August 2016 Newsletter
Lake Waiorongomai
President: Margarette Treacher Phone 06 364 5986 Secretary: Joan Leckie Phone 06 368 1277
Lake Papaitonga Scenic Reserve
Lake Papaitonga or Waiwiri is a dune lake in the
Horowhenua plain. The lake and the surrounding
wetland and coastal forest make up 136ha of
scenic reserve.
The lake contains 2 islands, the larger being
natural and the smaller man made by the
Muaupoko people during the early part of the
20th century.
It is made
from soil and
crushed mussel
shells taken
there by canoe.
The lake was
the scene of
revenge killing
of 600 Maori
as Muaupoko
had killed some
of Te Rauparaha’s children. The Island was used
as a refuge for the local Maori when they were
under attack.
The reserve is an intact progression of rare
coastal forest to wetland with stands of mature
Kahikatea, Pukatea and Swamp Maire forest
while the wetland contains Flax, Raupo and
Sedges.
In the mid 1800s Walter Buller, a young lawyer
and magistrate visited the Horowhenua district
and was immediately drawn to the lake. At the
time it was noisy with birdsong and huge flocks
of pigeons visited to feed on the Kahikatea
berries. He vowed to preserve it from the axe
as all around the timber was being milled.
He planned to purchase it and create his own
country seat (similar to those in England) and
set up a refuge for birds such as the Kiwi, Huia
and Tui.
He purchased the land in 1897, in a rather
dubious deal with the local Maori and set about
creating his dream. He introduced a large
number of water fowl into the lake, trout into
the water and ornamental and fruit trees were
planted by the hundreds. The grounds were laid
out grandly right down to the waters edge. But
the grand mansion he planned to build
never eventuated.
He built a huge aviary to keep native birds
in and went searching for the bird that he
had labelled hopelessly doomed— the
Huia. No Huia ever made it to the aviary
but Kiwi were on the island and many
other native birds in the aviary. The many
exotic water birds were eventually shot
by the state farmers.
He hoarded any Maori curiosities he could find
and placed them near the lake. A magnificent
carved Pataka or Maori Storehouse was
obtained and erected in a prominent position.
This Pataka can now be viewed in Te Papa.
In 1901 the bush was formally established as a
reserve and the lake added to it in 1991.
Roberta Mayclair
The War of the Praying Mantis
There is a war going on in New Zealand and it
has reached Foxton !
Somehow an African Praying Mantis has
reached New Zealand, and it is causing havoc
with our native praying mantis.
The female African Mantis is very aggressive,
and tries to mate with the NZ male Mantis.
However, immediately after copulating this
female African eats the NZ male ! Although
not considered a pest, it is feared that this
African mantis is taking over from the NZ
variety.
Some of these aggressive ones
have been found in a backyard in Foxton.
Check out your backyard on a sunny day.
NZ Female Praying Mantis
Here are pictures of the two females, NZ
and African. See that the NZ variety has a
blue spot on one of its front legs.
The Gisborne Herald recently published an
article about a woman who had found
hundreds in her garden and has squashed
them/ She found nests all over her house,
and has seen them eating bees and monarch
butterflies. Gisborne Forest & Bird chairman,
Grant Vincent, says the larger African mantis
is slowly taking over from the NZ species,
and no one seems to know what to do about it.
African Praying Mantis
Joan Leckie
Photos by : Terry Oliver - Ward
Contact numbers for the new committee appointed for 2016
Chairman:
Margarette Treacher
Vice Chairman
David Goodin
Secretary:
Joan Leckie
Minute Secretary:
Barbara Littlejohns
Treasurer:
Ian Mc Brydie
Conservation:
Joan Leckie
Newsletter Editor:
Joan Leckie
Newsletter Printer:
Lena Berger
What’s On :
Angelina McBrydie
KCC Co-ordinator
Angelina McBrydie
Birdwatching:
Geoff Monk
Committee
Roberta Mayclair
Committee
Geoff Ritchie
Telephone
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06 364 5986
06 368 8900
06 368 1277
06 364 5063
06 367 3776
06 368 1277
06 368 1277
06 368 4890
06 367 3776
06 367 3776
06 364 5986
06 368 6686
927 9281
CALENDARS FOR 2017
lll
The calendars we produced last year
were a great success, so we have
again this year produced our own.
Having photos from around our own
area and taken by local photographers
makes it a bit unique we feel.
All the profit from the calendars will
support our native plant nursery in
which we grow plants which are then
planted in the new Papaitonga
Wetland area .
The Calendars will be selling for
$15.00 each
or
Terek Sandpiper - Ohau Estuary
$12.50 for 2 or more
Sunset - Foxton Beach
Tree Swordbelt - Kohitere Forest White head - Kohitere forest
Bell Frog
- Foxton
Kowhai
-
Levin
Barbara Littlejohns is as usual
looking after the sales and you
can contact her on 06 364 5063
Pott’s Hill - Horowhenua
Hokio Beach
Pied Stilt on Eggs - Ohau Estuary
NZ Robin Bushy Park
Chrystalls Bend
Pohutukawa
Every week brings a new
photograph of our unique
landscapes, plants and wildlife.
This quality week-to-view diary
features public holidays, and a
lay-flat spiral binding.
Our price $22.00
Contact Barbara
Littlejohns
on 06 364 5063
DID YOU KNOW?
Helm's butterfly or the forest ringlet
butterfly (Dodonidia helmsii) is a
rare butterfly ofthe family Nymphalidae,
endemic to New Zealand. It is the only
species in the genus Dodonidia. It feeds
on Gahnia spp. and is found mainly in beech
(Nothofagus spp.) forest. It has become
more endangered due to the rarity of its
food plant and the introduction of
predatory wasps to New Zealand that prey
on their larvae.
The butterfly is now only known in areas
above 700m and even there populations are
local and rare. This is our only true forest
butterfly, at home in forest interiors as
well as sunbathing on the foliage of forestedge trees. The elongated green larvae feed
on various tall sedges in the genus Gahnia.
Return Address
Horowhenua Forest &
Bird
C/- L. Berger
5 Gordon Place
LEVIN
Australasian Bittern at Lake Omanu
Photo by Lena Berger
CLIMATE CHANGE – What will happen in Otaki and Horowhenua ? ?
Acidification in the ocean is causing a drastic decline in shellfish along our coast. New Zealand has the greatest
number of sea birds in the world, but changing ocean currents are warmer seas are likely to deprive our sea birds, and
seals, of food.
Increased mast years of seeding in our native forests are providing large supplies of seed food for the furry predators
such as rats, possums, and stoats.
Increased drought, extreme winds, and higher fire-risk are contributing to forest collapse and threatening wildlife.
Warmer temperatures and regional climate changes will bring increased number of weed pests for our market
gardeners. Already velvet leaf is a big worry here to those planting crops.
Coastal homes are at risk from storms – such as the recent erosion at Raumati South.
- But don’t shrug and think – what can we do? There are things you can do. Plan ahead.
- Native trees store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, so plant more and help groups
such as Forest & Bird to grow more at their nursery in Levin. Plant them around the
towns, especially bird food trees, bringing the native birds back to towns.
- Use public transport as much as you can, and carpool to common events.
Joan Leckie