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Tuatara moved to new homes
Wednesday, October 17, 2012 • Marino Harker-Smith
THERE are now two tuatara sanctuaries on the East Coast following the release of more than 200 as part of a nationwide major translocation project yesterday.

The largest and most complex transfer saw 260 mature tuatara transferred from the Marlborough Sounds to five destinations including Whangaokeno (East) Island at East Cape, and Muriwai, south of Gisborne.

Fifty tuatara were taken to Whangaokeno Island yesterday afternoon and 42 to Young Nick’s Head (Te Kuri a Paoa) reserve.

The island project is the result of a combined initiative with East Coast iwi Ngati Porou and the Department of Conservation.

It had been 18 years in the making to get the island habitat ready for the tuatara, said DoC biodiversity assets ranger Jamie Quirk.

The tuatara at Muriwai will continue a breeding and re-establishment programme that began in March when 20 juvenile reptiles were gifted from Marlborough iwi Ngati Koata.

Muriwai iwi Ngai Tamanuhiri are kaitiaki (guardians) of the tuatara restoration project, which is managed with the Nick’s Head Station owners and Gisborne Ecoworks.

Gisborne Ecoworks owner Steve Sawyer said it was hoped there would be some gravid (pregnant) females in the group of mature tuatara released yesterday.

“We’re hoping for a 50-50 mix of male and female but of course that depends on how the collecting team went at Takapourewa,” said Mr Sawyer.

Takapourewa (Stephens Island) in the Marlborough Sounds is believed to have the largest tuatara population in New Zealand — more than 30,000.

Powhiri ceremonies were held at Hinerupe Marae, Te Araroa, and at Te Kuri a Paoa Sanctuary to welcome the reptiles home. Ngati Koata handed over kaitiakitanga (guardianship) of the tuatara to Ngati Porou and Ngai Tamanuhiri.

The total population throughout New Zealand is believed to be about 60,000.

The translocation is a major step in DoC’s long-term goal towards repopulating the mainland and extends the range of the tuatara into parts of the country previously occupied before habitat loss and predation.
TUATARA ARRIVE AT MURIWAI: Getting a touch and a closer look at one of the “living fossils” are, from left, Ngai Tamanuhiri elder Pat Dennis, with one of the tuatara handlers from Marlborough-based iwi Ngati Koata, and Muriwai residents Jen and Lucas Mildenhall. Fifty tuatara were also released on East Island (Whangaokeno) at East Cape. Picture supplied
TRANSLOCATION: After the tuatara arrive at Gisborne airport, DoC biodiversity assets ranger Jamie Quirk collects them to re-home at Whangaokeno (East Island) off the East Cape. Picture by Dave Thomas
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