Te Kaha Hawaikirangi and Anthony Campbell will be helping to look after the wellbeing of local environment and wildlife around Ahuriri. Photo / Supplied
Te Kaha Hawaikirangi and Anthony Campbell will be helping to look after the wellbeing of local environment and wildlife around Ahuriri. Photo / Supplied
A kororā/little penguin research and enhancement project has kicked off in Ahuriri, Napier.
The project includes three stages of work: habitat protection, current habitat improvements and future habitat development.
It's part of the Marine Cultural Health Programme (MCHP), an initiative developed in partnership between mana whenua hapū of Ahuriri and Napier Port, to monitor and protect the health of the Ahuriri marine environment as the port builds its new 6 Wharf project.
Napier Port's Pou Tikanga (cultural adviser) and environmental adviser Te Kaha Hawaikirangi said they wanted the MCHP to be a "true embodiment" of kaitiakitanga or guardianship.
"In that sense we see it as an obligation to care for the environment and maintain it for future generations.
"The more people and organisations we can have working towards this purpose, the better."
He said the kororā project was about extending the monitoring and research work outside of the port's boundaries, and the port's on-port penguin sanctuary, and into the wider Ahuriri community.
"Hopefully this work will help raise awareness about the importance and uniqueness of our local environment and its wildlife, and reinforce the need to protect it."
Kororā are an important taonga (treasured natural resource) species identified in the MCHP and the Ahuriri area is home to a significant population. They are mainly found nesting in the coastal limestone rock revetment walls and vegetation located along Hardinge Road and in the inner harbour area.
A little penguin hiding from the limelight at Ahuriri. Photo / Jason Tickner
A recent survey conducted by Napier Port's environmental team identified 150-plus nesting sites in the area.
Due to the built-up urban environment along the Ahuriri foreshore, including public parks, walkways, urban development and marine industrial areas, kororā are at risk from predators and habitat disturbance.
The development of the kororā research and enhancement project required a collaborative effort with the MCHP's Programme Manager – Te Kaha Hawaikirangi, and its steering committee working closely with the Kaitaiaki Rangers, mana whenua hapū, and Napier City Council's Parks and Reserves team.
Five areas along the Ahuriri foreshore were identified in the project plan as sites for the enhancement work.
Kaitiaki Rangers team leader Anthony Campbell said the rangers were "very excited" to get started with the conservation work.
"We'll be on the ground most of this week making a start on the future habitat development with about 500 native species ready to be planted, including tauhinu, taupata and mountain flax."
The Kaitiaki Rangers will also have a number of traps on hand to be installed along the waterfront to target rodents and stoats, which forms part of the crucial habitat protection work.
The traps not only protect the kororā population from predators, but also have the added benefit of protecting local birdlife in the area.
Later this month, the Kaitiaki Rangers will be installing nesting boxes near the inner harbour and concealing exposed kororā nests with strategic rock placements in order to provide better cover and protection for nesting penguin pairs.
It is currently nesting season and NCC signage has recently been installed to educate the public about local kororā and reiterate the importance of people and dogs not disturbing the nests.
The Kaitiaki Rangers are employed by Te Wai Mauri Environmental Trust and are supported by the Jobs for Nature programme. Te Wai Mauri is a mana whenua hapū based organisation that supports whānau to undertake their role as a kaitiaki (guardianship of the environment).
