16-E-297
17 October 2016
Mr Nick Newbery
[FYI request #4550 email]
Dear Nick
OFFICIAL INFORMATION REQUEST
I refer to your official information request dated 7 September 2016 for the following:
DOC are responsible for the management of pests at Pukaha, Mount Bruce,
Wairarapa.
It is not recorded in the 2015 restoration report the number of Brown Kiwi
(conversely the estimated number of Kaka and Kakapo are recorded) that are at
Pukaha.
Please provide the number of confirmed live Brown Kiwi, each year for the past five
years.
Although more kiwi would be present in the reserve, DOC can only confirm the
presence of monitored kiwi. These are kiwi that have been fitted with transmitters.
2012
14 monitored kiwi
2013
12 monitored kiwi
2014
12 monitored kiwi
2015
10 monitored kiwi
2016
7 monitored kiwi
A recent audit was conducted to determine the current confirmed number of live
Brown Kiwi in Pukaha, can you please provide a copy of that audit report and its
official findings.
The Pukaha Mount Bruce Board conducted a kiwi survey in July this year. DOC staff
led the team which included Pukaha staff, volunteers and DOC staff. DOC did not
produce a report but confirms that seven kiwi pairs were heard in the reserve over
two nights.
The website identifies that in addition to 'Manukura' there are five other very rare
white brown kiwi’s at Pukaha, how many of these are still alive, and when was the
last confirmed sighting of any of them?
There are two known white kiwi at Pukaha. Both birds are in captivity.
DOCCM - 2895673
Can you please advise the amount of money that has been spent on pest control in
the past 5 years.
The following table shows DOC ‘s expenditure for pest control and the contributions
made by DOC and Pukaha over the last five years.
Any additional costs paid by Pukaha are not known to DOC and cannot be reported
on.
Year Ending
Pukaha
DOC
TOTAL
Contribution
Contribution
Expenditure
30 June 2012
$140,000
$26,650
$166,650
30 June 2013
$140,000
$26,650
$166,650
30 June 2014
$140,000
$26,650
$166,650
30 June 2015
$140,000
$26,650
$166,650
30 June 2016
$232,874
$26,650
$259,524
Given the results of the above questions how has the success of pest control
strategies been measured and reported.
Result monitoring for the project includes rat, mustelid and possum monitoring.
Kokako surveys have been conducted in 2010 and 2013. A kokako survey, run by
Pukaha, is in progress currently. DOC trialled kiwi surveying techniques in 2015 and
the first kiwi survey was conducted by Pukaha in July 2016.
DOC has provided monitoring results and monthly trap catch data to the Pukaha
Mount Bruce Board in monthly reports.
I apologise for the delay in responding to your request.
Yours sincerely,
Jay Eden
Director, Operations, Lower North Island (Acting)
DOCCM - 2895673
