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Kia ora and welcome to autumn!
In this issue we say, “Happy retirement!” to an erosion expert we never took for ‘granite’ and discover Seek Weeds and Terminate. Is it a punk band? A new Schwarzenegger movie? Read on and find out …
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Impress your friends! Beat them at Scrabble!
E is for endemic.
An endemic species is an organism that only lives in one specific place and nowhere else in the world.
More than 350 species, including beetles, reptiles, freshwater fish, grasses and other plants, are thought to be endemic to Otago. It’s like having a super rare Pokémon that can only be found in one town and nowhere else!
Examples of regionally endemic species are the matapo (Otago shag), grand skink, Cromwell chafer beetle, and Taieri flathead galaxias.
Now, thanks to our clever scientists, we have a new resource on our website dedicated to Otago’s unique species.
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What the tech!? eDNA testing
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ORC scientists taking samples for eDNA testing
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Environmental DNA, or eDNA, is an emerging monitoring tool to identify species in habitats without having to locate or catch them. This makes it a cost-effective and less time-consuming approach compared to some traditional survey methods.
By filtering just a few cups of water to capture genetic material shed by organisms, we can identify thousands of species of fish, macroinvertebrates, birds, mammals, reptiles, plants, and other organisms in Otago’s waterways.
The information has a range of potential applications, including:
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understanding species distributions
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monitoring for biosecurity threats
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understanding ecosystem health.
eDNA is a cool new tech and another effective tool in our toolbox when it comes to protecting our environment.
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Who do we love? Murray Harris
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A man who wore his way into our hearts — erosion expert Murray Harris
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Murray Harris (advisor to ORC’s Hill Country Erosion project) shared his wisdom and experience with ORC staff recently at a field-based training day, looking at soils, erosion and managing land and catchments. Murray is trying to retire, so we wanted to mine him for information one last time!
Murray, an expert on the soils and erosion risks of the Kilmog Hill area, did his best to share 40 years’ experience in four hours. His expertise and knowledge are truly valued.
The day covered geology, soils, and what role the Otago Catchment Board had in addressing erosion and soil conservation. We got down and dirty doing visual soil assessments, and we talked riparian planting, the importance of identifying and mitigating steep land at risk from erosion, and the role trees can play in reducing it.
Having an improved understanding of the risks that hill country erosion poses to our land will ensure our teams continue to lift their eyes to the steeper, erosion-prone parts of their various catchments and be mindful of the risks that ongoing erosion may pose to water quality.
Happy retirement, Murray! We hope you enjoy your new ‘sedimentary’ lifestyle.
Our thanks to Steph and Nick Scott for their generosity in hosting us on their farm for this workshop.
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Murray leading the hill country erosion and soils workshop / training day
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ORC Project Delivery Specialist (Freshwater and Biodiversity) Jen doing the worm count as part of the visual soil assessment. A higher worm count generally indicates healthier soil, as earthworms play a crucial role in improving soil structure, aeration, and nutrient cycling.
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100 years of buses in Dunedin
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A 26-seater Leyland motor bus ‘just completed’ for the Dunedin City Corporation Tramways
PHOTO: OTAGO WITNESS, 21/4/1925
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Dunedin’s first municipal bus, a 26-seat Leyland, started servicing two routes from 8 April 1925, travelling from Cargill’s monument in the Exchange to the NZ and South Seas International Exhibition at Logan Park and from the Anderson’s Bay terminus to the Anderson’s Bay cemetery, every 20 minutes.
The bus was operated by the Dunedin City Corporation and was painted in the corporation’s colours of maroon and cream, with the Dunedin City coat of arms on the outside. The interior woodwork was oak, ash and cedar, the seats upholstered in Spanish leather, and the fittings were brass.
The driver doubled as conductor and passengers entered and exited through the front door. A second door at the back was used only for emergencies.
