Projects

DoC Workdays

Kakabeak planting at Lake Opouahi, Saturday, June 23 2012

We arrived at Lake Opouahi at 9.00 am with blue skies, but it was cool and windy.

After a quick briefing from Alan Lee of DoC, we set out to plant this year’s kakabeak. With spades, warm clothes, hats, gloves and 145 plants from the volunteers’ nursery, we entered the secured compound and planted in the areas Alan had previously sprayed. We were mainly planting in groups of 10 around the various sites near the entrance and along the west side of the perimeter.

After the first hour’s planting, we carried the remaining 100 plants further uphill to their various locations. These were higher up from the entrance gate, and wonderful views of the lake and the surrounding hills made the morning’s planting go quickly.

Since we last visited, the previous shelter has been removed and construction of a new shelter and canoe storage shed is under way.

Two ECOED personnel and their tracker dog arrived at mid-morning. They were to find and return two young kiwis to the Kawekas. The six-month-old kiwis weighed about a kilo and at this stage are old enough to defend themselves against predators and ready to be released back into the bush. One healthy kiwi was shown to the group.

After morning tea, we completed the remaining plantings and had lunch. Then a quick survey for any remaining acacias around the lake edge was undertaken. We continued to walk right around the lake after completing this exercise, and returned to the vehicles.

With the winds strengthening during the day, and the day’s tasks completed, we headed home at 2.30 pm.

Planters: John Marshall, Anne Nelson, Ted Angove, Penny and Arthur Mead, Alan Lee (DoC) and reporter Keith Moretta