Human pests attack gates

Second run of tracking tunnels

Seasons Greetings

Tracking tunnels Nov 08

Second aerial drop Oct08
The weather gods were once again on the side of the organisers with almost perfect conditions. Now it is wait and see for a few months to see the success. Tracking tunnels will be used to determine if there are any little pests still around.

Aerial pest eradication drop
After weeks of atrocious weather the big day dawned with perfect conditions. Volunteers were up with the birds for their briefing, before taking up strategic spots around the fence line to ensure that everything went to plan. The Skyworks helicopter and support crew ensured that the drop went smoothly and all was completed by 3pm. Subsequent tracking tunnel reports are very positive. See photo gallery for pictures of the day

Fence and gates complete!
In mid July Xcluder Fence Company returned to install the main electronic entrance gates ..... the Reserve is now totally pest proof and ready for the pest eradication. All we need now is some fine weather for rodent bait application....?!?!

Banrock Station Wines visit Rotokare
On Tuesday May 13th, Banrock Station Wine members visited Rotokare to check out the project and find out about our hopes to bring the endangered pateke (or Brown Teal) back to Taranaki. It was a stunning day - perfect for showing off the fence and views of the reserve from strategic points on the ridge line. We hope that Banrock is impressed enough to consider funding part of our programme in the near future. Every bottle of Banrock wine we purchase goes towards wetland conservation in NZ - happy drinking!

Open Walk Review
Our Easter monday open walk around the predator-proof fence was a success! Beautiful weather resulted in good views from the ridge tops; interesting talks from the volunteer guides; fantastic food - a sausage sizzle and (just!) 6 choices of yummy quiche to choose from; and of course, fantastic company to match. Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Trust, we look forward to organising the next event!

Prime Minister visits Rotokare
On Wednesday the 6th of June Prime Minister Helen Clark called in to see the conservation efforts being carried out at Rotokare. Helen Clark was invited to speak as part of a Trust progress celebration - she spoke about the importance of projects such as Rotokare and their significant contribution to conservation and the recovery of endangered species. A surprise announcement was then made and the Prime Minister presented the Trust with a large cheque for $578,699. We are absolutely thrilled to recieve this grant (from the Significant Community Based Projects Fund) as it is the result of a lot of hard work, not only throughout the application process but also by all of the community who have gotten behind this project to make it the success it is. The funding will go towards the last part of fence completion, carpark and walking track upgrade, and the planned pest eradication to enable the translocation of endangered species such as kiwi, saddleback and kokako.

Celebrity Art Auction
On Friday the 25th of May the Eltham Village Gallery organised a celebrity art auction to raise funds for the gallery and Rotokare Trust. Works of art were donated by over thirty local and national celebrities - Micheal Smither, John Key, the mayors, and Joyce Young to name a few. A fantastic night was had by all. A huge thank you must go to the community for their generous support, and all those who donated art to the cause. Thank you also to The Mill Liquorsave Stratford for donating wine, Eltham Four Square for the non-alchoholic beverages, and Mainland Eltham for the delicious cheese.