Nga Manu Nature Reserve

The Right Person at the Right Time

A change of circumstances and a love of the native bush led to the establishment of the Nga Manu Volunteer Guide programme. Six years ago Judy Child had a 4 acre lifestyle property in Te Horo, half in native bush and the other half she had developed into native gardens. When Judy had to move from there she still wanted to be involved with native flora in some way. Nga Manu seemed an obvious choice and, after talking to Bruce, Judy found that they wanted to have volunteer guides but did not have the time to do this.

Judy had just the expertise they were looking for. After a year of development, including learning everything she possibly could about Nga Manu, she had a training package. For the last 5 years Judy has been training guides, most of whom have been recruited via ‘word of mouth’. This way fits well as guides need to be passionate about native birds and plants as well as the reserve and current guides instinctively know of others who share this passion.

As new volunteers come on board Judy individualises the training according to specific needs. Training is ongoing and Judy brings in speakers, and arranges for visits to places such as Matiu/Somes, Bushy Park, and Kapiti Island. These trips have the added benefit of providing a reward for the volunteers’ ongoing commitment.

Judy grew up in Wiltshire, UK, coming to New Zealand as a young adult. She attributes her passion for trees to her childhood where she and friends would play for hours in the local forests. Once in New Zealand she loved the environment and the freedom. Early on they travelled around the country with their tent and later, with the children, had wonderful farm holidays. The family spent 3 years in America when the children were small, a huge culture shock for Judy.

On their return to New Zealand Judy picked up on opportunities that she would not have had in the UK and enrolled at Victoria University studying anthropology and sociology. After graduation she worked for a range of organisations developing and running training. She later headed back to the UK and trained as a teacher of English as a Foreign Language in London, teaching both there and in Wellington on her return.

Judy also worked extensively with volunteers – all helping to make her the perfect person to pick up the mantle of Volunteer Guide Coordinator for Nga Manu.

Footnote: Thanks Judy for finding us. You have been a god send with all your skills and enthusiasm. Bruce Benseman (Manager)

Plant Identification Internship - Student Intern Alexandra Croft

Alex, a biology major from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA USA, was an intern at Nga Manu Nature Reserve from January to March 2010. She was interested in studying conservation biology and plants and excited at the opportunity to study in New Zealand. During her internship, she investigated plant species growing within the reserve with most days consisting of getting out and collecting plant specimens for identification. Her tasks included method and data table formation along with flora data collection for ten sites within the reserve. The preliminary methods and data will be used as a comparison to future data for identifying forest transformations.

Alex’s favourite plants to study were the Putaputaweta, Pohutukawa, and the iconic Silver Fern. While at Nga Manu Nature Reserve, she enjoyed working with other biology students including Rachel Riley from Massey University (studying behavioural patterns of the North Island Kaka) and Tim Bailey from Victoria University in Wellington (studying fresh water invertebrates).

In addition to biology, Alex enjoys rock-climbing, tramping, mountaineering, and mountain biking and found New Zealand very fitting for her interests. Prior to the beginning of the internship Alex was able to travel to the South Island of New Zealand, where she learned to paraglide and river surf and saw the magnificent Franz Joseph Glacier, Mt. Tasman, and Mt. Cook. She also had the opportunity to join the Victoria University of Wellington Tramping Club and participated in a rock-climbing trip to Lake Taupo and a mountain biking trip in Rotorua.

Alex got involved with the community and met lots of new people by helping out at the local pool in Waikanae doing some life guarding. Alex said that studying abroad in New Zealand was an amazing experience and would like to thank Nga Manu Nature Reserve and all her New Zealand friends for their support during her internship. Alex on top of castle crags with a view of mt Shasta in the background. Next year Mt Everest!

Alex’s Project: During her stay with us Alex plotted ten sites at various location and recorded the plant species found in a ten metre by ten metre grid in that area. This information will provide the trust with historical data on each site. Each site will be revisited in 5 to 10 years and the same method of recording carried out. It will be interesting to see what plant species have changed over that time and what plants will become the dominant plant in that area. It will also provide indicators on how successful our control of non-native plants is progressing. Only one site to date recorded any introduced plant species (ink weed and nightshade).

Alex recorded trunk diameter, percentage cover and plant height in each grid so as to form an indicator on what the stratification is at each grid. The graph below represents the stratification at site 6. The species number (eg: 3) relate to a table that has been created to give a numerical reference to the fifty five different plant species encountered during the survey. If you would like a copy of Alex’s findings please email: ngamanu@clear.net.nz (click to send an email).

Aquatic Invertebrate Survey

Research Project carried out by Tim Bailey.

Aim: To locate aquatic invertebrate species in Nga Manu Nature Reserve and to find out if the diversity of these invertebrates is affected by rainfall and by abiotic scores of habitat.

In this study two levels of resolution were carried out.

For the high-resolution part of the study, nine study sites, which were near sites for a past fish study, were used. These sites were sampled 8 times, with air, water temperature and one water clarity measurement taken each time. Water samples were collected for identification of invertebrates by running a net through the water then using a scoop to scoop up soil and water from the site, then running the net through the water again. Conductivity was measured on three different occasions. Overall environment factors were measured once.

