www.rotokare.org.nz

06 764 8500 contact@rotokare.org.nz

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Merry Christmas

From the whole team at

Rotokare, we wish you all a

very merry Christmas, and

thank you all for your amazing

support throughout the year.

Membership

Every annual membership donation

goes towards supporting the broad

and diverse work at Rotokare.

$30 individual, $40 family, and $50

business/group

Do you know someone that would

like to support a community-led

conservation charity? Every

membership counts!

Coming up at Rotokare:

World Wetlands Day: Sunday 31st

January. Come and learn about the

importance of wetlands restoration,

including practical demonstrations.

More details to come in January

ROTOKARE

Bush Telegraph

New Chairperson for Trust There has been a changing of the guard in the Trust. Steve Kane has stepped

up to the role of Chairman. Outgoing chairman Mike Weren had been in the role

around 5 years and is currently also chair of the Taranaki Biodiversity Trust.

There are also some new faces on the Trust, with three new co-opted Trust

members joining them. Jacqui Kings-North, Graham Boag, and Deborah Clough

have all taken up the challenge. We welcome them all to the team!

Thanks guys! For the brilliant work you’ve all done for the Rotokare project. We

wish you all well on your new adventures.

Janet Hunt has spent most of the year helping with the administration role at Ro-

tokare, and has made a wonderful contribution to the running of the office.

Jess Brocas, while having only been with us a relatively short time, before her

family had a move out of the region, made a significant contribution to the educa-

tion programme.

Chauncy Ardell, spent two years as Rotokare Site Manager, and while having

now moved on with a family focus, played a crucial role in further developing the

role, and the sanctuary systems.

Farewell to some of our team...

Mike Weren

hands over the

reigns to Steve

Kane

Visit our facebook page to see

this video, and other updates on

the project.

www.facebook.com/rotokare/

Rotokare Volunteer Profile

Volunteer Coordinator & Committee Chairperson

Jenny Kerrisk seen here in workshop with Laura has been busy

coordinating all sorts of volunteer activities throughout the reserve. Jenny

is the Rotokare Committee chairperson, and performs the Volunteer

Coordinator role. Jenny plays a key role in helping to organise the daily,

weekly, and monthly volunteer workforce, that is the backbone of the

project—Thank you Jenny, you’re a star!

New faces for summer Trainee Ranger

Ken Torckler started a 13 week, full time position at the start of November, as the

work placement part of the NMIT training course he is studying in Nelson. He will be

involved in all aspects of what makes the sanctuary tick.

Involved in trapping work, fence maintenance, pest animal monitoring, biodiversity

monitoring, and all the various jobs done throughout the sanctuary, having Ken on-

board for Summer has been a huge help. His goal through the ranger course is to

secure a permanent job in the conservation field. “I really like the idea of working for

the benefit of New Zealand’s precious species and our unique and amazing

environment”.

NMIT (Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology) delivers the national Department

of Conservation Ranger programme. We are thrilled that Rotokare is able to assist in

supporting our future conservation leaders gain the important skills and experience to

develop a successful career in conservation.

Summer Intern

Laura Duntsch, a biology student from Germany, has joined the team as a volunteer summer

intern and will be focussing on biodiversity monitoring of weta, lizards, robins and peripatus,

as well as the regular tasks in the Sanctuary. Laura loves hiking and nature, as well as

research, and is loving the opportunity to combine the three at the Reserve. She has visited

New Zealand before and developed a passion for our endemic species, so when deciding

upon a place to have a break between graduate and masters studies, she immediately

thought of New Zealand. She hopes to meet some fabulous people, and get some practical

hands on experience. Laura has been a wonderful addition to the team! Laura hunting for insects

Volunteers giving a helping hand

A huge thank you to the groups of volunteers we have had out helping us with numerous jobs around the Reserve.

Recently we have had teams from Stratford High School, Stratford Girl Guides, OMV, and Taranaki Rugby. They

Ken replacing a solar panel

About 20 volunteers took part in

a survey of our tieke/saddleback

in September, covering the

whole reserve over a week or so,

using played calls. The large

number of un-banded birds (born

at Rotokare) shows that the

previous breeding season was

very successful.

Tieke

Bio

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Robins

2016 Fundraising Calendar On Sale Now! only $20 each

Available at: Eltham Dentists, Gelato Cafe—Hawera, Stratford

Farmlands, Stratford Mitre10, BP Eltham, New Plymouth Vets

Phone Steve (06 764 8764) or email contact@rotokare.org.nz

Chauncy with volunteers from OMV

Our very small population of bush robins is breeding at present, with two

nests found and two other pairs feeding fledged chicks. Monitoring how their

breeding is going may help us understand why their numbers have not

increased over time. One was heard singing next to the courtyard recently!

To the left is a photo of a male picking up 4 meal worms to take back to his

nest, his partner is very mysterious—we are yet to discover who she is!

Around two thirds of the original 60 birds were identified during the May and September surveys combined. It was

great to have the assistance from the staff at OMV with the surveying. OMV provided the funding for the original

tieke and popokatea (whitehead) translocations, so it was nice to see them come back and help monitor the

progress of our tieke population.

Rotokare all a-buzz On a still clear morning something came a-

buzzing to Rotokare—well two things actually.

Becks helicopters expertly positioning 2 hives

onto a grassy area on the Crawshaw block. So

Rotokare will soon have our own brand of honey!

In partnership with ‘Forest and Bees Native

Honey’, who will attend to the bee side of things,

Rotokare will be packaging and selling branded

honey as a fundraiser. This is an exciting new

venture for the Trust and one that has great

potential for future development, including

educational elements, so we will keep you posted

when the first batch is ready next year!

Rotokare Bush Telegraph , Spring 2015 www.rotokare.org.nz 06 764 8500

Proud to recognise major sponsors & supporters:

Recently, the Rotokare Trustees and Partners of Auld Brewer Mazengarb & McEwan met to confirm a new partnership. Over the next 3 to 5 years, we will be working together to progress the success of the Rotokare sanctuary project. Steve Kane and Simon Collins visited staff recently to present the story of Rotokare. This will be followed in the new year with an event, hosted by Auld Brewer Mazengarb & McEwan in New Plymouth to introduce several more businesses to the Rotokare story, as well as a staff volunteer visit to the sanctuary.

Official sponsors of the

Rotokare Bush Telegraph

Koala

Trust

We welcome a new sponsor on-board Auld Brewer Mazengarb & McEwan layers & Notary Public

Puriri Moth

Just another day

volunteering at Rotokare

Ranger Ken builds shelving

in storage shed