KAIKOHE CAMP – JANUARY 1963

Forest and Bird, Issue 149, 1 August 1963, Page 20

KAIKOHE CAMP - JANUARY 1963

by

Bernard Teague

Here we were on 18 January driving up the main street of the modern, pleasing town of Kaikohe, turning to the right and a few yards up the street turning into the grounds of the Kaikohe primary school. A lovely setting indeed for our 15th summer camp. An avenue of native trees led to the school and in particular to the four modern rooms of the infant block with its wide verandah, which was to be used by the campers, mainly, of course, for sleeping. We were welcomed by Mr. A. Wotherspoon, the headmaster, who became a really thoughtful host and who throughout the camp gave every and very willing assistance in making our stay a happy one.

Opposite the school was Reed Park camping ground, another lovely spacious place, with huge taraire and puriri shade trees, some with contorted trunks and branches, a fitting place for caravans and tents. Throughout the day campers arrived and, with ten at the hotel, the end of the day saw 68 F. and B. members in camp.

The assembling together for the first meeting is always a happy time, when old friends meet and new campers are initiated to camp fellowship. The Mayor of Kaikohe, Mr. P. M. E. Williams, 0.8. E., welcomed campers to the district and was the principal speaker of the evening. But first the campers adapted the tune of' “Happy Wanderer” and on this and subsequent evenings sang many different verses, made up to suit the incidents of camp. Instead of the usual chorus, the refrain ran “Maori tree, kauri spar, kauri tree, Maori pa, ha, ha, ha, ha.” The verses occasioned much merriment and sometimes contained pleasant sarcasm or personal allusions.

In his address Mr. Williams dealt with past and present development of the North and population and occupational trends, and his talk was a fitting introduction to the district. Speaking of the early development of Auckland he said, “They will tell you the goldfields financed it. Don’t you believe it ; it was Northland’s kauri timber and gum.”

Next evening Mr. Geoff Moon, of Warkworth, showed his colour slides of birds. We hired the Memorial Hall and issued a general invitation to the Kaikohe public. This meeting was a great success, the hall being crowded. After the meeting some purchased Society bird books and enquired about membership. On Sunday morning, the Rev. Harris Whitfield, Methodist minister, conducted an open-air service under the school trees. Mr. Whitfield, who has a keen personal appreciation of nature, conducted a memorable and moving service that was greatly appreciated. After this campers reclined on the grass while Mr. Peter Gross, of Kerikeri, ornithologist, gave a talk on Australian welcome swallows, which have colonised the whole of Northland. Mr. Gross showed the curious nest of' the bird, a combination of mud and straw with a feather lining which the birds cement on to the undersides of bridges. There was still time before lunch to go to the residence of the Mayor, Mr. Williams, and admire his spacious garden, two large lily ponds, and potted begonias.

On Sunday afternoon members formed their own parties to travel around the district, some to the hilltop memorial, some to Ngawha sulphur springs,

the tung-oil farm to see relic trees of this unsuccessful venture, and to other parts. Another crowded meeting was held in the evening, when Mr. John Kendrick, a well known Waikato tramper, showed four films of adventurous tramping, canoeing, and bird-watching trips.

On subsequent evenings we heard lectures with or without slides. Mr. Lawn of the New Zealand Forest

Service, Kaikohe, gave an evening talk on the northern forests, with emphasis on the kauri forests. This was much enjoyed and was a fitting introduction to the day visits to five of the large kauri forests, Waipoua, Trounson Park, Pukeiti, Maninganinga, and Omahuta. A member of the camp, Mr. V. Cook, headmaster of the henuapai school, gave an interesting talk on his special study of sedges and related plants. Mr. Griffiths, of Waiheke Island, showed colour slides of trees which he had taken in many parts of the country.

