Trip Reports

F&B MANAWATŪ MAY 2025 TRIP REPORT

2/6/2025

Before starting the exploration of the Lake and Bush, we were told about Māori history which gave us a greater appreciation for how Europeans have completely modified the previous wetland environment that had been both the home and larder of the local iwi.

F&B MANAWATŪ MAY 2025 TRIP TO:

Lake Papaitonga Scenic Reserve/F&B Horowhenua plant
nursery/Horowhenua college butterfly project.

Saturday 24 th May,2025

Dean Wilson from Muaūpoko Tribal Authority Inc. and Lindsay from F&B Horowhenua branch guided 17 of us around Lake Papaitonga Scenic Reserve, and we were very privileged to be guided by Dean.

Dean’s encyclopaedic knowledge of his own whakapapa and the history of the site, and the greater geographic area, was fascinating and added weight to the appreciation of the dense bush and the sparkling lake.

We were then guided by Dean and Lindsay to look at the F&B supported plantings at the west side of the lake and, after that, visited the F&B Plant Nursery where we stopped to have lunch.

In the afternoon we visited Prouse Bush in Levin (supported by F&B Horowhenua branch) and then Geoff Williamson and his daughter Saoirse guided us around the Horowhenua College Native Butterfly and Moth project and sanctuary.

Thank you to all of our wonderful hosts and a special thanks to the weather that put on the perfect blue dome autumn day.
--
Rosemary Cullen
F&B Manawatū Trip Coordinator

F&B MANAWATŪ APRIL 2025 TRIP REPORT

2/6/2025

In April F&B members from both Manawatū branch and Horowhenua branch experienced this rare coastal forest remnant.

Before starting the exploration of the bush, we were told about Māori history which gave us a greater appreciation for how Europeans have completely modified the previous wetland environment that had been both the home and larder of the local iwi.

F&B MANAWATŪ APRIL 2025 TRIP TO NGĀWAKAHIAMOE BUSH
Sunday 27th April, 2025

On Sunday 27 April, Heather Heron-Speirs guided 30 interested participants around her family trust protected bush Ngawakahiamoe.

Ngāwakahiamoe Bush lies on sand dune and swamp land between Levin and Foxton. It is of rare size as a viable remnant of ‘critically threatened’ Kahikatea-Pukatealowland forest ecosystem (WF8). It is recognised as a ‘high priority site’ by Horizons Regional Council. Ngāwakahiamoe has many trees that are hundreds of years old, and is thought to have the best Pukatea stand In Horizons Regional Councilarea.

The dunes had some mature Matai, Rewarewa, Kanuka, and Rimu, but were extensively felled a century ago. The Trust is now restoring the Totara and other species, with plants grown mostly by Forest & Bird Horowhenua. Re-establishing bush on dunes is hard work.

Rosemary Cullen
F&B Manawatū Trip Coordinator

F&B MANAWATŪ TRIP NGA MANU NATURE RESERVE TO VIEW THE DACTYLANTHUS TAYLORII

2/6/2025

SATURDAY 22nd MARCH, 2025

On Saturday 22nd March, 12 F&B Manawatū members met at Nga Manu Reserve near Waikanae to be shown the elusive Dactalanthus plant in bloom.
Reece, the Ranger employed by Nga Manu, took us on an amusing and informative walk through the bush to look at this very rare plant, flinging himself on the ground like a kiwi version of David Attenborough to enthuse about the features of this tiny but amazing rare native.
All the plants have been bred at Nga Manu by Reece and he also hand pollinates them to keep the species going.
The trip was fascinating, even though the plants are very well camouflaged and easily overlooked.
Thank you again Reece and the Nga Manu team.

