Manaia Ecological Survey
Over March and early April, representatives and team members from Aki Tai Here, Northland Regional Council, Department of Conservation, and Weed Action Native Habitata Restoration Trust have undertaken three days of threatened species survey training on Mount Manaia.
With botanical guidance from DOC botanist Andrew Townsend, NRC's Lisa Forrester, and Weed Action's ecological expert Mike Urlich, the usually somewhat arduous climb up the Manaia Track instead became a journey of slowing down, taking the time to look closely, to korero and share knowledge. Cautious sharing on cultural, rongoa and maramataka aspects from Winiwini Kingi and Te Kaurinui Parata provided a rare opportunity for all to add this information to their practice in the field.
This work is a welcome twist on the team's usual focus on unwanted plants, towards greater understanding of some of the native species with low numbers or showing steady decline, putting them into the highest risk categories of Nationally Critical and Nationally Endangered.
Following the survey, a report for management of these vulnerable species habitats will be drafted and reviewed by hapū of Manaia, agencies and ecological experts, to guide the three year DOC Threatened Species partnership project being led by Weed Action Native Habitat Restoration Trust.
Weed Action Native Habitat Restoration Trust would also like to congratulate Aki Tai Here on being chosen as finalists in the Te Uru Kahika Māori category in the New Zealand Biosecurity Awards, and wish those team members travelling to Wellington for the ceremony all the best!
Photo: Raymond Tipene, Huia Busby and Toia Mehana-Puru along the Manaia Track - Mike Urlich.
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