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Halfmoon Bay, Stewart Island/Rakiura.
The project is being driven by the Stewart Island/Rakiura Community and Environment Trust. This is
aCharitable Community Trust composed entirely of people who live on
Stewart Island
.
The
Halfmoon
Bay
area is representative of the main forest cover found on
Stewart Island
– lowland
temperate rain forest (kamahi, rimu, rata mix). It is unique, in that the main township is nestled
amongst this forest. Some unique vegetation is also present. The area has a high number of mistletoe
that are listed as nationally critical and groves of tree fushia are still common.
The area is distinct in the number and diversity of bird life. This is atypical of the rest of
Stewart Island
where bird numbers are in decline –
Halfmoon
Bay
is more similar to our
pest free offshore islands.
These bird species include: tui (seasonal flocks of 70+), bellbirds, kaka (flocks of 12+), kereru
(occasional flocks of 15-20), kiwi, little blue penguins, a mainland breeding colony of sooty
shearwater/titi, grey warbler, fantail, brown creeper, tomtits, and red-crowned kakariki.
The only known
Stewart
Island
population of long-tailed bats occurs solely in the
Halfmoon
Bay
area. Many of these individual species, let alone the combination, are distinctive at a national level.
Many species have disappeared from the area over time (mohua, saddleback,
Stewart Island
robin),
with some disappearing off the main island within the last ten years (riflemen,
Stewart Island
weka).
The last ten years has also seen a restriction in the breeding range of titi and little blue penguins.
Stewart Island
bird species are suffering the same decline as the rest of
New Zealand
albeit
at a slower rate.
Without some urgent protection, a number of species are likely to disappear completely from
their last mainland stronghold within the next ten years. These include Little Blue penguins,
muttonbirds/titi, and long-tailed bats. Kereru and kaka may also decline to the point where
their overall populations are not sustainable long-term. But, given the long-lived nature of
these birds, they are likely to persist for years to come.
Rata, tree fushia and mistletoe are also under threat from possum browse, but the level of this threat and
rates of decline have not been quantified.
This project aims to control possums, cats and rats (the full suite of introduced predators on
Stewart
Island
), on private land around
Halfmoon
Bay
. A recent survey of visitors to
Stewart Island
found
that 30% found the birdlife to be the highlight of their visit. We wish to maintain this drawcard as
a basis for our growing tourism industry providing a sustainable future for the
Stewart Island
community.
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