Environment Studies
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Research Projects
The ethics and politics of animal welfare in New Zealand: broiler chicken production as a case studyMichael C. Morris Abstract Footnotes
Bumper Season for New Zealand DotterelDespite indications from a national survey of New Zealand dotterel late last year that the species is declining nationally, Tauranga has had a bumper season. Thirty chicks were fledged from a record 43 breeding pairs on Matakana Island.
(pictured: Sara Cassie, polytechnic environmental management student on work experience after being awarded the DOC Scholarship) The second important factor is the level of effort going into trapping pests such as stoats, rats possums and cats around breeding sites. Monitoring and education is the third key factor in the bumper breeding season. Local counts last summer show that New Zealand dotterel numbers have doubled on the Western Bay of Plenty mainland in the last eight years, with pairs of birds nesting in a number of new locations. Unfortunately none of these mainland pairs have managed to breed successfully due to pests and disturbance. This highlights the importance of the protection programme on Matakana Island which has now run for 13 years.
Face to Face with the KakapoFor most of us, the closest we will ever get to a kakapo is seeing images of this amazing bird in a magazine. Ritchie Dolman and Jennifer Murray have done a lot better. The two Environmental Management students spent two weeks down in Whenua Hou (Codfish Island) last summer, helping Department of Conservation staff care for the endangered native parrot.
(Pictured: Jen face to face with a kakapo). Ritchie is a keen photographer and had a number of impressive photos which he shared as part of their presentation. The kakapo is globally unique in many ways: it is the only nocturnal parrot, the heaviest of all parrots and, like many other native bird species, is flightless. It is endemic to New Zealand and is not closely related to any other parrot species. At present there are only 86 kakapo left, 55 of which are on Codfish Island.
The island, 3km west off Stewart Island, is a protected haven and recovery centre for the kakapo and other rare bird species. There are two full-time staff on the island but most often, there are many more volunteers and scientific staff camping out. Each bird is monitored, with the operation aimed towards kakapo breeding, and people often hike up to eight hours through bush to clean, monitor and leave feed for the birds at the feeding stations. Ritchie and Jen have recently completed their AUT Bachelor of Applied Science (Environmental Studies) here at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.
Monitoring an all male population of Kokako
Nathan’s research will involve removing male birds from Tiritiri Matangi in the Hauraki Gulf, and releasing them into a new environment on Mokoia Island in Lake Rotorua, and subsequently monitoring the behavioural patterns of the all- male population, a unique situation for the kokako. At present the kokako population on Tiritiri Matangi is becoming inbred so removing some of the males and introducing birds from other parts of New Zealand will help re-introduce genetic variability for the population on the island. The kokako is an endangered native bird with grey plumage and a distinctive blue/purple wattle (throat) and haunting dawn chorus. It belongs to the endemic wattlebird family Callaeidae represented only in New Zealand. They (the South Island sub species) are believed to be extinct in the South Island, with the remaining populations around the North Island being closely monitored by the Department of Conservation. Amongst their only two relatives, the huia is already extinct, and the saddleback is restricted to small populations mainly on offshore islands.
Nathan is currently in the second year of the diploma, having being recommended the programme by a graduate of the programme who is now a ranger with the Department of Conservation. Nathan plans to complete the third year of the Bachelor of Applied Science at the Polytechnic. Native Lizard Monitoring on Quail Island, Bank's Peninsula
Jenny Clarke, who completed the diploma and the degree recently, worked on native lizard populations on Quail Island off Bank's Peninsula, as part of her final year research project. This work was in collaboration with Lincoln University and Jenny received guidance from Mike Bowie of the Bio-Protection and Ecology Division during her time in the field. Jenny's work focused on assisting the restoration project by establishing a long-term monitoring systems for native lizards on the island. This has helped ensure that changes in lizard numbers can be effectively monitored, and also looked at the diet preferences of the native species. Information gathered will help with decisions regarding the possible introduction of locally threatened species like the spotted skink (Oligosoma lineoocellatum) and jewelled gecko (Naultinus gemmeus). Locating endangered dwarf mistletoe populations
New Zealand is home to a few different types of native mistletoes, whose populations have dwindled due to pests, decrease in native bird dispersers, and habitat destruction in general. Amongst them the dwarf mistletoe (Korthalsella salicornioides) is one whose numbers have dwindled significantly and, in the eastern Bay of Plenty, is probably facing extinction. To determine the distribution of surviving populations and estimate their size, Diploma student Jimmy Buchanan recently surveyed populations around Kohi Point, near Whakatane. The dwarf mistletoes only grow on manuka and kanuka trees which limits its potential to spawn. The species is identified by its white berries and is fragile to touch. Jimmy notes that separation of host trees caused by roading and housing (apart from other factors) prevents the mistletoe populations from spreading and establishing - leading to its endangered status. "My work led me to belief that this species needs to be protected and monitored. It is an endangered plant and there is a lack of knowledge about it." This project is part of the Department of Conservation's work to gather information on current mistletoe populations in the region, including pockets around Rotorua and Lake Okataina. |
This success can be attributed to three key factors. Firstly the programme has grown to become a strong community partnership with invaluable assistance form the Matakana Island Trust, the Matakana community, Te Manu Toroa, and sponsors such as Port of Tauranga, Blakely Pacific (NZ) Ltd, TKC Holdings Ltd, Sanford Ltd, Hunters Creek sawmaill and the Forest Lady barge.
Recently they shared their experience with the first year Environmental students here at the Polytechnic. 
(Pictured left:Ritchie and kakapo; up close and personal). 
Environmental Management student, Nathan Spurdle, will be monitoring the behavioural patterns of an all-male population of kokako over the next few months as part of his research project for the Diploma in Environmental Management.
Kokako build their nests low in the trees which makes them vulnerable to predators such as stoats, especially whilst the females are incubating their eggs on the nests, resulting in the young not getting a chance to hatch. 
