After almost a century, goats are gone from Taranaki Maunga and the world’s longest-running goat eradication programme has come to an end. Their absence is already being seen in an abundance of plants previously gobbled up by the goats. This achievement was marked on Friday with a signing of the Tomorrow Accord milestone by representatives…
Kiwi were not seen or heard on the Kaitake Range for decades. After a huge predator control effort by Kaitake Ranges Conservation Trust, Department of Conservation and Taranaki Mounga, 10 kiwi were released on to the range in April 2021. Since then, these kiwi have all now paired up, are breeding and thriving! We wanted…
What Now NZ spent some time with our Science and Innovation Lead Tama Blackburn and the awesome Korban Knock in the ngahere. Watch their adventure (and hilarious one-liners) as they check out the technology we use on our maunga!
In April last year 10 kiwi were translocated to the Kaitake Ranges. These kiwi were released with radio transmitters attached to their legs to allow Taranaki Kiwi Trust to monitor their survival and dispersal patterns. The kiwi have not only all survived but they have thrived in their new home. All 10 kiwi paired up…
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…
