Unanimous backing sees Wainuiomata kākāpō haven one step closer

Thursday, 26 November 2020

Kakapo Sinbad who carries valuable Fiordland genes was involved in the artificial insemination.

Kākāpō have been kept offshore for their own protection for 40 years, but a potential eco-sanctuary in Wainuiomata is one step closer to providing them with a home back on-shore.

The Department of Conservation is running out of room in island sanctuaries such as Stewart Island/Rakiura and Codfish Island/Whenua Hou.

So a fenced wildlife sanctuary in prime kākāpō habitat, a portion of the Wainuiomata Water Catchment area around 3350ha in size, is a tempting prospect.

The Greater Wellington Regional Council’s environment committee voted unanimously in favour of establishing a working group, led by councillor Thomas Nash, on Thursday morning. The question now is who will shoulder the cost.

**READ MORE:

The projected fence line for the 3350ha eco-sanctuary in Wainuiomata, deep in the water catchment zone just outside Wellington, means the reserve will dwarf Zealandia in size.

* How the spectre of legal action loomed over an aborted plan to extend the Campbell Island marine sanctuary

* Predator-free island: No rats on Hauraki Gulf's Rakitū Island

* DOC pleads for donations as endangered kākāpō die from disease

Regional councillor Thomas Nash will lead the working group in the initial stages of the sanctuary.

According to Wayne O’Donnell, general manager of the council’s catchment management group, iwi Taranaki Whānui welcomed representatives of Ngai Tahu and DOC to the area on October 1, and their assessment was “very positive”.

A formal report by consulting firms Boffa Miskell and Beca would be released soon, and O’Donnell said it would highlight which species stood to gain from the project.

The proposed area, with the suggested fence line sticking to a ridge around the main catchment area, will be 15 times the size of Wellington's Zealandia wildlife sanctuary.

Some mature forest would have to be removed to put the fence in, but there was some existing deer fencing on the Western side, and the destruction should be “balanced with the benefits” of the sanctuary.

“There is a route that will have a lot less impact than we thought,” O’Donnell said. “There are some parts of high elevation, but it’s doable.”

The potential sanctuary would be able to hold up to 150 kākāpō.

Despite the area being entirely within council land, the council itself was not in a position to shoulder the full cost of the project.

Councillors were supportive of putting money towards the next step, a feasibility study, projected to cost $80,000-$100,000.

But many expressed the belief that DOC should front the bulk of that cost, as well as that of the fence, projected to cost around $20 million.

The working group, headed by Nash, would report back to the council in early 2021.

DOC has been approached for comment.