Our buses have changed a lot in the past 100 years, even gone electric — with all our buses in Dunedin likely to be electric by 2028, Queenstown’s by 2029.
What will the future bring? There’s still a few days to have your say on the Otago Regional Public Transport Plan. Feedback closes Friday, 2 May.
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Whakatipu Reforestation Trust is one of the organisations proudly supported by our ECO Fund
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This year’s ECO Fund received 69 applications for over a million dollars in funding for projects that protect, enhance or promote Otago's environment.
They’re being reviewed before the assessment panel’s recommendations go to Council on 21 May. Applicants will be notified early June.
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Scrumptious apple pie and apple juice was on the menu for Clutha's Primary Harvest Hui.
Ākonga from six schools in the Clutha District came together in late March at Waitahuna School for a fun-filled day of apple harvesting, plant propagation, beekeeping and connection to the atua (spiritual ancestors) through our whenua. Starting the day with a beautiful powhiri from Waitahuna School, ākonga got the opportunity to learn, climb, peel, press, take a breath and get close to bees.
This hui was a part of Enviroschools Living Landscapes theme area with a particular focus on habitat zones, the whenua and knowing the local ecosystem. Ākonga showcased all our guiding principles, but in particular, Sustainable Communities, where we act in ways that nurture all aspects of nature, including people, now and in the future. By working together and supporting each other, we create safe, healthy, equitable and thriving communities.
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Cheers! Clutha ākonga enjoying homemade apple juice
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Contractors use loppers or chainsaws to cut stems close to the ground
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Seek Weeds and Terminate (SWAT) is a group of volunteers who work to reduce pest plants on the Otago Peninsula.
In May 2024 they received an ORC ECO Fund grant for the Otago Peninsula Darwin’s Barberry Containment Project of $35,836.30 over two years. This grant has allowed SWAT to beef up its control activities, employing professional contractors alongside volunteers to combat this invasive weed.
Darwin’s barberry is a long-lived shrub/tree that invades native bush. The berries are spread by birds. Worryingly, isolated Darwin’s barberry has been found in the Sandymount Reserve, so the task is to eliminate it from nearby private land at Pukehiki, cutting off this area as a major seed source.
The Darwin’s Barberry Containment Project includes four Pukehiki properties, and control work has to be planned to fit in with the landowners’ requirements for access, so it’s been a labour of both love and logistics. Well done to everyone involved!
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Six months later, the Darwin’s barberry, marked with blue tape, is completely dead
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In the absence of predators, rabbits are a significant pest in Otago and threaten our biodiversity, environment and economy. They graze native seedlings and vegetation, compete with stock for pasture and crops, and can cause soil erosion and degradation.
Ten rabbits can eat as much grass as one sheep and they breed very quickly. Females can be pregnant for 70% of the year, and rabbits as young as five months old can produce up to 50 offspring each year. You do the maths …
What do they look like?
Size: adults can reach the size of a small cat, weighing up to 2 kg.
Appearance: usually grey-brown in colour with a light underside. Some other colour variations occur in the wild (black, white, and orange).
Signs: any evidence of rabbits being present, such as burrows, scratchings, or scat (poo).
Similar species: hares can be easily distinguished from feral rabbits, as hares are solitary, much larger in body size, and have long black-tipped ears and large muscular hindquarters.
Habitat: includes grasslands at low altitude across the Otago region.
What should I do?
Land occupiers — those who physically occupy a property — whether they own it or not, are responsible for the management of rabbits.
ORC supports rabbit management. There is a range of suggestions, from DIY solutions to how to engage a professional contractor, on our website. You’ll also find rabbit management plan templates to help develop a long-term plan for managing rabbits on your property and maintaining rabbit numbers at low levels.
If you need help managing the rabbits destroying your property, or have any questions, call 0800 474 082 or email biosecurity@orc.govt.nz.
Find out more about rabbits and rabbit management on our Pest Hub.
