This summer Experiencing Marine Reserves is keen to run a workshop on Rakino for aspiring citizen science snorkelers. The plan is to teach participants how to do fish counts and collect useful data so we can track what is happening in the water around Rakino. There are places for up to 20 participants and enthusiasm is high. There are about ten places left, so if you haven’t already registered your interest on the Friends of Rakino FB page, email me, lisa@lisawest.co.nz
The intention is to apply for a grant to fund the workshop.
I’ll keep everyone who is interested in the loop, but we’d also like to have a bit of a get-together this Matariki Weekend on Rakino (weather permitting!) in order to have a chat about the workshop, but also to eat snacks and enjoy a few drinks in good company. Details on get-together yet to be confirmed, but here is the workshop outline for your perusal.
Category: conservation
Tiny Museum reviewed
My documentation of the event could have been better, but I was a tad flustered as I was still running around at 5pm trying to assign numbers to the art work for sale. Thankfully Holly was keeping calm like a professional.
Dylan and Simon were happy to pose for paparazzi shots, but sadly I missed the opportunity to take any photos of the throng. I was too busy debating about how to play sea shanties successfully through the speaker to pay proper attention.
I can confirm the ladies of the Backhouse-Smith household were the height of glamour, and I’m dismayed at my failure to document their fabulosity. 🙁
There was a brief flurry of consternation as Billie the Dog opportunistically made off with McCann family heirloom ‘shark-stick’, but the treasure was quickly retrieved, and the saliva removed. As Josh remarked drily “well technically, it is a stick”. I’ve made similar faux pas in galleries myself, so don’t wish to cast aspersions at Billie. Scuba Steve was also a very popular exhibit, as were Dylan’s beach fossicked skulls. A certain wall-mounted viciously fanged skull kept the punters guessing, and many were surprised to discover it was a feral cat.
Many thanks to everyone who came to the opening event, visited the Tiny Museum, brought along delicious snacks, and generously lent their treasures, display units, trees, and artwork over the Easter period. The weather was a little unkind, but the turn out was pretty good regardless. I was particularly happy to see how many Rakino kids turned up with their beautiful artwork to stick to the undersea background!
The purpose of the Tiny Museum portion of the Easter art show was to draw attention to marine and terrestrial environment of Rakino, to celebrate our 20 years predator-free status, but also to make us think about where we might go from here. The displays of gecko & skink posters will remain for now, as will the posters of the photographs taken of the Woody Bay & Otata snorkel trips. There are QR codes next to some items, and if you scan them with a code reader you can find out more about them. There is also plenty of artwork still available. Money was raised for the Westpac Helicopter thanks to Harriet’s generosity, and there is still potentially more money to be raised thanks to a further donation of an art work by Anne McCabe, courtesy of Mark & Julianne.
Thanks All, and see you next time.
The Tiny Museum @ ORCA
Easter Art Show on Rakino Island
This Easter we have a theme for the Art Show on account of the fact it’s 20 years since Rakino became pest free. In addition to the usual great art available to purchase we are setting up photo displays about marine and terrestrial conservation on Rakino. There will be glorious gecko, and sublime seascapes.
We have an area we are styling as the ‘Tiny Museum’, an open cabinet of curiosities containing beach combed treasures and objet. We have a large wall dedicated to displaying sea critters created by ‘kino kids, so I’m looking forward to receiving lots of marine flora and fauna to attach to our undersea background.
Below are a few tasters of some of the work on show; more images to come. 🙂
Heavenly Herpetofauna of the Hauraki Gulf: Part II Skinks
New Zealand has 78 known species of skink but, as with the gecko, new species are being identified quite regularly, the Hauraki Gulf has at least eight.
Here are three Gulf locals and two that are regionally extinct – they were once here and could be again as there are plans to reintroduce them to pest-free islands in the gulf.
Rakino has three species of skink that I know of, the Copper skink, the Moko, and the Shore skink.
Others in the Gulf are the Chevron, the Striped, the Hauraki, the Suters, and the Ornate.
