Our apologies but we had to reschedule some of the events. New dates and flyers are now available below.
The WCMGs’ newsletter is now available, please follow the link : whangawehinewsletternov2016 .In it, you will find the dates of our various summer activities including guided walks, mountain bike ride, Mahia markets etc.
Also attached is the new flyer for our Mountain bike ride event planned for the 28th of January 2017 : mountain-bike-poster-jan2017
Enjoy the reading and see you soon.
On the 12th and 13th of November, two well renown consultants came to Whangawehi to assess the work done and provide expertise and advice on how to better manage the protected ecosystems and increase their biodiversity. A report will follow but both were most impressed by the work done by the group. Guidance was given on water management in the wetlands in order to create more favourable habitats for wetland species. Water levels and diverse margins or ecotones are key to the success.
A big thank you to John Cheyne and Hans Rook for their help and support.
Water monitoring :
Water analysis from the November run is now available, please follow the link november2016.
Insect monitoring :
The French students are still deploying their insects traps and collecting their data from the field. The sites monitored during this study will be part on our monitoring programme. The data collected will be available on the blog once the study is finished.
This first study is a bench mark that will allow the community to better measure the impact of the restoration programme on several bio indicators or “sentinelles”. The French students will train the community and leave resources on how to carry out the insect monitoring programme in the future. The methodology was designed for community groups with limited knowledge in Entomology, so it is accessible to anybody. For more info, please check our Insect Monitoring tab.
The students have also created Weta houses for ongoing monitoring of this specie. The houses will be installed in different areas and will be checked once a year as part of our invertebrate monitoring programme. Lizards hides will also be installed.
Sue O’Brien recently established a flax collection along the river. 12 rare specimen donated by Landcare and Research were planted around the Whare. The idea will be to provide a high quality supply of different types of flaxes and develop, with the community, weaving activities around the whare.
We will keep you posted. Thank you Sue
On Thursday the 3d, Arthur Bowen carried out a water monitoring run and observed a lot of changes along the river. The most encouraging observation was a school of 200 white baits swimming in the stream up in the forest. White baits were observed in the Mangatupae stream as well…the project is working! The river banks are also starting to grow abundant crops of water cress…indicating that the Mahinga kai is definitively returning. Water clarity was extremely good with no alguae growth observed yet.
Last week, Fenton Wilson, Mike Adye and Nathan Heath from Hawkes Bay Regional Council came to the Taharoa Trust to meet with Pat O’Brien (Chairman of the WCMG) and Nic Caviale (Project Coordinator). All parties gathered around the table to share ideas and options on how to sustain the work carried out by the group in the future.
On behalf of the WCMG, I would like to acknowledge HBRC’s support and commitment to find innovative ways of supporting our community initiative.
Nga mihi nui ki a koutou
Two French Interns from the ENSAT (Ecole Nationale Superieure Agronomique de Toulouse) are currently helping the group develop a community based insect monitoring tool. This simple tool will be implemented every year with the idea of strengthening our ability to measure the impact of the conservation work carried out. Lucie and Louise are also helping out with our bird monitoring programme, pest control, water monitoring and blog development. We wish you all the best in Wairoa.
Whangawehi Catchment Management Group 