Coromandel Life Magazine Spring 2017

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4 COROMANDEL LIFE spring / holiday 2017
Aine Barton and Sheridan O’Keeffe, from Te Rerenga
School, take part in the rimu tree plantings in 2013.
In an effort to increase the educational value of the
project, 50 species identification plaques are being
erected along the main walking circuit with the
generous support of Forest and Bird’s Valder Trust.
Scott and Ian McDonald check out the
growth of one of the rimus planted just four
years ago by family and friends of Bruce. His
memorial seat was erected at the same time.
Ian assumed leadership of the project after
the passing of Bruce in 2012.
These steps at the entrance to the track from
the east end of Rings Beach were erected
in April 2016. It was a joint project with DOC
who provided the materials and guidance.
The Rings Beach Wetlands Project was
initiated in 2008 by Bruce Smith of Kuaotunu,
recently retired at the time and looking for
a project to give something back to the
community. He shared his vision with another
local, Ian MacDonald, who soon partnered with
Bruce to ‘make it happen’.
Sadly, in December 2012, Bruce Smith passed
away quite suddenly. Since then, the project
has carried on under Ian’s capable leadership
with the help of other Kuaotunu and Matarangi
locals, all committed to realising, maintaining
and extending Bruce’s dream.
A memorial bench was constructed by one of
those dedicated volunteers, Ian Patrick, which
was placed in Bruce’s honour beside the track
overlooking the wetlands vista (see photo).
THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PROJECT
Volunteers, assisted by local schools, have
planted over 4600 native trees, carefully
selected to provide a food source for native
birds which are indeed re-establishing
themselves in this bush reserve.
Trap lines, also monitored by volunteers, have
eliminated over 3700 predators since 2009. Not
only is the bird life benefiting, but monitoring
has established that wetas, lizards and other
invertebrates are also recovering. As the new
trees grow, even more species will make this
their home.
Kiwi, which have been absent for a long time,
have now returned to the wetland area. The
goal of the group is to make fresh releases of
kiwi, incubated and hand reared locally to 1kg
– the optimum weight at which they can resist
predators.
Several hundred wilding pines have been felled
with support from DOC, which has allowed
seedling natives to spring up wherever they
gained sunlight. Application has been made for
a significant funding boost from the Minister of
Conservation’s “War on Weeds” programme.
This 276ha area, that was clear felled and
farmed till the 1950s, now features native forest
regrowth. The ultimate result of the 10,000
plus volunteer hours restoring this forest to its
former glory will provide the most benefit to
future generations. “It will present a glimpse
of how our native forest looked before Britain
colonised this country in the 19th century,”
shares Ian.
This conservation project is enjoyed by locals
and visitors in increasing numbers. A track
counter installed by DOC recorded over 16,000
walkers last year.
Last October the project was honoured with
an award from the NZ Plant Conservation
Network. Ian led a delegation of Rings Beach
project volunteers to the awards ceremony
held at the Wellington Botanical Gardens.
ACCESSING THE TRACK
Find walking tracks at either end of Ring’s
Beach, or walk in from the access point at the
end of Goldfields Drive in Matarangi.
To donate toward track upgrades including the
wilding pine felling project, or to volunteer your
time, please contact Ian MacDonald at 07 866
5338 (email or Ian Patrick
07 866 0751 (email .
See a previous article in our Holiday 2014
issue:
holiday_2014/index.html#42.
The late Bruce Smith
Everyday Heroes realise a vision
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