Copper skink (Oligosoma aeneum)
If you’re a North Islander, then this is the skink you are most likely to encounter, as it’s found almost all over. It is at risk from competition with the introduced plague skink though, so it’s vitally important to be careful when going to offshore islands not to accidentally introduce them. One of three species present on Rakino.
https://www.reptiles.org.nz/herpetofauna/native/oligosoma-aeneum
Moko skink (Oligosoma moco)
Another Rakino local (I saw one just the other day) the Moko is quite distinctive, with broad chocolate stripes on each side. You can impress strangers at parties by informing them that Mokos are heliothermic and occupy their own clade on the Oligosoma phylogentic tree.
https://www.reptiles.org.nz/herpetofauna/native/oligosoma-moco
Egg-laying skink (Oligosoma suteri)
New Zealand’s only egg-laying skink is mostly only found on pest-free islands, including some in the Hauraki Gulf. They live around the shore and sometimes forage underwater.
https://www.reptiles.org.nz/herpetofauna/native/oligosoma-suteri
Robust skink (Oligosoma alani)
New Zealand’s largest skink, the Robust was once present in the Gulf, but is now regionally extinct. Hopefully moves to relocate them to pest-free islands will see them here again.
https://www.reptiles.org.nz/herpetofauna/native/oligosoma-alani
MacGregor’s skink (Oligosoma alani)
https://www.reptiles.org.nz/herpetofauna/native/oligosoma-macgregori
Also regionally extinct, this crepuscular beauty may also be reintroduced to the Gulf.
All photos courtesy of © Nick Harker
Heavenly Herpetofauna of the Hauraki Gulf: Part I Geckos
I’ve always loved New Zealand geckos; with their loose, velvety skin and big friendly eyes, they are charming, almost whimsical creatures.
There are 48 known species, but new species were discovered even in the last year. With seven distinct genus groups, they are incredibly varied and long-lived, with some species exceeding 50 years of age in captivity. Due to introduced predators and loss of habitat, many are seriously endangered and live only on offshore islands.
Although there was a reported sighting of what could only be the Elegant Gecko a while ago, no species are officially resident on Rakino. This is a blog about the species present in the Hauraki Gulf, the ones that we could get to see on Rakino Island someday. They are democratically spread across five genus groups with one species each…
The Elegant gecko (Naultinus elegans)
This is the iconic one we all think of; bright verdant green (or yellow) with white diamonds. As if that isn’t enough, the Elegant has a blue mouth, black tongue, and can lick its own eyeballs.
https://www.reptiles.org.nz/herpetofauna/native/naultinus-elegans
The Forest gecko (Mokopirirakau granulatus)
https://www.reptiles.org.nz/herpetofauna/native/mokopirirakau-granulatus
Raukawa Gecko (Woodworthia maculata)
https://www.reptiles.org.nz/herpetofauna/native/woodworthia-maculata
Pacific gecko (Dactylocnemis pacificus)
https://www.reptiles.org.nz/herpetofauna/native/dactylocnemis-pacificus
Duvaucel’s Gecko (Hoplodactylus duvaucelii)
All the geckos are beautiful and fascinating, but the Duvey is almost unfairly endowed with endearing attributes; this, the largest New Zealand lizard is possessed of mesmerizing golden eyes and a beguiling yet self-deprecating grin, can live for more than 50 years and, although nocturnal, hangs out in social groups to bask in the sun. Behold the Duvaucel.
https://www.reptiles.org.nz/herpetofauna/native/hoplodactylus-duvaucelii
Many Thanks to Nick Harker for the Gecko photos all are copyright Nick Harker
Ōtata Snorkel Trip
I set off punishingly early in the silent pre-dawn of Rakino Island, wandering down to the wharf I passed three houses with their lights on. These folk were not early risers, something strange was afoot.
Nine of us turned up to catch a boat over to Ōtata, the largest island of Noises, a collection of islands to the northeast of Rakino.
I may have been overly keen as I’d squeezed myself into a wetsuit even before the boat arrived, sparking a conversation about the difference between ‘fitting’ and ‘appropriate’.
Steve turned up with the team from Experiencing Marine Reserves, some of them with diving gear to explore the Rakino coast, the rest to join the nine Rakinoites over to the Noises.
Sue Neureuter met us on the beach and told us a bit about the history and ecology of the Noises.
Captain McKenzie built a cottage on Ōtata and sold it to one Frederic Stanley Wainhouse, deputy harbour master for Auckland Harbour Board, who purchased the island group in 1933 for £200.
Wainhouse married Margaret Neureuter and they spent a significant amount of time living there during the second world war, keeping chickens and brewing their own beer. Now that’s what I’d call intrepid, living on an island in the Gulf with the threat of the Japanese navy in the Pacific.
The Noises have a long history of visitation and seasonal habitation by Iwi, and midden contents on Ōtata predating the eruption of Rangitoto is one of only two archaeological sites this early in the Auckland region.
Obsidian tools have been found there, fashioned from black volcanic glass, they can take a razor-sharp edge. Interestingly, most of the obsidian for tools came from Tuhua (Mayor Island) in the Bay of Plenty, and the top-quality raw material was traded far and wide.
