that will go to a council committee on Thursday, the land in question, known as the Wainuiomata Water Catchment area, is one of the few places that meet the “very rare conditions” needed to support breeding kākāpō, including mature Rimu trees.

Kākāpō chicks are hand-raised, before being sent to live on off-shore islands for their protection against predators. (File photo)

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Pest control in the area would build on the already strong efforts from the community to eradicate pests from the area. Wainuiomata resident Chris Mitchell has trapped huge amounts of possums in the bush. (File photo)

Since the 1980s, these birds have been confined to off-shore islands, teetering on the edge of extinction with just 209 left.

If the plan goes ahead, the sanctuary will be 15 times the size of Wellington's Zealandia wildlife sanctuary in Karori and will provide a home for up to 150 kākāpō.

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The Department of Conservation’s kākāpō team and Ngāi Tahu had been involved in early discussions about the project.

DOC operations manager of kākāpō Deidre Vercoe said with current breeding sites nearing capacity, the proposal for a predator free, rimu-dominant habitat showed potential.

“Breeding sites of the quality that Wainuiomata could offer are extremely rare and the team is closely following the progress of this proposal.”

Native tīeke (saddlebacks) will also thrive in the proposed environment. (File photo)

Regional councillor Thomas Nash said the sanctuary would be a “total game-changer for threatened species”.

The proposal was the start of a very long process, but it was a positive step forward.

“If this were to go ahead, it would be the biggest biodiversity asset in the lower North Island, if not the whole North Island,” he said.

The council, Taranaki Whānui, DOC, and South Island iwi Ngai Tahu, custodians of the kākāpō, had visited the possible site in October.

The elimination of predators over the entire catchment would provide a huge boost to biodiversity in the region.

The fenced area, home to the most pristine, ancient native forest in the lower North Island, would also support the recovery of other threatened species, including rowi kiwi, kōkako, and tīeke.

The location is adjacent to the Remutaka Forest Park and the Pakuratahi Forest, which would allow recovered species to spill out and repopulate the native forest in what is known as the “halo effect”.

As an old growth indigenous forest, the area also plays a key role in mitigating climate change. Eradication of predators would improve its ecological quality, increasing its ability to remove carbon from the atmosphere.

It serves now as a water collection catchment for greater Wellington’s water supply, operated by Wellington Water Limited (WWL).

The public are not allowed access without first getting permission from either the council, or Wellington Water.

Early estimates indicated the project would cost around $20 million. According to the report, the working group would present its findings on the feasibility of such a project to the committee in early 2021.

Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry said there was merit to exploring the idea.

“However we need to be realistic about the costs to ratepayers in delivering a facility like this. Our council is financially stretched, especially when you take into account the massive investment we need to make in core infrastructure.”

Kākāpo

Conservation status: Threatened, nationally critical – 209 alive today

Found in: Codfish Island/Whenua Hou, Anchor Island and Te Hauturu-o-Toi/Little Barrier Island

Threats: Predators, disease, genetic inbreeding, infertility

Characteristics: Nocturnal; flightless; perhaps the longest-lived bird species in the world, estimated to reach 90 years old; the heaviest parrot species in the world, smaller females 1.4 kilogram, and males 2.2 kg