For the low-resolution part of the study sixteen different sites were chosen to give a sample of the wide variety of habitat found in Nga Manu. These sites were numbered 1-16. Each site was sampled once. Air, water temperature and water clarity were measured. A water sample was also collected by the same method as described for the high-resolution part of the study. The invertebrates in the water samples were put under a microscope to be photographed and then one of each species was preserved.

The sites covered a large range of wetlands including sandy bottom streams, artificial fish passes, forest swamps, ponds of varying depth, temporary pools, spring fed streams and stream pools. The research uncovered 49 different species, some such as the leech, we were not aware of in and around Nga Manu. Tiny fresh water molluscs were also found. If you are interested in a copy of the findings please send an email to: ngamanu@clear.net.nz (click here to send email).

Big Thanks

Gillian Gillett donated funds to Nga Manu Trust that has allowed us to purchase a "microchip scanner" that will be used to scan the ID chips insert in our native birds for permanent identification. The captive management programs for our native species is moving away from leg bands and more towards microchip identification. To read the chips a scanner is required. Both our North Island Brown Kiwi are fitted with the chips.

Nikau Palm

Belongs to the coconut family

NiKau: means barren palm, e.g. has no coconut. Ni is a Polynesian word for coconut and Kau means barren.

Fronds used for roofing

Bottom end of frond can be used as a bowl

Trunks were used for hut walls

The bowl end of the frond makes a good sledge - sit in the bowl and slide down a grassy slope.

First ring appears at approx 20years then each ring after that is a season growth.

The nikau palm is the southernmost member of the palm family and New Zealand's only native palm species.

Blue Duck (Whio) Released

There is something special about standing in the bed of the rumbling Manganui River on a gloomy but fine Taranaki day, being witness to a newly released male Blue Duck (Whio), taking his first splash in the wild. This bird is one of two Whio reared this season by the Nga Manu team. Along with four other birds from other centres, these are a boost to the wild population on the slopes of Mt Taranaki.

I know it's 'cliché' but he took to his new home like a 'duck to water'. Funny how they instinctively know what to do! Predator control is carried out for stoats around the release site to aid in the long-term survival and breeding of the Whio.

Our second Whio of the season - a female, will be moved to another centre as part of a breeding pair in an attempt to increase the genetic diversity of the captive breeding population. Thanks go to Andrea Wilson Raumati Veterinary Centre for her services with the pre release health checks and Peter Russell the Blue Duck co-ordinator for helping make it happen.

Theo's Cottage

A weekend surrounded by Nature

Theo’s cottage has been well occupied over the summer and now the weather is cooling down bookings slow down. We have a few bookings for research students over the next few months. If you and your partner would like to book the cottage for a quiet night or two at the reserve now is a good time. What is popular is booking the cottage for a Saturday night. You can drive to the Kapiti Coast do the trip to Kapiti Island on the Saturday, stay overnight in Theo’s cottage then have a good look around Nga Manu Nature Reserve on the Sunday or vice-versa.

Cottage bookings online: Click here

To book to go to Kapiti Island: Click here

The 7th Amazing Sounds 'n Nature Concert

Saturday 20 February dawned fine and sunny with the reserve looking its pristine best, the stage beautifully dressed and flags waving gently in the breeze. The gates opened at 3.00pm and the crowd, who had been entertained while they waited, streamed in and picked the best spots.

The concert got underway with a great jig-a-long session from Hobnail Boots. Then Wellington Batucada moved through the crowd playing their fabulous Brazilian percussion sounds - boy are they energetic. Next were the cruisy sounds of Groove Assembly giving everyone a chance to relax and enjoy the warmth of the sun. But not for long....X-Ray Catz got them all up again with their fantastic renditions of all the old Rock'n Roll favourites.

The auction was an action packed half hour with some great bidding - a couple of original painting from local artists Stewart MacKay and George Thomson were sought after as were the travel packages.

The main act, the legendary Australasian band 'Dragon' with well known Kiwi, Mark Williams, who had come over from Australia for the concert. They absolutely wowed the crowd with their well know anthems. Lots of people were up in front of the stage singing and dancing along. The members of the band enjoyed playing at dusk and in such a great atmosphere and said that "the Kiwi crowds are the best, they know the words, sing along, and in tune.....we love them".

The concert attracted a lot of newcomers this year, an expanded audience for the next event. There was also some pretty yummy food on offer which all made for a great event.

The organisers received some great feedback with one couple telling us that they "go to heaps of concerts and this has been the most well organised, best concert ever".

"Chocolates, wow, what a wonderful end to a wonderful concert – thank you Nyco".

"Fantastic crowd, fantastic line-up and Dragon were brilliant".

"Attended the recent concert, had a ball. great music, great atmosphere, great crowd. Thanks to all for the hard work that went into the organizing of an awesome night".


	FEATURES IN THIS NEWSLETTER The Right Person at the Right Time \| Plant Identification Internship Aquatic Invertebrate Survey \| Iconic Endemic Longfin Eel is in Trouble Big Thanks \| GPS \| Worm of Wisdom: Nikau Palm \| Blue Duck (Whio) Released Theo's Cottage \| The 7th Amazing Sounds 'n Nature Concert (Click on a link above to view the article)


		Male blue duck (Whio) enjoying the clear sparkling waters of Mt Taranaki upon release.