The water was a balmy 23 degrees as we slipped in and began exploring the caves and chutes on the east side of the island. I’ve been snorkeling a bit around Rakino recently and, exciting though Rakino is, the Noises have a much larger diversity of marine species. One reason for this may be the interrelated nature of terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Ōtata is almost completely forested and home to many terrestrial species including numerous seabird species whose guano cycles back into the marine environment and contributes to fertilising the kelp forests which are home to many piscine denizens.
the highlight for me was a pair of friendly and inquisitive squid
It’s a great credit to the Neureuter family and also, I think, an inspiring example of what can be done. It is now 20 years since Rakino was rid of rats, with much more planting of native vegetation it could become a breeding ground for far more seabirds if only we’d stop stealing all their food.
We saw a fascinating variety of sea creatures, but the highlight for me was a pair of friendly and inquisitive squid, waving their tentacles and pulsing with rainbow colours.
After a terrific couple of hours in the water, Sue took us for a bit of a trek. Ōtata has never been cleared or farmed and it’s mostly pohutukawa dominant closed-canopy forest with very few invasive weeds. With no browsing mammals or rats, it’s also got a decent understory of many fern species and a wide variety of indigenous coastal plants.
Wandering back down the hill, in a world of my own, I strayed away from the group, took a wrong turn, and ended up on the wrong side of the Island. I only just made it back before the boat left, greeted by perplexed looks and the unspoken suspicion that a chap who managed to get lost on a 15-hectare island might very well constitute a mental health risk.
It was a fantastic trip. Many, many thanks to Experiencing Marine Reserves and the generosity of the Neureuter family.
Images courtesy of Lorna Doogan of EMR.
Boil-up!
The rock clamber between Woody and West Bays at low tide is one of my favourite Rakino activities; there are plenty of toe and hand holds to mitigate the risk of a skin-tearing plunge into the sea, but enough a frisson of danger to make it feel like an achievement in light adventurism.
We revisit familiar landmarks, the Exhibitionist Amorous Stick People, the kingfisher nests, the black-backed gull strafing danger zone, the Siren Pool fringed with Neptune’s Necklace, whilst giving the penguin roosts a wide berth, just in case.
On our most recent rock reconnoiter, we’d just carefully negotiated the last and most vertical part of the rock climb, sharp rock oysters beckoning below in the churning turning tide, when I spotted a series of boil-ups happening out in West Bay between our rock outcrop and the Three Sisters. A fisherman in a small boat to the west of us looked astounded as columns of spiraling silver sprats pursued by sizeable kahawai seethed all around the bay.
The white-fronted terns were first on the scene to aerially assail the sprats. About thirty terns rapidly appeared closely followed by a couple of petrels. Unfortunately I don’t know what species of petrel they were but there are a number of different species to be found in the Hauraki Gulf, including this small treasure, the white-faced storm petrel which is a resident on our neighbours The Noises, to Rakino’s east.
https://www.thenoises.nz/2021/11/16/return-of-the-tiny-winged-taonga/
Two pied shags, a heron and a foolishly inept juvenile black-backed gull joined the fray, its parent barking commands to its hapless offspring from the comfort of the shore.
Teams of muscular kahawai were rapidly herding sprats inches from our jutting rock perch, and I briefly fantasised about having a fishing rod to hand, but I quickly dispelled that scenario. I half-jokingly suggested this would be a perfect feeding frenzy for an orca or three to join, and dawdled as Simon strode off towards the final rock scramble before the sandy sweep of West Bay. Moments later I heard him shouting that orca were out in the bay. Thankfully I was carrying my second-best glasses, though regretfully not my binoculars. The Orca were trawling along the inward side of the Three Sisters, no doubt invigorated by the boil-up-inspired carnage.
This is the first time we have seen orca off Rakino, and despite the relative distance from where I was standing, I was not disappointed. One breached, which was just downright fantastic. I hadn’t fathomed how large orca were. They are surprisingly larger than a dolphin, news to a novice cetacean spotter. I think I’ll spend more time down by the seaside instead of swamp toiling. That should hopefully improve my odds of seeing orca-stimulating boil-ups in future. 🙂
This is why we can’t have even nicer things…
This is Merf. She is my elderly cat, and she lives in Auckland. When I visit Rakino I can’t stay more than a few days, because she is my responsibility in town, and I will never take her to Rakino. Secondly because I’ve made a big noise about the madness of allowing cats to roam free on a predator free island, but firstly because ground-nesting birds visit our swamp.
I’ve heard the high decibel chirr-growl of a spotless crake lurking in the undergrowth behind the shed, and banded rails have been hanging around lately according to reliable reports. Aside from that we have a good number of copper skinks that make the undergrowth their home.
