Maungatautari Ecological Island

Not so long ago, the forest on Maungatautari volcano supported a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Native birds abounded, from the kiwi, kereru and kakariki to the forest’s shining star, the kokako, whose melodious yet hauntingly beautiful flute-notes were the highlight of the dawn chorus.

Rising above Waikato just south of Lake Karapiro, this 3400-hectare volcano is now almost silent, its wildlife seriously under threat from a spiralling trend of animal extinctions. If the trend continues we, our children and our grandchildren will never have the opportunity to witness the kokako’s extraordinary song.

But there is hope thanks to the work of the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust, which has launched an ambitious project to restore the mountain’s natural environment.

The Trust is erecting a specialised, thoroughly trialled and proven pest-proof fence around the mountain’s 50-kilometre bush edge. The fence aims to eliminate every mammalian pest and enable a series of planned animal re-introductions that will gradually recreate the Maungatautari of centuries ago. Special gates and tracks will mean visitors can enjoy the vibrant wildlife, while an educational facility for school groups, visitors and researchers will pass on valuable lessons about preserving our unique flora and fauna.

Thanks to funding from organisations such as the Todd Foundation, the Trust has already built a fence around two enclosures, one of 35 and the other of 65 hectares. Every week, more than 200 trained volunteers – including families, pupils and staff from five local schools and members of Maungatautari Marae – visit the enclosures to gather vital pest-monitoring information. While many species can’t be re-introduced until the whole mountain is fenced, this work, and the declaration that the enclosures are pest-free, will enable some important regeneration to begin.

The Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust: www.maungatrust.org