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Archives For 30/11/1999

Turtles cruising the big blue

Department of Conservation —  23/06/2014

By Denice Gillespie, Partnerships Ranger, Kaitaia

This year during Seaweek (1-9 March) a crew from Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium in Auckland released two green turtles back to the sea in the Far North with the support of Te Rarawa Iwi.

These two turtles, named ‘Luke’ and ‘Isla’, were found washed up near Ahipara last year, and were nursed back to health by the Kelly Tarlton’s team.

Locals returning a green turtle to the sea at Ahipara.

A crowd gathered at Ahipara for the release of Luke and Isla

A large crowd gathered on the beach at Ahipara to witness the returning of the turtles back to their natural environment.

Not long after the release Cyclone Lusi hit and we were all hoping that the turtles hadn’t been affected by it. I was getting a little worried.

Green turtle swimming at Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve.

Green turtle

Dan Godoy also known as the ‘Turtle Man’ from Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium recently gave me an update on the two turtles. It is good news!

Dan reports that one turtle has just left Parengarenga and is now exploring the waters around Houhora. The other turtle was recorded around Manukau Harbour but has since left and was heading a little further south.

A map tracking one turtle near Houhora in the Far North.

One turtle tracked in the waters around Houhora

So it’s good to see our turtle friends are still cruising the big blue, sharing the turtle love! It’ll be interesting to see what they get up to over winter.

In Marine, Native animals, Northland , , , , , , ,
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I’d like some kiwi in my backyard too….

Department of Conservation —  10/04/2014

Kiwi releases attract plenty of media attention, often triggering individuals and groups to consider establishing kiwi in their patch.

Now, new guidelines have been created to help people understand the process and requirements.

DOC Ranger, Liz Maire, explains…

Up close—the public get their first experience of kiwi.

Up close—the public get their first experience of kiwi

Kiwi releases are good news stories and generate positive and widespread coverage. This media attention often results in a flurry of public enquiries about how individuals or groups can establish kiwi in their local reserve or the bush block at the back of the farm.

Kiwi releases are good news stories and generate positive and widespread coverage

Kiwi releases generate positive and widespread coverage

DOC Biodiversity Services Ranger, Pete Graham showing some of the children the kiwi pre release into a burrow.


DOC Biodiversity Services Ranger, Pete Graham showing some of the children the kiwi pre release into a burrow.

The Northland Kiwi Forum Working Group and Kiwis for kiwi identified that, although there are many groups and individuals that aspire to have kiwi in their patch, there was no single resource that outlined the process and considerations for them.

Many individuals described obtaining this information as daunting and confusing.

A guide to establishing new kiwi populations (PDF, 2091K) was developed to fill this gap and provide a first check of the journey they might be embarking upon.

The guide addresses the key considerations of communication, planning and commitment. These are then expanded upon to address:

– Habitat and threat management requirements;

– Identifying kiwi that might be used to establish a new population;

– Key relationships, support and approvals required; and

– Considerations for ongoing management once established.

The Northland Kiwi Forum Working Group in conjunction with Kiwis for kiwi drew upon the experiences and frustrations of applicants and approvers of past translocations in developing the guidelines.

Although drafted with an emphasis on establishing and protecting populations of Northland brown kiwi, the document should also be useful for other kiwi taxa or even other species.

Toby Shanley, Kevin and Gill Adshead of Mataia.
Kiwis for kiwi, iwi representatives, Department of Conservation and Auckland Zoo kiwi specialists about to ‘hand the kiwi over’ to the people of Mataia.
Jo Ritchie releasing a kiwi into a temporary wooden burrow.
Wendy Sporle of Kiwis for kiwi introducing Gill and Kevin Adhead of Mataia to one of their new kiwi, surrounded by the public.

The Northland Kiwi Forum

The Northland Kiwi Forum is a collaboration of agencies, individuals, iwi, community groups, farmers, foresters, and central and local government staff who are actively involved in managing the Northland taxon of Northland brown kiwi on public and private land.

Kiwis for kiwi

Kiwis for kiwi is a non profit organisation that supports the work of more than 80 community groups around the country, providing funding for vital kiwi conservation, breeding and hatching programmes. 

In Kiwi, Northland, Volunteers , ,
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DOC firefighters in Tasmania

Department of Conservation —  23/01/2013

Eight DOC staff are currently in Australia helping with the bush fires. You can read updates from John Barnes, Manager Rural Fire in Christchurch, below.

The DOC firefighting crew with a couple of Tasmanian mates that have been working with them.

The DOC firefighting crew with a couple of Tasmanian mates that have been working with them

Thursday 10 January

Just to let you know we all arrived safely in Hobart at 2130 hours last night. We were met by Tony Blanks from Tasmania Forestry who has worked with many of us in the past. Tony was meant to have retired over New Year but has remained on in the mean time to help out with the fires.