Other avian visitors that are prone to cat predation are the korimako and tui. Our callistemon are still small, but most days bellbirds drop in to enjoy the flowers at ground level, and tui take evening baths in the water bowl. This is basically a ground-based snack dispenser for a hunting cat.
Cats can be controlled by keeping them indoors and dressing them in a bewildering array of accessories; bells, glittery trinkets, rotating disco bibs, flashing LED lights, etc which will help protect our existing native species, but their very presence means we can’t get trans-locations of natives that are unable to self-introduce, at least not until we are cat free.
These are animals unable to self-introduce because they are poor fliers, or because they are lizards and insects, all of which makes them vulnerable to predation.
We are residents on an extraordinary resource for threatened native species; a pest free island which is being strenuously re-wilded with habitat-increasing regenerative plant species. Here are some nice things we could have if we left our cats on the mainland…
Raukawa Gecko – Woodworthia Maculata
Pacific Gecko – Dactylocnemis pacificus
Chevron Skink – Oligosoma homalonotum
Forest Gecko – Mokopirirakau granulatus
Giant Weta
Tieke/Saddlebacks
https://www.gbiet.org/en24-giant-gecko-rediscovered
Unlike cats, these critters are all endemic to New Zealand, mostly only thriving on pest free islands, some still sadly in decline. Cats are permitted on Rakino at this point, but I regard the bringing of cats to a pest free island to be the same as taking your full daily bag limit of fish; just because you can do it doesn’t mean you should do it. Sometimes the rules are wrong. If we band together to let the law makers know the rules aren’t fit for purpose, then we can get the rules changed. A rule change would mean we could provide an island home for threatened and recovering species. Wouldn’t that be amazing?
Special thanks to Nick Harker & Shaun Lee for generously letting us use their fabulous photos. You can view more of Nick’s images at the NZ Herpetological Society website.. https://www.reptiles.org.nz/
The feature image is an elegant gecko – Naultinus elegens, also a Nick Harker image.
Listen to Nicola Toki’s Critter of the week, the Robust Skink
Unwanted Organisms
An important read for all Rakino residents and bach owners. These are the up-to-date rules under Auckland Council’s RPMP (regional pest management plan). It costs the ratepayers of Auckland a fortune to manage pest incursions, so let’s not add to the burden..
Preventing Future Pest Incursions
The current Darwin’s ant invasion has got me thinking about risks and risk mitigation.
With regard to keeping our environment on Rakino free of undesirable fauna, the risks of pests getting to the island are high, and the consequences are severe. The costs of the rainbow skink incursion were in the tens of thousands, and we can only cross our fingers and hope that the Darwin’s ant incursion can be dealt with swiftly.
I don’t know how the ants got to Rakino, but there is one vector we can eliminate. I know from experience when I have brought plants from Auckland to Rakino that Belaire is assiduous in checking they have been dealt with according to protocol in order to stop spread of Rainbow Skinks and Argentine Ants. I’m so paranoid about being ‘that guy’, that I soak my plants in buckets for two days solid before taking them to our island. Often the bio-security staff are down at the pier with the sniffer dogs too, which is excellent. All commercial transport operators moving goods or people to or among Hauraki Gulf islands will need to have a Pest Free Warrant also, which is a further protection.
The weak link is people with private boats who may not be aware of the protocols around moving plants from the Mainland to pest-free islands.
I’m proposing that we utilise the already excellent existing Rakino Nursery further; talking with John MacKenzie about the native plants we’d like to be planting, seeing if the range can be expanded even further. John does his best to eco-source seed for propagation, and the nursery has expanded recently, which means more trees grown on island, so no risk of incursions.
Of course, people also want to plant exotics, annual flowers, vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees, so these are also possible vectors of pest transmission if they are being transported to Rakino.
What do the gardeners think about having a couple of plant/seed buy, sell or swaps a year? Cuttings are easily taken from many of the pretty exotics that birds love on the island. I’m particularly thinking of the callistemons (bottlebrush) which are a magnet for bellbird and tui. They also pose a risk because of myrtle rust, and along with pohutukawa should not be transported to Rakino. We have to protect our big old pohutukawa as best we can. I’ve also got my eye on a number of beaut hibiscus that I’m keen to get cuttings from.. Seed collection is very easy with regard to annual flowers, and commercial seed packets are completely safe, of course. It could be a great theme for a market day.
Next year Rakino is 20 years pest free, so it’s unfortunate timing for the ant incursion. We are incredibly privileged to inhabit an island that is free of predators. It’s actually very rare internationally, and we shouldn’t take that status for granted. I suggest we come up with a framework to stop further incursions, and take responsibility to stop the potential risks ourselves.
I’d love some feedback, and further thoughts about this. 🙂