The Department of Conservation, local iwi, Federated Mountain Clubs and Back Country Trust are in discussions to explore opportunities for a potential rebuild of the popular Lake Dive Hut in Egmont National Park. The 16-bunk Lake Dive Hut, on the slopes of Taranaki Maunga, burnt down in 2020 in a suspicious fire. A man alleged…
Taranaki Mounga is on the way to fully eradicating goats, a harmful threat to our native plants, making Te Papakura o Taranaki New Zealand’s first ungulate (hooved animals) free national park. This effort is working towards larger predator management goals including Predator-Free Taranaki and the Regional Council’s development of a biodiversity ‘halo’ surrounding the Mounga…
Onlookers watched “plumes of smoke” rise from Taranaki Maunga this week, with dozens posting to social media, some calling the Department of Conservation, and one phoning the fire service. But there was no fire. The smoke-looking clouds were simply dust caused by “wind and very dry conditions”, Department of Conservation (DOC) senior ranger Dave Rogers…
Just months after kiwi were reintroduced into Taranaki’s Kaitake Ranges, a pair of the birds have successfully hatched a chick, stunning conservationists. “It’s hard to wrap in a few words just how significant this is,” Taranaki Mounga Project manager Sean Zieltjes said. “We didn’t expect to be able to achieve this fast. It’s testament to…
A group of Taranaki school children enjoying a crash course in kiwi tracking in Te Papakura o Taranaki (Egmont National Park) have been let in on a secret… Five pairs of the national bird released onto Kaitake maunga in April are in the midst of a baby – or should that be – chick boom….
Seeing flocks of kereru whirring past as he works is a highlight of Mawena Bidois’ new job as a pest controller on Taranaki Maunga. He’s one of four apprentices who started work with the Taranaki Mounga Project three weeks ago, and is full of enthusiasm for his new career. “This job gives me the opportunity…
A male North Island brown kiwi found dead on Mount Taranaki’s Puniho Track is believed to have been killed in a dog attack. DOC Taranaki Operations Manager Gareth Hopkins discovered the male adult kiwi wedged between rocks while out hiking last week. An autopsy found the bird suffered multiple fractured ribs and femur, along with…
Ten million dollars of funding for conservation projects in Taranaki is also fostering hapū and whānau, say project leaders. Minister of Conservation Kiri Allan has announced $9.98 million from the government’s Jobs for Nature programme for 12 existing projects, creating 58 new jobs over three years. The projects include pest control, native revegetation, and protecting…
Taranaki is the most likely New Zealand volcano to cause a national-scale impact in our lifetimes and a new virtual field trip will help prepare tamariki across Aotearoa to understand and cope with possible disruption. Prevailing winds could carry volcanic ash to Auckland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty to disrupt air and surface transport,…
Kaiwhakamōkihi/Trainee Ranger Tipunakore Rangiwai (Taranaki Iwi) is helping to restore his maunga. See his journey and how he has positively impacted our Taranaki Mounga Project. Tipunakore joins the project from START Taranaki – a programme that supports young men in
Conservationists working in Taranaki are closely monitoring two kiwi eggs being incubated by recently released male birds in the Kaitake Ranges. The adult male kiwi were among 10 male and female birds released into the Kaitake Ranges in April and May. Taranaki Kiwi Trust operations leader Sian Portier said staff have been monitoring transmitters attached…
A new report is giving hope to conservationists hoping to stem New Zealand’s biodiversity crisis It’s been five years since the Government launched its ambitious goal of ridding the country of rats, possums, and mustelids by 2050. The programme aimed to move from piecemeal local projects to a strategic nationwide approach for eradicating the three…