Ark in the Park

Pest Control

1.      Forest and Bird’s Matuku Reserve – approximately 120 ha of predator control (possums, rats, mustelids, goats), overseen by the Forest & Bird Ranger.

2.      Forest Ridge community – approximately 120 ha, largely bush covered and part of the Ark in the Park Buffer Zone.

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 Ark in the Park project). Control began in September 2003.

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 planted for weaving etc – on ARC farmland alongside the Waitakere River (Pae o te Rangi farmland). Overseen by ARC staff.

Riparian

11.  Waitakere Rivercare – replanting of riparian areas along the Waitakere river from the Te Henga Rd bridge to the Te Henga wetland.

12.  Twin Streams – 56 km covering the Huruhuru Creek and Henderson Creek catchments. Streams and tributaries include Swanson, Waimoko, Momutu, Henderson, Waikumete, Whakarina, Bishop, Opanuku, Oratia and Pixie. The aim is to restore streams, linking the Ranges to the sea and to engage the community. Weeding and planting are key, with some property purchases, covenants and community contracts etc. Started in 2002. No pest control is currently being undertaken. NOTE due to the breadth of the work being done this project is not shown on the map.