Our two flights over from New Zealand were very interesting. The crews and passengers picked up very quickly that we were heading over to help the Tasmanians. On both planes we received  loud cheers and clapping from the captain, crew and passengers.

We are heading to the Forestry offices this morning for a briefing with Tony. At this stage it looks like the two New Zealand crews may be working in different areas. I will report back on that later.

Tony was saying there are no rentals available in Tasmania as the fire cut the main highway and cars were left abandoned and a lot of tourists were taken back to their ship by another means. We are getting a number of retired 4×4 for transport; some may be missing a few things but are road worthy.

Clinton Lyall hard at it with a McLeod Tool.

Clinton Lyall hard at it with a McLeod Tool

Friday 11 January

The two New Zealand Response Teams from Northland (made of DOC staff) and Nelson (two out of six are DOC staff) have been deployed to two separate fires and will be starting their first day this Friday. The team from Nelson including Dave Newton (Crew Leader) and fire-fighters Aston Oliver, Stuart Saunders, Stephen Wilkins, Matthew Page and William Franklin are deployed to the ongoing fire at Lake Repulse approx 1.5 hrs North West of Hobart. This fire is a threat to the National Park at Mt Field and has burnt through approx 11,000 ha. The crew will be working with chainsaws, handtools and pumps and hoses in very steep rocky and broken country where machinery can’t access. They are staying at a homestead.

Matiu Mataira taking a break.

Matiu Mataira taking a break

The Northland Team of Glen Coulston (Crew Leader) and fire fighters Clinton Lyall, Matiu Mataira, Paul Cornille, Clea Gardner and James McLaughlin have been deployed to the Montumoa Fire in the North West. This is an ongoing fire that has burnt through approx 3000 ha. They are presently staying in motels in the NW at Burnie. They will be deployed to the fire early Friday.The teams have been given the name of unusual name of RATS–(Response Attack Teams) by some of the Tasmanian fire fighting personnel.

Sunday 13 January

I’m presently up in Burnie (excuse the pun) in the north of Tasmania with the Northland Rapid Attack Team (RATS) with Glen Coulston (Crew Leader) and fire fighters Clinton Lyall, Matiu Mataira, Paul Cornille, Clea Gardner and James McLaughlin. We are staying at the Seabrook Hotel in units close to the beach.

A friendly frog.

A friendly frog

One or two of the crew have been taking a dip in the sea each morning – the sea temp is apparently very cold. The hotel staff have really gone out of their way to accommodate the crew and look after them. While we were having breakfast this morning there was a loud roar and the hotel shook. It has been confirmed it was an earthquake (something the locals say never happens here).

I managed to drive up some steep firebreaks and tracks to meet up with the crew yesterday at the Speedwell Fire. They were working very high up in the hills dealing to spot fires that are still burning in bush. Helicopters were also being used by the crew to drop water from Bambi Buckets on to the hotspots.

The prevention measures to take when working around snakes.

The prevention measures to take when working around snakes

The team from Nelson including Dave Newton (Crew Leader) and fire-fighters Aston Oliver, Stuart Saunders, Stephen Wilkins, Matthew Page and William Franklin have been redeployed from the Repulse fire to the Fawcet Fire located near Hobart out on the Peninsula towards Port Arthur. They will be working in very tall timber that has a heavy understory of scrub. They have managed to score an equipment trailer to carry all their gear on. They are staying at some motels near the beach front at Cambridge that has a great view and reminds them of home. I hope to catch up again with Dave and his crew in the next couple of days and get some photos to send back to New Zealand.

Regarding the arrangements over the next few days it is proposed that both crews will travel to Hobart on Tuesday and have Wednesday as a day off. Another weather event that may have an impact on the fire is expected around Thursday next week. The two teams are expected to be in Hobart during this period. It will then be easier to deploy them to any fresh outbreaks of fires.

A couple of the Northland crew taking a break.

A couple of the Northland crew taking a break

Tuesday 15 January

Both Kiwi “RATs” are working on the Repulse Fire today and after their shift they will be heading to Hobart for a break on Wednesday and possibly Thursday. They will be staying at Rydges Hotel for the next couple of nights. I met up with the Mayor of Hamilton yesterday at the staging area for the Repulse Fire. She has asked me to pass on the thanks of the local community for the assistance and hard work the Kiwi teams have been involved at.

I have arranged for their washing to be picked up tomorrow morning and returned tomorrow night; they are possibly starting to smell a bit by now. Forestry Tasmania are also arranging for a meal tomorrow night for the two crews where we can all dine together and meet up with New Zealand National Rural Fire Officer Murray Dudfield and Forest Fire Management officer with Forestry Tasmania Tony Blanks.