--
Rosemary Cullen
F&B Manawatū Trip Coordinator

GUIDED TRIP TO EXPLORE RANGIWAHIA SCENIC RESERVE REPORT

2/6/2025

SATURDAY 1ST MARCH, 2025

While being very thankful for the rain this week, it held off long enough for our F&B Manawatū trip to Rangiwahia reserve to be both dry underfoot and not too sunny.
15 of us (including our wonderful hosts Mary and Steve Bielski) set off into the steep and pristine bush.
We saw so many wonderful trees, huge forest giants rimu and miru, tiny forest orchids, rare finds and great looking fungi.
The birds were shy but we did hear pīwakawaka (fantail)and kererū in the trees, and saw and heard grey warblers. The ever present magpies kept us company throughout.
A small group of us took the shorter one hour track - still so full of massive trees with incredible presence -
We took a morning tea break in a wonderful forest clearing presided over by a monstrous rimu, and then had lunch at the carpark before heading over to the Kaikawaka reserve for a shorter, if steep, walk through a different mix of bush, full of Kahikatea, sphagnum moss and up the hill, a forest of tree fuschias. About two hundred metres from the other bush, nature is amazing.
Lucky us.
So much respect for Mary and Steve who maintain the tracks and trap the bush and are so enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Special thanks to Mary for the plant name labels scattered throughout the reserve which makes the trip so much more informative.
A truly great day enjoyed by everyone.
--
Rosemary Cullen
F&B Manawatū Trip Coordinator

November 2023 - Trip to Bushy Park Tarapuruhi

4/11/2023

BUS TRIP
DATE: Saturday 25th November, 2023

F&B Manawatū are offering an opportunity for a guided tour around the Forest Sanctuary and an optional cream tea in the Homestead

COST: Approx. $30 per person. This is dependent on the number of people who sign up. Also, an option for a cream tea $15

FOREST SANCTUARY - A Forest & Bird Project

The 89 hectare Bushy Park Tarapuruhi forest is a Forest & Bird Project. It is a rare example of North Island temperate lowland forest. Lowland forests such as Bushy Park historically harboured the largest and most diverse communities of native and endemic plants and animals. Bushy Park Tarapuruhi is unusual in that it survived (most lowland forest was clear felled) and it is relatively unmodified, i.e. there has been no logging or burning of the main forest. It was also fenced to exclude domestic livestock in the mid/early 1900s. The site has the strongest protection from introduced mammals that can currently be delivered on the mainland.

If you would like to go on the bus trip, please email [email protected]

Giving you name
How many in your party
Contact phone number
Let us know if you just want the bus trip or bus trip and cream tea.

Dept. Time: 9.00 a.m. sharp
Parking Location: To be advised
Programme: After morning cream tea, a guided tour of the Reserve, then free time until bus departs at 3.00 p.m. Expected arrival time in Palmerston North 4.30p.m.
Fitness Level: moderate (well-formed tracks, but some of the Reserve is up and down)
What to bring: Please bring lunch, snacks, water, raincoat, stout footwear and walking poles if you usually use them – and do not forget your camera.

August 2021 - Trapping around Pohangina Base

12/9/2021

Trip organiser: Jorinna Prinz
Trip guide: Ian Rasmussen (RECAP)
Destination: Pohangina Base

After a short bush bash we got to the cliff edge high above the Pohangina River. From here, a trap line runs through the strip of bush between the road and the cliff. Ian told us about the trapping efforts of the local community and how RECAP had installed this trap line about 6 months ago, while showing us the operation and set up of the first DOC200 trap along the way.

We were quite fascinated by the forest with Rewarewa as the main species, mixed with matai, rata, silver fern and lots of others. Particularly noticeable was the thick undergrowth with tree saplings of different ages, including kahikatea and totara. Every now and then there was a gap in the trees, allowing views up and down the Pohangina River Valley with stands of tall forest along the meandering river. Every now and then we would pass a magnificent specimen tree, including a giant rata with 13m circumference.
Trap after trap we inspected was empty, until we came across one with a stoat! It was the first one ever caught in this trap line. A good result even though it remained the only catch for the day.

