By MAGGIE TAIT
The Chatham Islands, home to the world's rarest seabird, the taiko, celebrated its anniversary day yesterday with a visit from the Governor-General, Dame Silvia Cartwright.
Opening an extension to the Department of Conservation office, Dame Silvia said she hoped it would help in the fight to protect endangered
species on the islands.
The Chathams, 750km southeast of Wellington, were home to 20 per cent of New Zealand's threatened birds, 14 per cent of its threatened plants and 8.5 per cent of threatened freshwater fish, she said.
Saving the taiko, of which there are between 100 and 150 birds and only eight pairs known to be breeding, was internationally important.
"DoC staff out here have a very special responsibility, so it's very important that, like the endangered species out there, DoC staff here also have a good environment in which to work."
The Chathams area office manager for DoC, Adrian Couchman, said the Te One office with its 100sq m, $106,000 extension and refurbishment would house 12 permanent staff and up to 30 volunteers and casualstaff.
The devolution of conservation management from the mainland and increasing recognition of the islands' biodiversity meant staff numbers had outgrown the original office, which opened in 1995.
"We had staff sharing offices, staff in the foyer and staff in the workshop," Mr Couchman said.
DoC is responsible for about 4 per cent, or 7129ha, of the islands and has a $1.2 million annual budget.
Two Crown-owned island sanctuaries, Rangatira and Mangere, are pest-free but the other islands are plagued by rats, pigs, stoats and possums.
Mr Couchman said during a visit to the Tuku Reserve that it had been an uphill battle getting local people to help with conservation work, but it was paying offnow.
"What I'm trying to say is, it's for their benefit, not for mine. It's up to them to take responsibility for issues like biosecurity."
The 1238ha Tuku Reserve on the southern part of Chatham Island was given to the Crown by islanders Manuel and Evelyn Tuanui in 1983. It contains some important forest and threatened species and plants.
Dame Silvia was welcomed on the islands yesterday morning at Te Whakamaharatanga Marae in Te One.
- NZPA
Herald feature: Environment
