September 2024 - Local contractor Matt Wolf Waimate Landscape Ltd Contracted to plant native trees and plants in the EcoSanctuary
The 2 Ha area being planted out in the EcoSanctuary this Spring was once known locally for kai gathering, herbal and medicinal plants. The variety of native trees and plants being planted include Kahikatea, Totara, ti kouka, Manuka, kanuka, korimiko, Horipito, coprosma, lemonwood and pittosporum. Over 5,000 native trees have been planted this Spring 2024.
September 2024 - Possum Incursion
The wallaby menace is no longer a threat within the ecosanctuary but were were mystified as to why the possum numbers within the sanctuary seemed to continue to be high despite the numbers being trapped. An inspection of the northern boundary electrified predator fenceline revealed telltale scat and claw marks on fence strainer posts, indicating possums were launching themselves up and over into the sanctuary. War! Additional metal sleeve protectors have now been placed on fence stainers as a deterrent plus further vigilant monitoring with trail cameras to be set up.
Volunteer Danny checks traps weekly. We were able to lay an additional trapping line in July (with purchase of new traps from donated funds ). Details of catch are entered weekly into the online Trap NZ data base. Data recorded from the EcoSanctuary since trapping commenced in 2021 :
Wallaby 0 this year but previous numbers 488
Possum 274
Hedgehogs 124
Rats 60
Weasels 43
Stoats 24
Feral cats 17
Rabbits 8
Mice
It’s unknown the exact number of rats and mice taken out by eating bait in the tunnel
Bait boxes set out in the EcoSanctuary.
A variety of Bait is used depending on possum traps (apple and aniseed ) is effective whilst compressed rabbit is effective in traps set for mustelids.
August 2024 - SONZI Conference
Point Bush Ecosanctuary is a member of The Sanctuaries of New Zealand (SONZI)In August, Trust members Gary and Ann Dennison, along with Ecosanctuary regular Trapping Volunteer Danny attended the SONZI 2024 conservation conference held at Orokonui Ecosanctuary - Te Korowai o Mihiwaka near Dunedin. The 3 x day conference/workshop with some 110 delegates from all over New Zealand gathered and "plugged in" to vibrant sessions, presentations and workshops culminating in a guided tour around the ecosanctuary. SONZI gatherings always provide a wonderful opportunity to share discuss and meet many other participants and presenters, including this year students from Otago and Canterbury Universities. Presenters (specialists in their fields) covered a wide range of topics provoking much to discuss, much to cause concern as well as much to celebrate as accomplished achievements. There was non-stop conversation buzzing....highlighted by the fabulous venue and equally fabulous catering provided by "His and Hers" caterers based in Port Chalmers. SONZI annual conferences provide a unique opportunity and great opportunity for conservationalists and those involved in many of New Zealand's sanctuaries around the motu to come together to discuss share wins, challenges and aspirations. The conference was held over three days from 13th - 15th August 2024 with the venue being the delightful architecutral designed Orokonui Visitors Centre and Horipito Cafe , elevated at some 500m with panoramic views over the 307 Ha fenced ecosanctuary near Dunedin. An ecological wildlife reserve developed by the Otago Natural History Trust in the Orokonui Valley between Waitati and Purakaunui.www.orokonui.nz#kakaCam now has a live 24/7 camera situated in the sanctuary focused on a busy Kaka bird feeding station. a
July 2024
Volunteers from Waimate High School - William Pike student group - assisted in preparing plant protectors We have successfully re-used old vineguards cut in half as plant protectors. A Big Thank You to the many VOLUNTEERS who helped place protectors on plants and braved tackling the steep hill slope to place protectors on new plantings PHOTOA variety of 4,000 native trees and plants have been planted out to-date with further plantings continuing through to end of September.