At the end of the line, we met the road and walked back to the base in no time. Pohangina Base was used by DOC rangers to carry out their work in the area, before it was closed and became a bookable accommodation facility. Last year it was renovated and we had a cuppa and a good look around before heading back home.
(Text by Jorinna)

June 2021 - Pit Park and Hoffman Brick Kiln

23/6/2021

Trip organiser: Jorinna Prinz
Trip guide: Beth (Pit Park People), David (Hoffman Kiln Trust)
Destination: Pit Park and Hoffman Brick Kiln (Palmerston North)

A group of 25 people turned up at the Hoffman Continuous Kiln in Palmerston North, despite the decent rainfall in the weather forecast. David introduced us to the history of the area, right back to the Kiln´s construction in 1904. It was fascinating to see the various stamps on the displayed bricks and see on the photos how the Kiln used to produce them. After the buildings retired and got damaged by earthquakes, a lot of work has been done to restore and develop it for everyone to enjoy.

David also showed us around the kiln tunnel and explained how it used to operate, before we left the site and walked down to the former pit. This is where the clay for the kiln was sourced, before it was used as a wasteland. About 20 years ago, the local community started to establish a plan to restore the site and turn it into bush again. Before dropping down into the pit, we could overview the entire area and were impressed already. A beautiful patch of bush, with walkways and waterways running through it. Down at the car park we met Beth from the Pit Park People. She took us for a walk and told us the story of how this place became beautiful again. She had been involved all the way through and talked about the tough beginnings, until the project got council and many locals into their boat to make it all possible.

The seedlings planted only a few years ago are now trees that are closing up to form a canopy. Just as beautiful are the established wetland areas with flaxes and cabbage trees and lots of other species. It was and continues to be an enormous amount of work to look after it all and establish this oasis of native bush in the city further. Schools and other groups are getting involved to help but the Pit Park People are in need of more helping hands from the community. A worthwhile project to invest your time into for sure!

(Text by Jorinna)

February 2021 - Rangitikei Reserves

2/3/2021

Trip organiser: Jorinna Prinz
Trip guide: Jorinna Prinz
Destination: Pryce´s Rahui & Sutherland Mangahoe Reserves

Hugh Stewart from the Forest & Bird Rangitikei Branch had kindly agreed to show us around some of the reserves the branch is looking after. Unfortunately, Hugh had to step out as he developed mobility problems the day before the trip while working in one of the reserves.

After a short discussion in the morning, at the meeting point, our group of 15 decided to explore the reserves without a guide. Dr Jill Rapson had supplied us with an interesting field guide document for the reserves, giving us a good overview of the history, geology and flora of the area in advance.
It was a beautiful summer day. We arrived at Pryce´s Rahui just after 10am, starting our walk following the red route. The track was well marked, looked after and some board walks covered swampy areas. As we passed through some kanuka forest, we started identifying some of the trees and shrubs with our combined knowledge. Soon we found ourselves surrounded by more and more mature kahikatea, mixed with matai, some totara and healthy undergrowth of titoki, kawakawa and lots of others. Particularly fascinated we were by what appeared to be a huge vine growing right up a tall kahikatea. However, the name plate identified the plant as puka, an epiphytic Griselinia species - which meant that the “vine” was actually a very long air root. We heard and saw some kereru, fantails, a kingfisher and others. A magnificent bush remnant for sure!

Only as we entered the open areas with flax, cabbage trees and native vines, we started to see some weeds: blackberry, old man´s beard, nightshades and other pioneers. Back at the car park, the group continued to Hunterville for a lunch break in the park before heading to Sutherlands Mangahoe Reserve. It took a bit of navigation and joined effort to find it but we were successful in the end!

The yellow loop track here turned out to be slightly more challenging, and was also quite narrow. The bush featured some big kahikatea, silver fern and other tree species, with supplejack vines hanging off them. This, together with the sound of cicadas and bellbirds up in the canopy, made for a tropical scenery. From our track, sidling above the forest valley, it felt almost like being in a cathedral held up by kahikatea giants. Further on, the kahikatea were much younger and grew very close - almost like bamboo! A very unusual case. We eventually crossed the valley floor, climbed up the opposite side and made our way back to the road and back home.

