Halfmoon Bay Habitat Restoration Project

The Stewart Island/Rakiura Community & Environment Trust (SIRCET) is on a mission to ‘pursue projects that will enhance both our community and environment’. The non-profit organisation was formed in 2002 by island residents concerned about the number of sooty shearwater/tītī and little blue penguin deaths near the main township of Oban.

Volunteers began controlling predators in the area, and, with the support of landowners, the project has grown to protect 210 hectares, from Ackers Point to Golden Bay Road. Trapping is the main form of pest control.

While the Trust has several projects under way, including a native plant nursery, its main project is the Halfmoon Bay Habitat Restoration Project. This aims to create an open sanctuary in the heart of the southern island’s community by:

• Creating a safe haven for Stewart Island tokoeka and other threatened species by controlling predators—rats, possums and feral cats.
• Improving their natural habitat by controlling browsing mammals.
• Increasing food sources and local native biodiversity by controlling weeds and revegetating with native plants.

Project administrator, Alina Thiebes, works part-time as one of SIRCET’s two employees, and also volunteers as the Trust’s secretary. Ideally, she says, the Trust would like to see an increase in tokoeka within the habitat restoration area. Kiwi are self-introduced and, along with ruru (morepork) appear to be increasing in number. Weka were re-introduced in 2005. A monitoring project set up in 2011 will help confirm changes in the numbers of each of the three species over time.

‘We want to detect trends in the kiwi population so that we have more data on Stewart Island kiwi,’ says Alina, ‘and we also want the monitoring to be an advocacy tool. It’s a great way for locals to become more aware of tokoeka in their back yards.’

Alina is one of SIRCET’s two employees, whose role is to carry out the day-to-day operation of the Trust’s projects. As administrator for the Halfmoon Bay Habitat Restoration Project, she manages communication, administration and education outreach within the community. The Trust’s pest manager is Denise Hayes, who oversees pest control and co-ordinates and supports volunteers.

Size of area under protection

The Halfmoon Bay Habitat Restoration Project covers 210 hectares on Ackers Peninsula in Halfmoon Bay, and incorporates part of the Island’s main township, Oban.

Biggest challenge

Alina says one of the Trust’s biggest challenges, as a remote community, is maintaining the volunteer numbers required for the success of these projects. “The unpredictable weather can also wreak havoc on our monitoring schedules,” she says.

Biggest successes

“Our Weka, Kiwi, and Ruru monitoring project is the first of its kind in the area and is still in its infancy,” Alina says. SIRCET has just completed its first round of call counts, so much more data is required before it will begin to gain an understanding of any benefits of the community’s pest control work on the local tokoeka population. However, she says anecdotal evidence from residents of Halfmoon Bay tells of increasing numbers of kiwi in the area. “We’re confident that the wonderful continued community support received by the Trust and the dedication of those involved in the project will assure its success.”

Funding

To continue the Halfmoon Bay restoration project, the Trust needs the support of a network of volunteers and more than $71,000 each year, to sustain existing pest control, revegetation and species monitoring.

The Trust receives funding from the Community Trust of Southland, the Biodiversity Condition Fund, Environment Southland, New Zealand Lotteries, Project Crimson and donations.

Projects only begin once funding is secured.

The one most important thing

“Our volunteers are without a doubt our biggest and most treasured asset,” Alina says. Hours contributed to the Trust’s work has increased each year since its inception, with volunteers having contributed more than 2000 hours last year alone. The success of SIRCET’s work hinges on the hard work and dedication of its volunteers.

Contact details

If you would like to volunteer to help the Stewart Island/Rakiura Community Environment Trust, or would like further information, contact the project administrator, Alina Thiebes at:

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Phone: 03 219 1487

Postal address: PO Box 124, Halfmoon Bay, Stewart Island/Rakiura 9846