CLUB RESULTS
Monday Walkers
Finally, the Monday Walkers made the long-awaited and previously postponed trip to Sanctuary Mountain at Maungatautari. This 3363ha remnant of indigenous forest is surrounded by 47km of pest proof fencing. Although designated as a Scenic Reserve in 1927, farming, browsing animals, and selective logging in the neighbouring areas along with cattle grazing, which continued into the 1970s, resulted in the understory and subcanopy of the forest being damaged.
In 2001 the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust was formed with the objectives of removing pests and predators and restoring the forest and healthy diversity. After two years of hard work and millions of dollars, the world’s longest multi-species, pest-proof fence was finally completed in 2006 — no mean feat when one considers the terrain and streams traversing the boundary. Aerial and ground-based poisoning, trapping, and hunting in the enclosure continued until eventually pigs, cats, ferrets, stoats, weasels and possums were eradicated. Hedgehogs, goats, rabbits and hares followed but mice are still a problem.
Since its completion, an army of volunteers and trust workers, assisted by a 24/7 electronic surveillance system, and $750,000 per annum have ensured that any breaches in the fence are promptly repaired.
A research project showed it took only 90 minutes for a pest to take advantage of any fence break. Translocation of threatened and missing plants and animals and monitoring their progress is ongoing.
Today we were able to appreciate the outcome of all this endeavour. We entered Te Tui a Tane or Southern Enclosure via protective double gates and walked the wide metalled tracks. Interpretation boards informed us that slow growing rimu could live for 800-900 years and produce seeds only once every 4-7 years and that the dark coloured drupes of the tawa are favoured by kereru and sometimes crop so heavily the ground is covered in fruit.
The information panels also recorded the traditional use of plants and trees by Mā ori for both food and rongoā .
We saw pukatea with their stabilising buttressed roots and red barked kotukutuku which attract korimako with their nectar.
The roots of a northern rata had descended and entwined the trunk of its host, gradually killing it. Tall mamakus reached up to the light with their long fronds while their smaller relatives — pongas — showed off their shiny silver undersides.
Closer to the ground the purple, green-leafed native begonia or paratā niwhaniwha clustered in shady areas. One could just imagine a taniwha hiding under their large leaves.
Upright and elegant crown fern and softly bending hen and chicken or manamana shared the damp forest floor.
A 16-metre climb up the wobbly viewing tower rewarded us with a bird’s eye view of the forest canopy, including a rewarewa decorated with red clustered flowers and glistening with silver tips.
We stilled our usual chatter and soon had inquisitive toutouwai hopping on to a branch beside us. Multiple kākā flew high in the canopy holding loud harsh conversations and thriving in this protected habitat. One bold bird even flew down to a kākā feeding station and cruised away just metres from our group.
A tieke was glimpsed and heard calling along with the distinctive thud, thud of the beating wings of a kereru.
While we all spotted the wetas hiding in the weta motels, most of us searched in vain for the well camouflaged kō ura that live in the stream.
Later we discovered one patient walker had actually caught an image of one large crayfish on camera.
A short walk but so much to appreciate, not least, that what is lost is not easily regained. Next week we are walking locally. To join us or for more information please email walkersmondaytaupo@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook at ‘Taupō Monday Walkers’.
Wednesday Walkers
Starting from the Two Mile Bay boat ramp we set out along the side of Lake Taupō heading south.
It had rained during the early morning hours and the dewy freshness of the shore after the downpour was just stunning as we passed under blossom filled trees beside the gardens, where large trees filled with new yellow-green leaves towered over us. There was very little mist in the air and this meant that across the lake, Acacia Bay and the hills behind were picked out in sharp focus in the morning sunshine.
On the lake itself, it was great to see the little cruiser Earnest Kemp back touring again after being laid up during the winter months. The sight of this boat has been part of the Taupo scene for several decades as has the ever-present towed parachute ride which seems to be always gliding above the waves.
Cutting inland we passed through Rainbow Point and down toward the new developments which are filling up the land on the other side of Lake Terrace.
After going through the tunnel under the main road we wound through the newly founded streets past the recently completed buildings all of which have an individual character while al sharing the up to date architecture of our time.
Passing back through another tunnel we ventured through the lanes of Wharewaka climbing up and down the surprisingly steep hills in this area. There are many pathways and expanses of open land to choose from to lengthen our walk to fill the required time. By the time we regained our starting point we had walked about 11,000 steps according to one of our trusty cellphones. It was a delightful stroll on an idyllic day in the fullness of a Taupo spring. Wednesday walkers contact number: 073773065.