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About Us
Behind the Scenes
The Tākaka Hill Biodiversity Group Trust (THBGT) understand that Tākaka Hill private land is an ecosystem corridor connecting Abel Tasman National Park (ATNP) and Kahurangi National Park (KNP). Intensive predator control in the Flora stream area of Kahurangi has resulted in populations of endangered species such as kaka, kea and whio. It has enabled roroa (Great Spotted Kiwi) to be re-established. Similarly, predator control by Project Janszoon in Abel Tasman has enabled birds such as pateke (brown teal) to be re-introduced.
An equal response from Tākaka Hill landowners means this private land corridor with Significant Natural Areas (SNA) can extend the habitat for these unique birds and other native taonga benefiting as they spread out from the National Parks.
Landowner Led
The THBGT is a Tākaka Hill landowner-led and managed Charitable Trust that adheres to good governance, financial management and transparency. We believe that Tākaka Hill landowners, through their shared knowledge and collective action, can make a significant difference in restoring and protecting native ecosystems to help achieve New Zealand's biodiversity goals.
Thank you!
For Your Support
Tākaka Hill Biodiversity Group Trust at a Glance
Nature knows no boundaries
A single goal drives the Trust; to do our part in restoring Tākaka Hill native ecosystems and protecting New Zealand's indigenous species for our children, our grandchildren and future generations. Our decision-making process is informed by evidence-based information, best practice project management, operations planning, monitoring and data evaluation. We strive to build collaborative relationships and positively impact all of our actions. For example, the Trust has a Community Agreement with DOC Motueka to look after Hawkes Lookout in the Kahurangi National Park and to carry out ecosystem restoration and protection work on neighbouring Public Conservation Land (PCL) because 'Nature knows no boundaries'.
Trust landowner volunteers clearing, planting and weeding at Hawkes Lookout using equipment funded by the Network Tasman Trust.
Goals
The Trust is committed to restoring and protecting indigenous biodiversity on Tākaka Hill. Our work aims to provide a collaborative approach to achieving New Zealand's biodiversity goals.
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Restore and protect Tākaka Hill ecosystems
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Control predator and pest species
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Achieve biodiversity gains over the next 30 years
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Increase the density and abundance of Tākaka Hill indigenous flora and fauna
Predator Control
National Park Predator HALO
With support from the 2020 DOC Community Conservation Fund, Lotteries Environment and Heritage fund, Ravensdown Ngarua Lime works and Project Janszoon, we are deploying over 400 predator control traps as part of our Tākaka Hill National Park Halo Project to:
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Increase the density and abundance of native forest birds
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Increase the density and abundance of native reptiles. The Tākaka Hill provides gecko habitat due to the extensive karst scrub and shrub lands and the elevation supporting generally low levels of ship rat compared to the lowlands.
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Monitor the density and abundance of Powelliphanta hochstetteri
Pest Plant Control
Controlling Pest Plants on Tākaka Hill
With our Trusts goals always in mind, in 2019, Kaitiaki O Ngahere developed a multi-year invasive weed control programme. First, with support from the 2019 DOC Community Conservation Fund, Kaitiaki carried out a pest plant survey on Tākaka Hill private land, resulting in the Tākaka Hill Pest Plant Management Strategy 2020-2040 and the Pest Plant Action Plan 2021-2025. A Rata Foundation grant in 2021 'kick started' pest plant control. Then, with a significant contribution from the MPI-funded Wilding Pine Community Partnership fund in 2020, Kaitiaki O Ngahere began controlling wilding pines that, left uncontrolled, will irrevocably change the unique Takaka Hill limestone/marble karst ecosystems. We are now in our third year of wilding pine control.
Contact us to learn more about our pest plant programme of work.
Sephora longicarinata
Native plants found growing on Tākaka Hill
Working to Restore and Protect Aotearoa NZ Biodiversity
Sophora longicarinata Limestone kowhai is at risk and is naturally uncommon, just one of the many unique species found on Takaka Hill, which include:
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Limestone mahoe is nationally listed as at risk, naturally uncommon’
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Brachyglottis laxiflora is an NW Nelson endemic confined to marble and limestone
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Limestone three finger is very common on the marble scrub slopes, listed as at risk, naturally uncommon.
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Limestone mahoe is nationally listed as at risk, naturally uncommon’
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Greenhood orchid/ Pterostylis oliveri loves growing on marble
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Spider orchid/ Corybas amaranthus; Birdsnest orchid/ Chiloglottis cornuta
Adult Kea
Male Miromiro (Tomtit)
Toutouwai (South Island Robin)
Adult Kea
Photo's provided by Amanda Henderson & Norman Petereit
Kea and many other native birds are part of the Tākaka Hill ecosystem
Reinforcing our commitment to protecting Native Birds
With between 3000 and 7000 Kea left in NZ, the world's only alpine parrot. Kea loves nesting and hanging out together on Takaka Hill. But they are not the only birds found here. There are also tui, korimako (bellbird), tauhou (silvereye) and kōtare (kingfisher), ruru (morepork), riroriro (grey warbler), pīwakawaka (fantail), kererū ( wood pigeon), weka, toutouwai (South Island robin), miromiro (tomtit), pipipi (brown creeper), and kārearea (falcon) and parakeet (kākāriki)
“Conservation will ultimately boil down to rewarding the private landowner who conserves the public interest.” Conservation Economics, Aldo Leopold.
Susan L. Flader and J. Baird Callicott, eds., The River of the Mother of God and Other Essays by Aldo Leopold (Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1991).
Tākaka Hill landowners, friends and students taking a break from surveying the Trusts Powelliphanta hochstetteri monitoring plot on the Tākaka Hill Walkway.
Contact the Tākaka Hill Biodiversity Group Trust
We'd love to hear from you, and get in touch to learn more about how you can support our work.
+64276794040