Nga Manu Nature Reserve

Research at Nga Manu Nature Reserve

Nga Manu Trust supports research related to New Zealand ecosystems. The trust has a strong focus on preserving our native flora and fauna. Our education and research support that focus.

The trust sponsors research scholarships with: - Fun at Nga Manu

• Victoria University, Wellington
• Massey University, Palmerston North

These two scholarships are available to Honors or Master students and are for research that has relevance to the natural environment at Nga Manu Nature Reserve.

More details on the scholarships can be downloaded from the relevant Universities by clicking the following links: -

• Victoria University Scholarship Details
• Massey University Scholarship Details

On site at Nga Manu Nature Reserve we have established a one bedroom self contained cottage that is available to research students and volunteers. The accommodation (Theo’s Cottage - click for image) is intended to help assist students with their research by reducing travel and accommodation costs. We are keen to be involved in all levels of research and would encourage any person involved in private, institutional or business research relevant to New Zealand native flora and fauna to contact the trust. If you require further information on any of the research below please contact the researcher through their website or contact us at info@ngamanu.co.nz.

Research Projects

Research projects are varied and those currently underway or carried out in the last twelve months include: -

	Kereru - Avian Urbanisation How does kereru (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) colonise an evolutionary novel landscape. Monica Awasthy,PhD Candidate, Ecology & Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Click to email Monica Awasthy.
	Kea - Comparison of Kea (Nestor Notabilis) Behaviour in walk-through and non-walk-through enclosures at captive wild animal facilities. An observational research study being conducted at several Zoos and Wildlife Reserves by Perry McCarney, in his final year of a BAppSci degree in Animal Management and Welfare at Unitec, Auckland. Data on behavioural time budgets and repertoires may provide insight towards welfare considerations or areas requiring further research. This study is being financially assisted by the Kea Conservation Trust (click for website).
	Swamp Maire and Tawa Alastair Robertson (Massey University) and Jenny Ladley and Dave Kelly (University of Canterbury) are studying the importance of gut passage for seed germination of swamp maire (Syzygium maire) and tawa (Beilschmiedia tawa) in field trials at Nga Manu. The research is part of a programme on bird-plant mutualisms funded by Landcare Research’s Sustaining and Restoring Biodiversity (click for website).
	Mudfish Looking at the habitat requirements for brown mudfish (Neochanna apoda), focusing on sites in the Kapiti Coast and Manawatu areas. Nga Manu is a prime example of natural brown mudfish habitat (i.e. native swamp forest), and so provides a good base for comparison to other sites, many of which have been extensively modified from this state. Also looking at interactions between brown mudfish and their native predator, short-fin eels, which often share the same habitat. Click to email Natasha Petrove.
	Mistletoe (Ileostylus Micranthus) An in-house project aimed at re-establishing the native mistletoe within Nga Manu Nature Reserve. Research on methods of seed attachment to host plant. Click to email Nga Manu.
	Fish Pass Design and Monitoring Joint project between Mike Joy of Massey University and Nga Manu Trust. Explore more natural fish pass designs and survey the migratory fish into Nga Manu wetlands. Mike has many projects relating to freshwater research especially around native fish and there use in biomonitoring. For details contact Mike (click here to email), or click here for the website.
	Wildlife Photography Research into devising methods to capture predation, nesting, feeding and general behavior of native wildlife. Click here for the Nga Manu Images website.
	Tuatara Research From head-starting young juvenile tuatara to begin new populations, to supporting research into territoriality and captive husbandry, and involvement of Nga Manu staff in field research. Nga Manu Trust has supported Tuatara recovery and research in collaboration with Victoria University of Wellington since 1990. Click here for more information.
	Mosquitoes The fragmentation of native environments, combined with recent peri-urban development, are changing mosquito habitats and providing new opportunities for exotic species. We are investigating influences on activity of native and exotic mosquitoes in this area, and human exposures to biting nuisance & potential disease. Nga Manu has been a core site for several projects. Dr Mary McIntyre at Otago University, Wellington. Click here for more information.
	Tui Transmitters Testing of a wing-loop transmitter harness on captive Tui. Ralph Powlseland and Hugh Robertson trailed back-pack transmitters on Tui at Nga Manu to aid future Tui monitoring and research. Click here to contact Ralph.