There has been some good feedback from the Incident Management Teams on the work carried out by the two Kiwi teams. Apparently our teams are doing the work that has been planned for them in half the time required.

There is a chance they may have to go back to work this Thursday. This is very dependent on the weather event that is forecasted to come through on Thursday. At this stage weather indicators are showing it may be not as bad as first thought however, the crews will need to be ready for any breakout of fire or any new fire incidents.

When I meet up with the two Kiwi teams tomorrow I hope to get some more photos from them to be included with the updates.

Dave Newton's fire crew in action.

Dave Newton’s fire crew in action

Thursday 17 January

Both Kiwi “RATs” are heading back to the Repulse Fire today after a much needed break. They managed to get their washing done and to also have a look around some of the tourist sites in greater Hobart. Dave Newton receives the award for the day for leaving his camera in his overalls that went to the laundry. Not sure whether it still works but managed to get the card out of it okay.

Tony Blanks Tasmanian Forestry hosted us all for the night along with National Rural Fire Officer Murray Dudfield and a couple of retired Tasmanians who were part of the first deployment to the United States – Dick Chuter from Parks and Wildlife and Tony Davidson from Tasmanian Fire Service.

It was great to catch with some of our old mates.

Today is meant to be a lot warmer and windy but fire dangers are not expected to get to the highs of a couple of weeks ago.

Murray and I are to meet up with a TV crew from New Zealand (Campbell Live show) today. They are to do a story on the Kiwi crew’s deployment.

At this stage it is planned for the crews to return to Hobart next Tuesday for a debrief and then return home to New Zealand next Wednesday 23 Jan 2013.

Our firefighters are looking in pretty good condition after some very hard and arduous work after their first week in Tasmania. They do have a few cuts and bruises. We and the Tasmanians are very proud of them.

Dave Newton's fire crew in action

Dave Newton’s fire crew in action.

See updates from the National Rural Fire Authority here.

In Jobs at DOC, Nelson/Marlborough, Northland , , , , , ,
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Jobs at DOC: Dan O’Halloran, Ranger – Biodiversity

Department of Conservation —  12/10/2012

Come behind the scenes and into the jobs, the challenges, the highlights, and the personalities of the people who work at the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Today we profile Dan O’Halloran, Ranger – Biodiversity.

Name:  Dan O’Halloran.

Position: Ranger Biodiversity Bay of Islands Area Office.

Dan getting down and dirty on Mauima.

Getting down and dirty on Mauimua (Lady Alice) a few years back

At work

Possum in a tree.

The possum is public enemy number one!

What kind of things do you do in your role? 

I trap, poison and monitor possums and supervise other staff, contractors, volunteers and commercial operators doing the same. I monitor & supervise our goat programme; assist with species work including snails (flax and kauri) and kiwi; assist with our weed programme and run the Puketi Weedbusters group.

I work with various community and iwi groups and liase with adjoining landowers, especially regarding pest control issues. As an Area Warranted Officer I am mainly involved with hunters and dog issues, as well as vandalism and rubbish dumping. I am a boat skipper, a Rural Fire Officer and staff Health and Safety rep.

What is the best part about your job? 

Two things, the first are those moments when you come across something – a creature or view appears, or you notice plant in fruit or flower – and you know that you would never have got that experience if it weren’t for the job you’re doing. The second is when that happens, along with the realisation, that what you are seeing is a direct result of work done by yourself, your colleagues or our conservation partners.

Four flax snails sitting on a rock under plants.

Flax snails on (the imaginatively named) Snail Rock

What was your highlight from the month just gone?

Seeing how well the pohutukawa are recovering in Pekapeka Bay.

The rule of 3…


3 loves 

  1.  My buddy Viv and all our friends and whanau.
  2. The natural world.
  3. Music.


3 pet peeves

  1. Vandals – why don’t you just get a life.
  2. Rubbish dumpers/litterers – ditto.
  3. Poorly informed people who think they have all the answers regarding pest control.


3 foods

  1. Rice.
  2. Plums.
  3. Dead creatures.

3 favourite places in New Zealand 

  1. The Whangaroa rohe, from Takou to Taemaro it is, like the man said, “a singular and beautifully romantic place”.
  2. Waikouaiti and East Otago, a wonderful place to grow up.
  3. Puketi Omahuta, if you’re talking biodiversity it’s the mother of all ngahere.
View from Whangaroa Harbour.

View from Whangaroa Harbour

Favourite movie , album, book  

  • Album – its a toss up between “Genius” the Warren Zevon greatest hits collection and “Enjoy Every Sandwich” where Dylan, Springsteen, Earle, and The Pixies etc. pay tribute to Zevon’s brillance, with an honourable mention for the Amnesty International  4 CD release “Chimes of Freedom” where 80 artists do Dylan covers. Some pretty amazing stuff, and if you buy it off the website your $40 goes to fighting injustice.
  • Movie – one of the best I’ve seen lately is “Sex & Drugs & Rock’n’Roll”, the Ian Dury biopic starring Andy Serkis.
  • Book – Jared Diamond’s “Guns Germs & Steel” or  Tim Flannery’s “The Future Eaters”.

