Click on any of the images to expand them. Once expanded you can navigate via the arrows and index icon that will appear above the image.
Maps of the Ark and its surrounds
The Ark on New Zealand map
The Ark in the Park is situated in the Waitakere Ranges, which rise from the black sand surf beaches of the west coast of the Auckland area. New Zealand's west coasts stand in the path of the prevailing cool moist winds, and receive frequent rain. In the Waitakeres the northern kauri forest is combined with a mixed podocarp and broadleaf forest to form a uniquely varied rain forest ecosystem
The Ark on Auckland map
The Ark lies in the northern part of Auckland's Waitakere Ranges Regional Park. Its eastern boundary is the Scenic Drive, which runs south-east as far as Titirangi, along a ridge from where the ranges drop steeply down towards Waitakere City. Access to the Ark is via the small township of Swanson; the Scenic Drive starts just after leaving the town.
Getting to Ark in the Park
Continue through Swanson, at the turn-off to Waitakere, follow the Scenic Drive up the hill under the rail bridge. After reaching the top, continue along the flat until you see the Te Henga Road on your right.
Click on magnifying glass image above, to see a larger view.
Growth of the Ark
The Ark has been steadily expanding, since the original area was established in 2003. It now covers approximately 1800 hectares. When the necessary agreements and resources are in place, a further 250 hectares will be added, as shown in this map.
The area shown in yellow was added with urgency, to protect the kokako released in 2009, who settled in what was then an unprotected area south of the Dam Road. The bait stations in this area are distributed in a less concentrated 100x100m grid, compared to the 50x100m grid previously used. The effectiveness of this less intensive control will be monitored and compared to the control obtained in the other part of the Ark.
Adjacent projects: Buffer Zone and Matuku Reserve.
The Buffer Zone was started in 2004 and is made up of a growing number of large areas of private land and/or groups of private properties (including the Forest Ridge community) close to the
Matuku Reserve is 120 hectares of regenerating bush with wetland, purchased by Forest and Bird between 1979 and 2002, with predator control being carried out by Waitakere Branch volunteers. Click here for more information on Matuku Reserve.
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The network of surrounding conservation projects (scroll to see key for map)
There are many other areas in the Waitakeres where habitat restoration is occurring. As they expand the components of this archipelago of protected habitat may touch and form a larger continuous area.
The key to the above is:
Pest Control
1.
2. Forest Ridge community – approximately 120 ha, largely bush covered and part of the
3. La Trobe Restoration Project – 200 ha at Karekare targeting rodents and possums using brodifacoum. The project began in 2001 and is now focusing on monitoring the impact of rodents on arthropods. The project also collects information on Hochstetter’s frog populations in the project area.
4. Lone Kauri Restoration Project – 350 ha at Karekare targeting rodents and possums with bait and trapping mustelids. Control began in 2001.
5. Arataki Visitors Centre predator control – Initiated in October 2001. 250 ha area of predator control around the Centre and associated visitor tracks, targeting rats, possums, mustelids, hedgehogs and rabbits. Volunteers carry out the control, overseen by ARC staff. There is also a partnership (initiated in March 2003) with Watercare, which manages 20 traps targeting mustelids along the tramline to the Upper Nihotupu Dam.
6. Whatipu – 600 ha focusing on shorebird protection targeting rodents, possums, mustelids, hedgehogs, and cats (not as intensive as the
7. Huia/Cornwallis Landcare Group – 12 ha targeting rodents, possums, mustelids and hedgehogs using traps. Control began in October 2006.
8. Auckland Regional Council pest control at Piha – ARC rangers assist with the Lone Kauri Restoration Project and also have traps for mustelids on the headlands at Te Waha Point where seabirds are known to breed. Pindone is also used to control rabbits in the Piha dunes.
9. Coastal protection for NZ dotterel and other native sea/shorebirds at Bethells beach – targeting mustelids and rats in the dunes behind the beach (ARC Biosecurity and local community) and also protecting breeding birds around Bethells and O’Neills beaches.
Cultural
10. Flax pl
Riparian
11. Waitakere Rivercare – repl
12. Twin Streams – 56 km covering the Huruhuru Creek and Henderson Creek catchments. Streams and tributaries include Swanson, Waimoko, Momutu,