During the day trips, apart from the visits to the kauri forests, many other places of scenic or historic interest were visited and some campers were also able to fit in other short trips to suit themselves. Waitangi, Paihia, and Waimate North were visited, and such places as the Treaty House, old churches, museums, and the old oak were given much attention. Perhaps the highlight of the visits to the kauri forests was the trip to Omahuta State Forest, where we saw the amazing tree Kopi, said to be the largest

kauri tree in New Zealand. Eight members joined hands and arms stretched to full length were only half way around this tree. Looking at trees of this stature one felt sympathetic to the Irishman who, when seeing his first giraffe, said, “Begorra, I don’t believe it.” A visit to Kerikeri was also included in the programme. Here, after visiting the old stone store

and museum, we called at an orchard, saw tropical fruit growing, and purchased peaches. Then on to inlet road and to the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Edgar. Many members had a swim from a private beach and all had refreshment at the lovely new home overlooking the sea. As the memorable week came to a close there was a visit to the amazing bushman’s museum, a collection gathered by Mr. R. Winger at the Kaikohe sawmill. Even the sawmill itself, with huge kauri logs, proved of interest to members. The novel form of borough sewage disposal by oxidation ponds also gave members much to think about and the sight of several varieties of' waterfowl enjoying the protected seclusion of this spacious area of lake and planted trees gave an example of a worthwhile and economic way of disposing of sewage.

With the camp over, there was still much pleasure left to 25 members who in nine cars joined in an after-camp touring trip to the farthest north, the Cape Reinga and Parengarenga area. One purpose

for which this camp was planned was that Mr. B. Teague, the camp organiser and leader, might, with other members, inspect small relic areas of forest in the Far North with a view to collecting information and advocating protection for botanical reasons. These inspections were made. Apart from this all members visited the Cape Reinga lighthouse area and Parengarenga, and side trips and tramps gave all a good idea of the “top” of the island. All members spent two nights camping in tents in a very pleasant spot below the Te Paki Station homestead, and some stayed longer.

Trees and Shrubs Found in Residual Forests of the Far North

We visited two patches of forest on Te Paki Station, one reached from the main Te -Lighthouse road, the other was near by, but access was gained from the Pandora road. The following species were found in one or other or both patches of forest. Kauri were found only in the Pandora forest. The list is, of course, not a complete one, and the names are those that come to mind most readily (lack of time prevents me from listing both scientific and common names). B.T.

Kauri; kohekohe; nikau palms, putaputaweta, Carpodetus serratus; Parsonsia, two varieties; manuka and kanuka, differently named in the North ;

CAMP MEMORIES

by

MISS R. LAWRENCE, Napier

It is always a delight to see things for the first time, and at the annual Forest and Bird camps which are held in different parts of the country there are wonderful opportunities of doing so, whether it be a tiny orchid or a high mountain peak. I shall never forget my first glimpse of the glorious Ranunculus lyallii at Arthur’s Pass, the lovely little edelweiss and the blue mountain duck. At other camps also, there have been equally enjoyable things to remember. The recent camp held at Kaikohe was the first glimpse of the Far North for many of us, and our expeditions to the forests where the giant kauris lift their great trunks to the sky, like the column of a vast cathedral, were moments which will live long in our thoughts. The mangroves were of special interest, as they do not inhabit our Hawke’s Bay district. The larger trees extend their twisted trunks into intricate shapes and patterns, mirrored in the still waters beneath, while their khaki-green foliage dips and sways as the wind stirs the surface of the tidal inlets. Sometimes there are vast areas of smaller bushes growing so closely together that the water is not visible, and the breathing roots, which enable them to live in the clogging mud, are a strange sight when the tide is low. Much could be said of this interesting species of plant life, and to those unaccustomed to seeing such luxuriant growth in salt water sometimes feet deep; it is indeed a further thought to be stored in the pages of camp memories.