Deep and meaningful…


What piece of advice would you tell your 18 year old self?

It dosen’t matter, I wouldn’t have taken any notice. At 18 I knew everthing and was totally bulletproof.

Who or what inspires you and why? 

My colleagues who keep on keeping on despite everything that gets thrown at them.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

A DJ.

And now, if you weren’t working at DOC, what would you want to be? 

A conservation worker for the NZ Native Forests Restoration Trust, Kiwi Foundation, Puketi Forest Trust or some other NGO.

What sustainability tip would you like to pass on? 

Switch things off – it’s that simple.

Which green behaviour would you like to adopt this year—at home? At work? 

Use less paper.

If you could be any New Zealand native species for a day, what would you be and why? 

If that day was 1200 or so years ago, I’d like to be a kauri specifically the giant Te Tangi O Te Tui so I could see what creatures roamed Puketi in its heyday, if thats not a real answer I’ll go for the Kahu because they’re cool (vote for the Kahu in the Forest & Bird poll – closes 10 October).

What piece of advice or message would you want to give to New Zealanders when it comes to conservation? 

People—get out there and do it, it’s not enough to talk the talk, you need to walk the walk.

Rata in flower on the Mokau ridge.

One of those moments – rata in flower on the Mokau ridge Puketi Omahuta

Please leave a comment – do you have any pieces of advice or messages that you would give to New Zealanders when it comes to conservation?

In Animal pests, Jobs at DOC, Northland, Regions, Sustainability, Weeds , , , , ,
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Far North’s first posthumous citizen’s award: William Macrae 1957-2011

Department of Conservation —  20/08/2012

By Jeniffer Larson

Kaitaia Area Office Ranger, William Macrae, who was tragically killed in a helicopter crash last November, has been awarded the Far North’s first posthumous Citizen’s Award.

William Macrae at Three Kings Islands

William Macrae, Janeen Collings, Lester Bridson and Nellie Norman on Three Kings Islands

William and John ‘Prickles’ De Ridder (the helicopter pilot), lost their lives on November 30 2011, when the helicopter they were in crashed into the sea just off the Karikari coastline in Northland. Both men had been involved in fighting a wildfire and had been diverted to try to rescue people who had fled into the ocean to escape the flames.

The courageous actions of the men were honoured at a special ceremony at the Far North District Council office. Far North Mayor, Wayne Brown, acknowledged the enormous contributions both men had made to their communities.

Left to Right: Alan Macrae, Doug Te Wake, Rocky Andrew (brother in-law), Jenny Larson (reading tribute), Laurie Andrew (Jenny’s sister), Samuel Larson Macrae (son), Carol De Ridder (Prickles’ wife) and Grant Harnish (Salt Air)

Mayor Brown talked about the role both men had played in serving their communities over several years as fire fighters, “ultimately sacrificing their lives.”

Hunting trip in the Ruahines

William’s widow, Jenny Larson (who is the Office Support Ranger in Kaitaia), received the award on William’s behalf. Jenny was supported by family, friends and a good contingent of local DOC staff.

In a heartfelt speech, Jenny expressed her gratitude and appreciation to all those who had supported her and the rest of the family in the months following William’s death. She said that since the accident that claimed William and Prickles’ lives, “our families have been helped, supported and loved by a countless number of individuals.”

William, James Andrew (nephew) and Samuel Larson Macrae (son) hunting

William was considered one of DOC’s most experienced fire fighters. He had been called upon to act in a variety of roles, including front line fire fighting, and as a member of the CIMS team. His death was a harsh reminder to his colleagues of the dangers that sometimes comes with the territory of working for DOC. Certainly, each of us thinks hard before engaging in fire fighting or getting into a helicopter since the accident.

William and Jenny scrubbed up for daughter Shauna’s wedding

William was a great colleague, with a passion for his work and for our community. His last project was overseeing the upgrades and construction of a multi-day walk in Te Paki. William’s work on the track is continued through his brother, Alan Macrae (Kaitaia’s Historic Ranger) who has taken over the project, and William’s son Samuel, who is working with the building contractors. Plans are underway to incorporate a memorial for William into the track, once completed.

Once again Jenny and her family wish to send thanks to all that have helped and are still helping in so many ways.

Na te whanau nei e mihi aroha kia koutou ma. I to koutou nei awhina, manaaki, aroha ranei. E kau nei matou te Whanau e warewaretia.
Noreira, na te atua e tiaki, e manaaki hoki.

In Northland , , , , , , ,
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