Kaitiaki expertise
Any ecological restoration work benefits greatly from thorough planning - Kaitiaki o Ngahere can plan your project from the very beginning. We will provide you with a resource document that offers a holistic overview of the project, addresses all the aims and goals, is backed by thorough research and a sound knowledge base, and provides a comprehensive set of actions over a timeline with associated resource requirements. We have a wide range of experience in many kinds of restoration projects, and realise that each project’s requirements are different. All restoration plans incorporate GIS technology and are backed up by sound practical operational knowledge and experience.
Restoration Plans
We provide comprehensive and holistic restoration management planning services tailored to available resources, spatial scales and differing ecosystems. Plans frequently include stakeholder consultation, field surveys, data collection / analysis and the preparation of a comprehensive restoration plan.
A restoration plan commonly includes: restoration goals; prioritised actions and project timeframes, along with monitoring and costing components. Our plans are always focused on the ease of implementation of the recommended actions and contain specific and detailed information to ensure that the plan is an easy-to-use document that enables the client to achieve their outcomes for the site. Our strong practical background ensures that the recommended actions are realistic and effective. We can provide technical expertise to assist you with your AEE, EIA and CHI requirements. We can also help with funding applications for QEll blocks. 
Pest Plant Control
Our Operations teams use methods that have been specifically developed for the types of species that we deal with and the environments we work in. We can apply these methods to many situations depending on our client’s requirements, along with the desired level of mapping and reporting.
Methods of pest plant control range from hand-pulling, cutting and stump-treating, to foliar spraying and drilling and injecting herbicide. All our staff are Approved Handler certified. We are regularly involved in projects such as old man’s beard control in SNAs (Significant Natural Areas), multi-species control in reserves and large forest areas, wetland pest plant control and revegetation, riparian restoration and may more. Our expertise can be put to work in all kinds of natural areas that are threatened by invasive weeds or have been subject to disturbance that is threatening its ecological integrity and health. Depending on your goals and resources, our level of involvement can be altered to suit you, e.g. we can run the whole project from start to finish, or allocate specific tasks that are suitable for community group volunteers. We can run educational sessions to train volunteers on aspects of pest plant control. 
Reed sweetgrass (after control), Grovetown Lagoon, Marlborough
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 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.
Track building and maintenanceAllowing people safe and sensitive access to your natural area can improve the values placed on it by locals and visitors to the area. We work closely with Solutions 2 Access and together we can survey and design the route your track will take, and are available for the implementation of one specific part of your project, or can take care of the entire project from planning and quantity surveying, to sourcing materials, construction and sign-off. We build to meet NZ Standards for Track and Outdoor Visitor Structures. Our track building services range from routes for trapping lines, maintenance of established tracks, track upgrades, through to tracks of wheelchair access standard.
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Ecological surveys
Ecological surveys are an in-depth study of an ecosystem to gather specific data, often about the general health of the ecosystem. They are a valuable tool for understanding natural areas and their values. We carry out ecological surveys for:
Helicopter operationsKaitiaki o Ngahere has a large amount of experience working in remote sites and managing the associated logistics. This can include anything from communications, supplies, equipment to transportation of staff and materials. Staff working on our projects are both internally and externally trained and experienced in helicopter operations (using various companies), Health and Safety and first aid.
Pest Animal ControlWe have the capability to implement pest animal control operations on various scales to suit your project.
Pest animal control is a vital part of conservation in New Zealand. Your project may be a small reserve or an entire catchment area that you would like to improve the health of. We can organise your trapping programme from the initial cutting of the trap lines, building and laying out the traps or tracking tunnels, checking and maintaining trap lines, recording and reporting on trap catches. Depending on your goals and resources, our level of involvement can be altered to suit you, e.g. we can run the whole project from start to finish, or set up lines that community group volunteers can check and maintain. We can run educational sessions to train volunteers on aspects of pest animal control. 
Community groupsThe rise in the numbers and enthusiasm of members of the community that put time and effort into restoring their local natural areas is inspiring and exciting. One challenge that community groups often face is having a lot of enthusiasm, but some gaps in the knowledge pool mean successful results are sometimes hard to achieve. We can be there to guide and assist groups and help them achieve their goals. We can advise on appropriate funding sources for the planning and implementation parts of your project, provide a comprehensive restoration plan and assist with the more technical parts of the operations, while ensuring your group’s skills are being utilised fully within the project.
Assisting the Dovedale school and working alongside Tasman District Council at a recent planting session Dovedale Domain.
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GIS Spatial Data and Mapping
We offer a range of services related to spatial data and analysis, from simple mapping projects to complex weed strategy forecasting.
GIS is the merging of cartography and database technology. It allows complex patterns and relationships to be visualised and analysed in the context of real landscape space and over time. GIS technology is vital in all of our projects, and routinely used from the planning stages to the initial operational work through to the follow-up control, reporting and mapping. We use GPS for all our fieldwork to assist with follow-up control in subsequent seasons, and for thorough reporting and analysis. GPS units are carried by staff routinely - tracklogs are recorded and sites of interest are waypointed. This ensures that no areas are missed or covered twice, and sites that are isolated are recorded and the information made available for follow-up control next season. This data can be provided in a format to suit your operating systems and requirements. 
Revegetation
We carry out successful restoration plantings of many kinds:
Monitoring
Monitoring is used to measure certain aspects of an ecosystem before, during and after restoration work is carried out. Changes in aspects such as native vegetation cover, pest animal browse levels, species diversity and pest plant numbers/mass are often measured.
Frequently forming a core component of larger restoration projects, Kaitiaki o Ngahere believe monitoring to be fundamental to project success, and the development of best practice approaches to restoration. This may take the form of:
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We promise the best
We aim to consistently exceed best practice standards, both in Health and Safety and restoration techniques. Self-auditing is a standard part of our operations. Our auditing process results in qualitative and quantitative information that is valuable in refining our pest plant control techniques.