Our projects

Here are just a few of the projects Kaitiaki has been working on recently in the top of the South Island, see below.
Click here to see our Wellington projects.

Dun Mountain Heath, Gorse and Wilding Pines survey and control programme

Nelson City Council, as part of their Nelson Nature programme, engaged Kaitiaki o Ngahere Ltd in  2017 to survey over 800ha in the ultramafic belt above Nelson looking for pest plant species, primarily heath, gorse and wilding pines. Following this a comprehensive report was prepared that now informs the ongoing pest plant control works in the area. Currently we do annual control at a number of sites and pest plant populations are significantly reduced as the plan is implemented.

Sams Creek, Kahurangi

Kaitiaki was contracted by Oceania Gold as part of their extraction permit with DOC to write a pest plant management plan for the Sams Creek prospect. We are now contracted to MOD Resources to survey and control any weeds present in the ~60 historic drill sites.
We also removed four old timber gold exploration drilling platforms due to their unsafe condition. All materials were demolished and bundled up for helicopter pickup - we organised all the helicopter logistics (35 helicopter loads into two large truck and trailer units). 
​The work area is remote with steep and rugged terrain. 

Reed sweetgrass, Marlborough

Reed sweetgrass (Glyceria maxima) is a containment pest plant in the Marlborough District Council Regional Pest Management Strategy.  It infests waterways with a thick tall grassy growth that inhibits native plant growth and blocks water flow. The goal was to contain the infestation to a lagoon on the Marlborough Plains, while eliminating other infestations over time. We have greatly reduced the biomass of the plant and the volume of herbicide used for its control. Native raupo and wetland grasses in the lagoon are now spreading, enhancing habitat for fish and eels.

Asiatic knotweed distribution survey

In order to inform the review of the Proposed Tasman-Nelson Regional Pest Management Plan 2017–2027, Kaitiaki was engaged by the Tasman District Council to undertake a river survey looking for Asiatic knotweed in the Sherry, Wangapeka, Riuwaka and Motueka Rivers. At short notice, this involved organising and deploying two staff and kayaks to survey approx 117 km of waterway. Following the survey the number of mapped sites increased from 9 to 26. This survey and detailed report helped inform the council of the most up to date distribution and an estimate of resources required for control.

Biosecurity

Biosecurity in general is about keeping New Zealand free of unwanted organisms and for controlling, managing or eradicating them should they arrive in the country, to prevent or reduce any damage these may cause should they occur, and to protect and preserve the land, water, industry and people of New Zealand. Controlling pest plants and animals that have established here and pose a threat to our native ecosystems, industry or people is the type of Biosecurity work that is a growing component of Kaitiaki o Ngahere’s skill set.
In the past few years we've undertaken Argentine ant pre- and post-control surveys for the Marlborough District Council. We've also been involved in plague skink surveys that required a rapid response. We are presently working with the Tasman District Council and PF Olsen to eradicate an isolated site of bomarea in Reservoir Creek, Kingsland forest, Richmond.

Borck Creek, Richmond

The Borck Creek and Poutama Drain Improvement Project is designed to improve two watercourses and also meet future stormwater needs, improve amenity values and improve stream ecology. The area is important to Te Tau Ihu iwi as a historical food gathering place with evidence from the early 1800s found in the area. The planting programme aims to reinstate a natural wetland and stream environment suited to the Waimea Plains and estuary ecosystems, returning native flora and fauna to the Borck Creek area. We source our plants from Titoki Nursery.

Talisman Heights subdivision, Kaiteriteri

Private property owner required complete gorse removal and a track realignment followed by native planting. These plantings have been planted to restore the native coastal bush remnant and link seamlessly into his landscape plantings closer to his house. We worked closely with the landowner, landscape architect, iwi observers, and our earthworks subcontractor skilled in working in sensitive environments. Our teams cleared a humongous amount of old man gorse then undertook methodical pest plant seedbank control in preparation for native plant restoration plantings. A new track alignment was surveyed and constructed to blend seamlessly with the environment and maximise the enjoyment of the landscape and views.