Rimutaka Forest Park Trust

The Trust, which has 110 members, helps the Department of Conservation (DOC) on several fronts, working on projects linked to public facilities and services in the park, encouraging research and development, and helping with environmental programmes in the park.

One of the Trust’s projects focuses on brown kiwi.  It began in 2002 when DOC’s then co-ordinator for the Kiwi Recovery Group, Paul Jansen, impressed with the success of the Trust’s voluntary predator control, suggested working towards the reintroduction of kiwi into the Park. The department authorised the release of kiwi in October 2005, and the first birds were released into the Park, from captivity, in May and August 2006. In 2009, the Trust then went to Haurturu/Little Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf, and translocated 20 adult kiwi to supplement the existing population.

A team of more than 40 volunteers give their time to help with predator trapping, distance monitoring of the kiwi and caring for the birds.  A smaller group of Trust members is responsible for organising the releases, advocacy and liaising with other government agencies an community groups.

The ultimate goal is to reintroduce other native species and create an area of forest in its pre-European state, teeming with native wildlife.

This video about the Rimutaka Forest Park Trust shows what they are doing.

Size of area under protection

The area under protection is the Turere and Whakanui Valleys and surrounding areas covering just under 3000 hectares.  The Trust uses DOC 200 traps (for stoats) and DOC 250 traps (for ferrets and wild cats), following DOC best practice.

Biggest challenges

One of the biggest challenges is maintaining a solid core of volunteers to do the ‘not cool stuff’—those tasks outside of the ‘going bush’ activities most people enjoy.

Another challenge is sourcing and applying for sufficient funding to cover all the projects and activities the Trust wishes to offer the community.

A third challenge is educating the public about the risk their dogs pose to kiwi, and that dogs need to be under control at all times

Biggest success

The greatest success for the Trust is having sufficient volunteers with a strong sense of commitment, ownership and involvement in the kiwi work, who are happy to keep giving their time to help ensure the well-being of kiwi. Most have been recruited through word-of-mouth, via tramping clubs and other related groups, and some also contribute financially to the Trust, through membership subscriptions.

Funding

The Rimutaka Forest Park Trust is grateful for funding from BNZ Save the Kiwi Trust, Pub Charity Inc, the Wellington Community Trust, Hutt City Council, the Hutt Mana Trust, the Ron D & EA Greenwood Environment Trust, the Colin Webster-Watson Trust and all those people who sponsor a trap, kiwi or transmitter.

One most important thing

The one piece of advice the group would give others starting a similar project, however big you think it will become – double it! In time , resources and costs , but the rewards are priceless.   Keeping kiwi wild in Wellington.

Contact Details

The Trust is always looking for volunteers. Anyone wanting to volunteer her or his time or expertise is welcome to contact Melody, Kelly or Ian:

Contact Person: Melody Mclaughlin

Phone: 04 5646213 / 0274524982

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Contact Person: Kelly Briggs

Phone: 04 972 0920 / 0275185939

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Contact Person: Ian Armitage

Phone: 04 2327470

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Postal address: P.O. Box 38 564, Wellington Mail Centre, PETONE

Website www.rimutakatrust.org.nz