Poutiri Ao ō Tāne is a Hawke’s Bay conservation and restoration project, focused on Maungaharuru ki Tūtira. It is about embracing the sacred knowledge of Tāne-nui-a-rangi.
Tāne-nui-a-rangi and his forest with its creatures provide a korowai (cloak) for Papa-tū-ā-nuku (his mother). Maungaharuru was home to a wide range of animals and plants of great significance to our Hapū. Poutiri Ao ō Tāne is about restoring the korowai of Papa-tū-ā-nuku together as a community. As tāngata whenua, Maungaharuru-Tangitū are part of the leadership forum.
Community Engagement
Whānau enjoying and appreciating nature
Education
Kōhanga Reo and Kura (schools) experiencing nature, learning about native wildlife and conservation
Research
Science is used to measure predator control effectiveness, come up with new control methods and bird transfer techniques etc.
Species Reintroductions
Returning taonga (treasured) species to Maungaharuru
Tītī (Cooks Petrel) and Kōrure (Kori / Mottled Petrel)
Kākā
Kākāriki (Yellow-crowned Parakeet)
Pāteke
Predator Control
Controlling introduced pests that prey on native wildlife over 8,000ha
Habitat Restoration
Planting trees to restore the forest and wetlands
Visit Maungaharuru!
Have a picnic, go for a bush walk, see the kākā, take your tamariki…
Reserves on Maungaharuru include Opouahi, Bellbird Bush and Boundary Stream.
- Opouahi: walk through the gate of the predator-proof fence, see the Wharewaka (carved by Kaumatua Bevan Taylor), picnic by the Lake, take the short walk around the lake
- Bellbird Bush: short loop walking track through native bush
- Boundary Stream: enter the Waharoa (carved by Kaumatua Bevan Taylor), to the left see the kākā aviary, to the right is a shelter, lots of beautiful bush walks there and across the road – you can see rare native birds and plants
Driving Directions
The reserves are about an hours drive north of Napier. Drive to Tūtira, turn left at the Tūtira Store onto Matahorua Rd. Turn left onto Pohokura Rd at the big brown sign with names of reserves on it. Continue on gravel road and you will see green signs for each reserve.
Volunteering Opportunities
- Feeding Kākā
- Planting Days
- Feeding / carrying seabird chicks
See www.poutiri.co.nz and Facebook for more information and opportunities to be involved.
The chance to see and touch baby kiwi!
Kiwi chicks are caught at about 10 days old and brought to the Kiwi Kōhanga where they can grow at Opouahi Reserve within the safety of the predator-exclusion fence. Once they reach about 1kg they are big enough to defend themselves against stoats and other pests. The kiwi are then returned to where they came from.
Volunteers check on the health of the kiwi weekly. There are opportunities for schools and Kōhanga Reo to see and stroke the kiwi at these times. For more info see www.ecoed.org.nz