Suttonia australis; Coprosma spathulata; Cordyline banksii, australis; rangiora ; puriri; taraire ; whau ; kiekie; Geniostoma ligustrifolium, hangehange; Rubus, lawyer, two varieties; flax; lacebark species; kawakawa; tree ferns; Dianella; Pittosporwm tenuifolium; supplejack; Tmesipterus (amazingly healthy and vigorous, more so than noted in any other part of New Zealand) ; Carmichaelia australis (?) ; rewarewa; Rhabdothamnus; Adiantum species; Corokia, two varieties; Leucopogon; Draco phyllum sinclairii; Dracophyllum urvilleanum; Draco phyllum, fine-leaved heath type; Peperomia urvilleana; Paratrophis microphylla; Coprosma arborea and C. grandiflora; miro; and rimu.

Notes from Branches and Sections

Rangitikei With just over a year passed since 28 March, 1962, when the national president, Mr. R. C. Nelson, addressed the inaugural meeting of this section in Marton, the section is now well established and should progress rapidly. With eighty-four members in the section’s area when we began in March last year, we have now grown to 104. Last winter’s programme comprised evening meetings with guest speakers Mr. P. Gay, then the Department of Education’s school nature study instructor from Raetihi; Mr. MacDonald, then curator of the Wanganui Museum; native plant slides by Mr. J. Howard; and an evening of films from the National Film Library—Fiordland Expedition, Kakapo, Wildlife in the Mountains, and Cattle Trail. Saturday excursions in the summer months were taken to the Howard’s native plant collection at Greatford; Totara Reserve, Pohangina Valley; Bushy Park, Wanganui, recently given to the Society by the late Mr. G. F. Moore; and MacPherson’s Bush, Turakina Valley, another of the Society’s bush reserves, of 22 acres. The section is endeavouring, so far unsuccessfully, to obtain permission to tidy up the entrance to Bruce Park, on the main highway a few miles south of Hunterville, and to reopen the original tracks through the reserve.

(See also pages 23 and 24)

THE KAIKOURA CAMP

by

I. H. Gray

Nearly two years of advance planning and two week-end trips to Kaikoura were necessary for the successful operation, in that town, of the fourth South Island Forest and Bird camp. The one phase over which we had no control, the weather, was the only thing to mar an otherwise outstanding camp. With 117 members present, including 40 from the North Island, the camp opened in hot weather on 4 January with an evening meeting in the supper room of the community centre, at which the visitors were welcomed to Kaikoura by the Deputy Chairman of the County Council. The remainder of the evening was occupied by the showing of slides of previous camps, and a review of the coming week’s programme. On Saturday, in perfect weather, the party made a mass assault on Mt. Fyffe, 5,260 ft., but as far as can be ascertained only one of our members, together with three visiting climbers, reached the summit. The remainder made varied progress upwards through the bush and spent the day enjoying the bird life and the view. It was after 6 o’clock before the last of the party were off the mountain. Fortunately there was no evening meeting that night; so all were able to rest their weary legs and doctor their scratches and bruises before falling into bed.

Sunday’s programme commenced at the highschool headquarters, with a church service conducted by Mr. I. McLean, a local lay preacher, after which group photographs were taken. After lunch a visit was paid to the local Lake Rotorua, which supports a wide variety of waterfowl, including pukeko, grey duck, black swans, black teal, and white-fronted shags, which were seen at their nesting sites in the trees around the lake.

Monday was a very hot day, when the campers travelled south to the Okarahia Stream, where our bus and most of the cars were left at the main road, whilst the party followed the stream down to the sea coast, a distance of about four miles. This proved a very strenuous walk, with the temperature in the 90’s and no breeze in the narrow valley. However, many of those who completed the journey sought relaxation in the breakers, to refresh themselves for the long walk back. Although there was a good mixture of native bush at the start of the walk, towards the coast it comprised mainly manuka scrub.

Tuesday was overcast and inclined to drizzle, particularly inland; so a trip was made along the coast, first to Lighthouse Point, where nesting gulls and the seal colony were seen, and then continued south to Goose Bay. Here the chief attraction was the nesting colony of red-billed gulls, which can be seen at close quarters, as only a wire fence separates the birds from the sightseers. The full cycle of the young birds was to be seen, from the egg stage, to the fully fledged young. Later, when the clouds lifted, a walk was taken up the Goose Stream valley, where heavy bush clothes the hillsides.

