Kaitiakitanga

Kaitiakitanga Program and Network
Te Whaiti Nui-a-Toi children
guard and share Whirinaki,
their culture, language and values

7.1.1d Weka Reintroduction - Project Details:

Description:

The Weka was once prevalent in Whirinaki - one of our mountains is called Wekanui to indicate this. They have been absent here for almost 100 years.

The North Island weka, Gallirallus australis greyi, is a nationally endangered sub-species with approximately 6500 remaining. The cause of the decline of this once widespread bird is largely unknown, but predation by dogs, ferrets, cats and stoats, as well as disease and drought are considered to be major contributors.

The 8th April 2005 was a very historic occasion. We welcomed our Manuhiri a name (derived from Manu-bird and whiri-to plat together as one) given to visitors on the marae who have not yet been welcomed here to become a part of us. These Weka were raised on Mokoia Island, Rotorua by DOC. (Also the place where our tamariki attend taiaha training retreats)

Over 60 people attended the releasing ceremony including representatives from Ngati Whare, Whakatoea, and all the students from our School Te Kura Toitu o Te Whaiti Nui-a-Toi, the Department of Conservation Rangitaiki Area Office and Te Karere - the Maori TV Programme.

Our kaumätua Andy Kohiti led us in a moving karakia to welcome these members of our extended family who have been long absent, back to our rohe - Whirinaki.

For both our children and our elders this was a very special occasion and a big responsibility on us as kaitiaki to keep them safe. We thank those who gifted us this precious koha..

With Tony Beauchamp from DOC, we were able to touch the Weka and to give them our blessing for their new life as part or our Whanau (family) in this our valley. Behind are the mountains they will be free to explore later.

They beautiful feathers may one day again be seen to adorn our cloaks.

We took them to our predator proof enclosure in the Whirinaki Sanctuary for release.

Here we give them food and water help them to acclimatise to their new surroundings. After about 6 weeks they are gradually released into the forest allowing them to disperse and find their own territories.

The birds are fitted with transmitters, so we can keep track of them to keep them safe and to help us research how they live and breed in their new home.

Here Andy Blick, who lives in our Minginui Village and has the exciting job of looking after them, gets his radio tracking receiver out to make sure that all the transmitters are working properly.

The enclosure has a mesh barrier and an electric fence to keep predators like possums cats and stoats out. The only entrance is through a double door so that they can not sneak in (or the protected species scuttle out) when people are going through.

We have our last chance now to say goodbye and wish them well on their new adventure.

We are sure they think we humans deserve to be kept in a cage!!

One last look over the fence to say goodbye to us and spy out the new territory over the fence that will shortly be a new roaming ground.

A chance to look around the patch with those beady eyes at last.

E Hoa, Let me go now please. I see a great new place to make a new home.

On 29 May 2005 another group of birds arrive to join them.

These ones also find their first home in the enclosure.

Can you see them from there?

Where did that bird get to!! It's roaming free in the Whirinaki Forest undergrowth and riverbeds at last..

Resources:

FIND OUT ABOUT OUR OTHER SPECIES PROTECTION IN WHIRINAKI

Click to see DOC Announcement about how we welcomed Weka back into our Forest

DOC Information on Weka

Outcomes expected:

Weka re-established in Whirinaki

Start Date:
Expected Completion:

Budget: This a DOC financed project

Nominal Project Leader:

Project Team:

Issues Register:

Progress Log

NOTICES AND ACHIEVEMENTS:

Our gift to you - download Free Whirinaki Matariki Wall Calendar

What Andree a sustainability writer discovered about Kaitiakitanga

Coming Easter 2010 Biomimicry Exploration - Norbert Hoeller, Auckland
David Bellamy - Moa's Ark revisited tour Whirinaki 25 4-10 Oct 09
The Maori Youth Hikoi to Bioneers Conference, San Francisco 16 Oct 08
VIDEO "Redesigning our Future" - Youth Forum with Michael Braungart

Check out our school's Energy Monitoring / Weatherstation project
Our drama production, kapakaka and other creative initiatives
WEMZ - The Whirinaki Ecological Restoration Zone - a project with DOC

Ngati Whare Iwi Treaty Negotiations settlement underway
DOC partnerships information kiosk, Mangamate, Sanctuary(proposed)
Take a photo tour through our valley see restoration work needed
Ready to start - our Whirinaki Centre, Nursary and Recycling Projects
Our project to upgrade our water supply in Minginui Mar 07
Thanks TPK for facilitating Govt support for Minginui initiatives

Toxin Bioremediation Project started in Whakatane May 09
Celebrate what our friends at Hokianga Harbourcare are doing
Our Network's Mycorestoration Research Project - Fungi and mushroom
Our Lopez friends help Raglan with an affordable housing project

Thanks MfE for a big toxin cleanup on our millsites - July 07
Blocked - our Community Digital Strategy - Whirinaki Interactive 12/06
Prince Andrew adopts our Kiwi, Princess Beatrice on Mokoia Is Mar 07
Our network on the Kiwi Youth Voice learning journey to US. Mar 07
Our network at Youth Voice Digital Earth Summit on Sustainbility Aug 06
We welcomed Hunter Lovins 7-9 July 06, VIDEO view NZ tour resources
Thanks Waikato University for help with broadband 05
Thanks Housing Corp, house painting and marae restoration teams
Go Tramping in Whirinaki. See Kaka, Kiwi, Weka, Robin, Blueduck
Report Living Organisation workshops. Tipu Ake presented worldwide 05
Report Hikoi to Indigenous Knowledges Conf , Well, NZ. June 05
Thanks to UNITEC Architecture Students for help with town plans 04
Report on Sustainable Resources Conf, Colorado 04
Report on PMI Global Forum, Los Angeles Tipu Ake paper 04
Report on Sharing Indigenous Wisdom Conf, Wisconsin, June 04
Int and local visitors attend Tipu Ake Retreat March 04 See report
MPs Horomia and Mallard open our new merged area school Jan 04
Trip to Whaingaroa Env Gp Raglan, Jan04 learnings, VIDEO view