(Text by Jorinna)

November 2020 - Looking for Orchids at Waitarere Forest

23/11/2020

Trip organiser: Jorinna Prinz, Anthea McClelland
Trip guide: Andrew Broome
Destination: Waitarere Forest

When we arrived at Waitarere Forest around 11:00, most of us probably did not have many expectations of what we would find here. Andrew, who had kindly offered to be our NZ orchid expert for the day, had suggested this place. But this was a pine forest with near-zero native vegetation - in fact, almost no vegetation at all underneath the tall pines! A strange scenery, quite the opposite of the lush New Zealand bush.

But just a few minutes after entering, we encountered the first patch of big greenhood orchids (Pterostylis banksii). Walking past without orchids in mind, one would most likely class the scattered green leaf blades, emerging from the pine needles, as a bit of grass. Looking closer, two or three delicate flowers of stunning complexity could be spottted amongst all the leafs. We were lucky - these ones were flowering a bit ahead of their time.

We continued up the next hill and found our second orchid: The spider orchid Corybas trilobus was not flowering, but as we walked on we saw its kidney-shaped leafs popping up everywhere. As we proceeded, we never walked more than a few steps until someone found another patch of orchids. It was a bit of a treasure hunt but also a lot of fun to look into the world of orchids. In New Zealand, you would want to bring a magnifying glass to be able to discover all the beautiful details of these tiny plants. We all forgot to bring one except for Jill! One after the other we had a close look at Thelymitra longifolia, Microtis unifolia, Chiloglottis cornuta and others.
Andrew also told us a bit about their lifestyle, like their symbiosis with fungi, their need for open disturbed ground where they do not get outcompeted by other plants, and that they mainly get pollinated by fungus gnats or are self-pollinating. Just after lunchtime, we headed back to Palmerston North. It had been a short but fascinating walk!
(Text by Jorinna)

July 2020 - A trap line for the Deerford Loop

22/7/2020

Trip organiser: Ian Rasmussen, Jorinna Prinz
Trip guide: Ian Rasmussen
Destination: Deerford Loop Track, Ruahine Forest Park

In many ways, this was a special event. Not only was it the first Forest&Bird trip after a long break partly caused by Covid-19, this time we were not just going for a walk. We had a job to do! Earlier this year, the Forest&Bird Manawatu Branch had purchased 16 of the 31 DOC200 traps needed to set up a new trap line on the Deerford Loop. Ian Rasmussen, a passionate pest control volunteer from RECAP, initiated the idea and pulled all the strings together to make it happen.

This is how 9 keen trappers turned up at Limestone Road end on this sunny Saturday morning. All of us were excited to find the entire landscape white - winter had finally settled in! About half of us had done lots of trapping but never set up a trap line before. There was a surprising amount of logistics to consider, but fortunately Ian had already made a proper plan for the entire mission. 6 pack frames got loaded up with 2 traps each - together with a day pack that made a load of around 20kg to carry. The remaining traps and installation tools were carried separately. We split up into 2 groups to walk the loop in opposite directions and off we went. Just a few minutes in there was a stream to cross, then the track went up the hill. The snow certainly slowed us down, and it took a while until we figured out how to best place our feet in the snow and prevent sliding.

While installing and setting the new traps, we baited and reset the already installed ones (donated by the Ashhurst Engineering and Construction Company) as well. A few of these traps had flattened rats in them - a first score! However, further up the track we also spotted multiple big rats that looked very alive - they seemed not in the slightest intimidated by the traps on our backs...

A party of trampers passed us and stopped for a chat. They were well equipped and were heading right up to the ridge. At the top junction of the loop we had lunch with the other team of our group. All 31 traps were now set! With empty packs we slid back down the steep track, trying not to get distracted by the beautiful scenery. The snow was starting to melt in the warmth of the midday sun...

Note: The Deerford Loop trap line will be serviced regularly by volunteers from RECAP. If you are interested in helping with this task, please get in touch with Forest&Bird Manawatu Branch ([email protected]).

(Text by Jorinna)