Wednesday morning was again wet, but after lunch some of the party decided to follow the sea shore around the Kaikoura Peninsula, while another group took the bus and made a trip down the Waiau Road to the vicinity of the Monkey Face Reserve,

which was to have been one of our objectives during the week. Low cloud obscured the hilltops so no attempt was made to climb to the reserve. Thursday, our final day, was again overcast but without rain; so the full party made the trip to the Puhi Puhi Valley, taking the bus and cars as far as the scenic reserve and then walking a further two or three miles through the bush up as far as the Jordan River crossing. Some very fine tree ferns and a wide variety of native plant life were seen in this valley, although bird life was scarce owing to weather conditions. The weather cleared late in the afternoon and prospects looked good for the aftercamp hike into the Blue Duck Valley, 15 miles north of Kaikoura, but during the night heavy rain set in again, and the trip was reluctantly cancelled. Evening meetings were held at the community centre each evening, except Saturday, at which the visitors were shown slides and heard talks on the early days of the Kaikoura district and on the bird life and scenic attractions of the area.

Despite the weather most of the original programme was carried out and campers left Kaikoura dampened physically but not in spirit, and all agreed that the camp had been an outstanding success.

OUTING TO WAIPORI GORGE

The vegetation clothing the hills surrounding Waipori was the chief subject of interest to the members of the Dunedin Branch of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society at their outing on Saturday, 24 March. As they travelled along, Miss J. P. Burrell pointed out aspects of the regeneration of the bush after the destruction of the original forest cover by various agencies. In areas where the forest had . been milled the new growth had been predominantly podocarp and broadleaf. There was a typical mixture of under-storey species with matai and totara standing out above these, and in some places rimu also were prominent. Higher up this covering gave way to silver beech. Where the original cover had been destroyed by fire the main regrowth consisted of tree manuka (commonly called kanuka). In the parts which were obviously drier also this species predominated, but there were also areas of beech coming through the kanuka and many beech seedlings were noticed.

A great variety of species commonly found in a mixed forest were seen, including fuchsia, putaputaweta, lancewood, Aristotelia, lemonwood, Nothopanax, Coprosma, cabbage trees, and tree ferns. Several species of Hebe, as well as Astelia, tutu, hard ferns (JBlechnu/m') , and Cassinia were some of the many plants noticed on the fringes. A large cluster of mistletoe perching on a beech carried clusters of yellow berries, and a fine specimen of Corokia cotoneaster was well covered in its attractive berries.

Along the roadside were many exotic trees, including several species of poplar as well as birch and beech, some of the latter showing the beginning of their autumn colouring.

Amongst the birds seen in the gorge were fantails, bellbirds, wood pigeons, a harrier hawk, a brown creeper, and a black shag.