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Harbourmaster pleased with boaties’ behaviour this summer
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ORC Harbourmaster Steve Rushbrook with a couple of the ‘buoys’
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The 2024–25 summer recreation season was a goodie, our Harbourmaster team enjoying plenty of chats with people making the most of what our coastline, lakes and rivers have to offer. Harbourmaster Steve Rushbrook said he was pleased overall with boaties’ behaviour.
“We have had a pretty good year out there on the water,” he says, “great engagement with the public in Central Otago over the holiday periods, incident reports have not been high and generally people appear to be more conscious of being safe on the water. There have only been a few not wearing their lifejackets and needing to be reminded.
“However, we still see quite a few vessels without identification on them, so I would urge people to read the navigational bylaws and see what is required.”
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New signage around the region reminds people they need to display a name or number on their boat
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Remember to burn dry firewood this winter
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It’s that time of year again, when we say goodbye to the warmer months and many of us start using our fires again.
Air quality becomes degraded during winter due to the use of wood burners combined with cold, calm weather and the occurrence of inversion layers (where cold air gets stuck under the warmer air, holding the pollution near where people breathe).
ORC is currently running its annual Burn Dry, Breathe Easy campaign highlighting ways to ensure your firewood is dry for burning in winter and the effects that burning wet wood and other items can have on air quality and the environment.
We hope the campaign will encourage people to consider their health and that of others in their area when using wood burners. Woodsmoke pollution can be reduced when residents burn only dry wood and keep their fire hot and not smouldering. Thermally efficient homes with good insulation require less fuel to keep warm, which can also reduce woodsmoke pollution.
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Burn Dry, Breathe Easy tips:
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Stock up on firewood before Christmas to allow it to dry out before the following winter.
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Stack your firewood off the ground, out of the rain and with plenty of airflow so it dries faster.
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Use a wood moisture meter to check if your firewood is dry enough to burn. Less than 25% moisture means more heat and reduced smoke.
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A well-built fire of scrunched up paper, kindling, and firewood with plenty of airflow ensures a well-heated home and less smoke.
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Don’t burn wet or green firewood, treated wood or household rubbish as they can release harmful toxins into the air.
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To reduce smoke overnight, make sure you can still see flames when you turn your fire down.
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Toitū Te Hakapupu celebration planting day — 18 May
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Save the date!
Planting native trees? Ice cream? Coffee? BBQ and a fabulous community project, anyone? You’re invited to the Toitū Te Hakapupu celebration planting day as this amazing four-year project comes to a close.
Come and have a treat, help us complete some riverside native planting, and find out what has been achieved and what is planned for the future.
We will be showcasing successes and achievements gained alongside project partner Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki with the collaborative efforts of the East Otago Catchment Group, landowners, and the community.
When:
18 May 2025, 11am–3pm
Where:
944 Palmerston-Waikouaiti Road, East Otago
Parking available onsite
Want to know more?
Reach out to Project Assistant Soraya Engelken:
Phone: 0224523818
Email: soraya.engelken@orc.govt.nz
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ORC out and about at NatureDome
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ORC Catchment Advisors Max and Janice talk to some keen visitors about water quality and pollution
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Some of the ORC team had an awesome day at NatureDome, part of the New Zealand Festival of Nature/Wild Dunedin, earlier this month.
It was nice to meet so many people — swapping stories, diving into all things science-related, and chatting about what’s going on around Otago. It was buzzing with curiosity, kōrero, and plenty of hands-on fun!
Congratulations to the winners of the 3D-printed models of Ōtepoti Dunedin. All the winners have been contacted by email.
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A 3D-printed model of Ōtepoti Dunedin lets people see and feel the contours of the city/harbour area
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Find out about upcoming community events and Council meetings here.
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Feel free to forward this email to anyone who might like to read it. If you have any story ideas or want to know anything specific about anything in this issue, let us know by emailing onstream@orc.govt.nz
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