Ring of Confidence

by Erina O’Donohue

Rising like a beacon 787 metres above the Waikato River basin, near Lake Karapiro, Maungatautari Mountain is poised to become home to New Zealand’s most ambitious conservation project.

The vision is to ring 3400 hectares of the volcano’s forested peaks and flanks with a 47km pest and predator proof fence so native species like the North Island Brown Kiwi, giant weta, and the highly endangered tuatara can take up safe residence within. When- not if- the Maungatautari Ecological Island Project becomes reality it will be mainland New Zealand’s largest predator free forest. And it’s not a Department of Conservation initiative – its genesis is totally home grown within the local community.

Maungatautari Ecological Island grew from the tenacity and hard labours of Karapiro gairy-grazing farmers David and Juliet Wallace, who in the 1990’s began trying to establish a 16 hectare native reserve overlooking Maungatautari. Frustrated at their labours being repeatedly destroyed by pests, the Wallaces sought Ministry of the Environment funding and teamed up with local fencer George Calvert, restoration ecologist Roger MacGibbon, pest control expert Phil Thompson and Ruakura animal behavioural scientist Tim Day to experiment with fencing. In 1999 the group formed the Xcluder Pest Proof Fencing Company and patented a fence designed to keep out the most scurrilous of pests. Two metres high, it is covered in fine mesh netting and curled at the top with slippery, painted colour steel. “No pest can physically get over, under or through it – even the tiniest mouse,” says David Wallace.

And it’s this passion that fuelled the Wallaces to extend their dream to putting an Xcluder fence around Maungatautari (the “mountain suspended above the mist”) and to approach local landowners. Seventy-five per cent of the mountain is crown land administered by the Waipa District Council, 550 hectares in 16 blocks is Maori owned and 300 hectares belongs to adjoining farmers. All enthusiastically supported the scheme and in early 2002 formed the 16-member Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust.

Trust chief executive Jim Mylchreest says the end goal is to get Maungatautari back as close as possible to what it was like before human occupation. Plans also include separately fenced information and education centres, paths and wheelchair access. It’s hoped to complete the fence by the end of 2005, eradicate pests, build the centres and begin reintroduction of species. The only hitch: it’ll cost $12 million and there’s only $1 million in the kitty so far. Corporate sponsors, trusts and private individuals are being pursued and the government courted as a partner. Helen Clark, Michael Cullen, and Conservation minister Chris Carter have all visited and an announcement is expected soon on some sort of contribution.

Department of Conservation Waikato area manager and trust member, Tony Roxburgh is “very excited”. He says: “A lot of people in New Zealand had a perception that conservation could only be done by a government department. But quite clearly there’s enough interest in communities to take a lead.”

In November ubiquitous English botanist David Bellamy (left) visited Maungatautari during a New Zealand visit to mark the 25th anniversary of the Queen Elizabeth II Trust. Set up by the Muldoon government, the Trust’s purpose was to covenant private land for conservation: to date 1700 farmers have offered up 56,000 hectares of native bush.

“The Maungatautari Ecological Island is another visionary step along this road,” Bellamy enthused. “It shows what can be done when communities work together, and is an example to others around the globe.”