MORE BRANCH NOTES

See also pages 22 and 23

I Banganui The year has been a full one. In the Spring Flower Show the Wanganui Branch won an Award of Merit for a display of swamp-inhabiting birds. It was largely the work of Mrs. Sunderland. This display was greatly helped by birds lent by the Wanganui Museum. We also won first prize at the Rose Show for a decorated bay made with native flowers and birds. We have to thank Miss S. Izard, Miss D. Hall, Mrs. J. Earle, and Mr. N. Ginn for work in this. During the year, we have had a large number of lectures and outings. On 20 March the committee and other members of the branch visited Bushy Park and were introduced to the late Mr. G. F. Moore, the owner of the property. It was very wonderful to see him in the surroundings he had loved for so many, years. We talked to him while he was sitting in his favourite chair looking out on the wonderful bush. Several . interesting and informative trips were made during the year, such as those to Ohakune Mountain Road (unfortunately a rainy day), to Foxton Beach to observe the birds (spoonbills, banded dotterels, terns, and others were seen), to Mr. W. I. Tripe’s property at Oxton, to the gull colony at .Kaitoke, and to Dawson Falls. On several evenings interesting and very informative films or slides were shown Mr. J. Taylor’s close-ups of native plants and flowers; Mr. Lattey’s slides of native plants and flowers; Mr. Kinsky on banding of birds (a lecture given in the Memorial Hall Concert Chamber); Mr. Ginn showed his and Mr. Stephen s slides of wild flowers of Western Australia; the Internal Affairs’ film “Legend of the Birds”, and Mr. R. McDonald’s one on the finding of the blue wattled crow. Southern Hawke’s Bay The programmes during the year included an illustrated talk at Pahiatua by Dr. J. F. Findlay on “Antarctica”; a joint evening with the Farm Forestry Association, where Mr. A. Cunningham spoke on “High Country Erosion” ; a movie evening on “Bird Films”; a competition evening, and at Woodville an illustrated talk by Messrs. K. Lambert and N. France on “Deer-stalking in West Otago”. The institution of a meeting at Pahiatua was a new and very successful venture which the committee hope to repeat annually. Besides, evenings meetings the section also held two picnics and a weekend trip to Kapiti. The first picnic was held at the Woodville Domain and was combined with the opening of the Klein Track. A bus-load of visitors from the Hastings Section and a few from the Manawatu shared a successful picnic with us at the Ngapaeruru Reserve, Mangadr 0 - Twenty-eight adults and thirteen children had an interesting day on Kapiti.

Thirty-six wekas were released in the Woodville Domain area and we hope that these birds will successfully re-establish themselves there.

Auckland The gorse on the Society’s property at Onetangi, Waiheke Island, which had been cut some months previously, was sending up vigorous new growth after the manner of its kind, and as the cost of having it sprayed commercially was prohibitive the Bush Development Committee decided on a do-it-yourself campaign. Two knapsack spray pumps were bought and a third borrowed. Some hormone spray was also bought and committee members and others were notified of the project. The weekend 15-17 March chosen for the assault was calm and sunny. Several Auckland members travelled over by the Friday evening boat and reported for work with several Waiheke members at 8.30 a.m. the following morning. The bucket brigade went into action, treading down tall grass to make a path to the stream, which fortunately never dries up, then up the hill to where the pumps were to be filled. By a wise provision the worst of the task was tackled first, the work becoming progressively less arduous (for the bucket carriers, anyway) as the field of operations moved down the valley and nearer to the stream. With all the containers full of water the bucket brigade could enjoy spells of inactivity and it was inevitable at such moment that newcomers arrived on the scene; but we hope that any impression of slothfulness was dispelled when the pumps returned one by one to be filled. The pump operators could have a spell, too, while somebody else took a turn at this, the heaviest part of the work.

In the meanwhile there seemed to be an endless supply ,of tea and good things to eat and the Society s tuis and pigeons entertained us with song and aerobatics. There were even ripe apples and figs on some old trees on the property. By 4.30 p.m. the gorse on that side of the valley had all been sprayed.

The following morning we did a little more work on the other side. We paid a quick visit to the area where young trees were planted last August and found some of them flourishing, though some were in less happy state. Then a delightful swim m the nearby sea for some, lunch, and the 3 p.m. boat home for the Auckland contingent. Glossing over minor inconveniences such as gorse prickles in one’s boots and spray pumps spilling down one’s back, does this account of a working party at Onetangi sound attractive enough to bring able-bodied members flocking to the next gorsespraying weekend? We hope to have another in November; so be sure to book early.

ST FRANCIS WITH NZ BIRDSA stained glass window to be erected at St. Barnabas' Church, Rangiwahia, will show St. Francis with New Zealand birds. Native pigeon, fantail, and others are included, as well as kowhai and rata blossom.

Jhe photo oil. the inside front cover of the May issue, showing trees killed by shingle brought down, by erosion of high country should have been credited to the N.Z. Forest Service (J. H. G. Johns,. A.R.P.S.) and that on the back cover, showing two bad slips, slumping, and silting up of a valley, to the National Publicity Studios.