June 2024
We welcomed a return visit by members of the Kiwi Kids Conservation Club to the Ecosanctuary on Sunday 9th June. Scout Leader Win Parkes and family members organized an exhilarating game of "Robbing the Nest" whereby young KKC members were grouped into competing teams and assigned "predator masks" - rats, weasels, ferrets, possums. Each team had a "nest of eggs" to protect, but the game was to rob each others nests at a whistle signal and call of a name entitling Rats or Possums to rob each others nests. An excitable "battle" commenced and the winners with the most eggs at the end of the game won! PS. The "eggs" were just stones and not real eggs! We always enjoy the annual visit from the KKC Club and know that they are keenly involved in conservation and protection of native birds and forests. June also saw welcome funds received with further donations from members of the Public and from the visiting Kiwi Kids Conservation groupDonations enabled the Trust to purchase 2 x carrier planting frames (for contractors to carry a number of native seedlings when planting out).Give-A-Little donations on line were also received.
An annual $500 sponsorship was also received from HC Partners Accountants (Waimate and Timaru) for which the Trust is very appreciative.
June 2024 - Mountain Bike Trails
Progress continued on tracks by members of the Whitehorse MTB Riders and a contracted track maker working on MTB specific tracks. Once tracks are all finished there will be new directional track signage plus an overall Map featuring all tracks and color coded. The aim will be to have this as an AP for those walking and biking the recreational tracks within the Ecosanctuary. The Trust is working closely with Waimate2gether, Waimate Trackways and Members of the MTB Whitehorse Riders. with funding through the Waimate District Council Recreational Track grants.
April 2024 - DONATION FOR TRAPS
The Trust was delighted to receive a donation of $500 from the local Waimate Women's Federation to go towards purchasing traps for the Ecosanctuary's predator trapping programme. The Trust duly purchased 2 x new possum traps and these are now set out in the ecosanctuary in a new line of traps allowing more coverage in the ecosanctuary and being put to effective use.Thank You to Pauline Thomas and the Women's Federation group!
April 2024 - GIVE-A-TRAP
A further 2 x possum traps were also donated through Give-A-Trap for which the Trust is very appreciative.
April 2024 - Support by Waimate District Council
The non-rateable status applied by WDC & E-CAN to the 95Ha Ecosanctuary was verified by Council. The Trust is very appreciative for Council's and E-CAN's ongoing support in this way.The "NO DOGS in Ecosanctuary" byelaw status was also reinforced by Council.
March 2024 - Whitehorse Walkway
Track maintenance was undertaken with additional 10 x buckets of shingle being added to the steps formed last November. Albeit a bit of a "work out", the formation of steps on the steep sector of the walkway has really been an improvement in what was once a very slippery slope! The steps have worked really well. Waimate Trackways volunteers help keep this track maintained.
March 2024 - VISIT TO THE ECOSANCTUARY BY MPI
(One Billion Trees programme)
Funds received through the OBT scheme paid for 10,000 native trees to be planted in 2022 on the hill top. As part of the funding scheme, a follow up visit by personnel in mid March who spent the day reviewing planting and progress.
February 2024 - Attention to the Vehicle Access Track was Addressed
As an H & S concern, the Trustees approved upgrade work of the 4WD back track in the ecosanctuary for vehicle access up the hill. The track was re-graded by contractors and a much improved wide surface vehicle access track has made a big difference; especially as there is now a much improved run off (drainage), allowing heavy rain to run off the track and preventing scouring out and exposing jagged "rotten rock " that used to slash tires. A great improvement.
February 2024 - Extended plantings
Now that the wallabies are no longer a threat to new plantings, we were able to commence with plans to expand native tree planting within the ecosanctuary. In February a 2 Ha stand of eucalyptus trees were logged to clear fell an area in preparation for winter planting of natives with walking track access.
February 2024 - Point Bush Ecosanctuary now without Wallabies!
It's a fact! The remaining wallaby "gang" that was hiding out in the bush in the predator fenced ecosanctuary ever since 2021 (when the predator fencing was completed) are now gone!
No more wallabies to graze on regenerating native bush or browse on newly planted native plants!
It's been a mission and a half to finally get to a wallaby-free status!
They are an imported menace and the battle continues on to manage their numbers and prevent their spread. The PBERT Trust is very grateful and appreciative to local Contractors and OUR THANKS to the funding support from Environment Canterbury (E-CAN) that enabled the successful eradication of Bennett wallaby from the 95Ha Ecosanctuary.
