Natural areas of Tutamoe Ecological District (3. Ecological character)

(NIWA 2006), O06/015 (SSBI O06/H014), O06/026 (NIWA 2006), O07/001
(SSBI O06?H022) and P07/026 (recorded during this survey). This species
is currently not threatened, however, it is listed in Hitchmough et al.
(2007) with a Data Poor qualifier. There is a historic decline of this
species nationally because of habitat modification and loss (Department
of Conservation 2005).
Giant bully Gobiomorphus maculatus
Giant bully have an intermittent distribution around the New Zealand
coast, with few records from Northland. Recorded in this District from
Muriwai Stream Swamp (O06/026) (NIWA, 2006).
Koaro Galaxias brevipinnis
Recorded in many locations in Northland but are certainly not as
widespread as banded kokopu. This galaxiid is more commonly found
inland in mountainous streams (McDowall 1990). Recorded from the
Waipoua (part of O06/001), Wairau and Waimamaku Rivers in this
Ecological District (NIWA 2006).
3.5 THREATS
All areas in the Tutamoe Ecological District have been modified to some
extent and continue to be modified by the impact of browsing and
predatory animals, including goats, cats, cattle, possums, rats, mustelids
and pigs.
It is interesting to note chronological details on forest modification post
European settlement from Wildlife and Wildlife values of Northland (Ogle
1982):
1921: Possums released at Tutamoe (ibid).
(Possum invasion into Northland was relatively late and it was not until
the early 1960s that possums were apparent in the Waipoua Forest area,
Payton et. al. 1996).
1948: Cattle present in Waipoua Forest.
1948: Goats had not reached Waipoua Forest but were close by.
Outside the large forest tracts, modification is much more evident
with the majority of remnant stands being either secondary or heavily
cutover.
On the coast habitats have been reduced by farming and exotic forestry
with natural areas suffering the effects of grazing and exotic weed
invasion.
Exotic forestry can affect freshwater wetlands and lakes hydrologically
and high silt loads may be experienced as a result of logging. Where
wetlands and streams adjoin farmland, grazing, loss of a riparian buffer
and fertiliser run off will be impacting upon natural values.
PNAP reconnasance survey report
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