The Full Story
Taumata is a 160 hectare block consisting of 130 hectares of native bush that is protected by QEII open space covenant and 30 hectares of non-covenant land adjacent to the Tryphena Settlement area above the Mulberry Grove beach. Great Barrier Island falls under the Operative Hauraki Gulf District Plan of Auckland Council and this plan currently remains separate and different from the Auckland Unitary Plan.
Purchased in April 2016, the primary intention for Taumata is to enhance the conservation value of the covenant area by way of implementing a comprehensive predator-control program and subsequently boosting wildlife. This is already well underway through partnership with the adjoining Windy Hill Rosalie Bay Catchment Trust.
The Windy Hill Rosalie Bay Catchment Trust was formed in 2001 with Taumata joining in 2016 increasing the overall size of the sanctuary to 800Ha. The Trust’s overall objective is to sustain and enhance the biodiversity of the area by removing invasive plants and animals creating a Sanctuary within which native species can flourish, threatened species can be protected, and species that have been lost to the Island reintroduced.
The land immediately adjacent to the settlement area has mixed zoning of Productive Land and Regenerating Slopes. A plantation of pinus radiata had covered about 7 hectares of non-covenant land for the last 30 years. This plantation was harvested in 2016-17 and 2000 tons of logs were shipped off-island with the remainder chipped, burned or processed into firewood onsite.
Stage 1 - Development
With the removal of the pine forest, a rolling landscape with ocean views was exposed. The decision was made to pursue a small subdivision of the northern part of the site adjacent to the settlement area. Once planting areas were well established, Lots 2, 3, 4 and 5 were put on the market. Within 18 months, Lots 3, 4 and 5 were sold and Lot 2 was taken off the market to allow for additional screening from plants on the northern boundary to occur.
Stage 1 - Notable Activities
During Stage 1, over 5,000 plants were sourced from Aotea Community Nursery, located onsite at Taumata. These were used to establish lot boundaries and protect view corridors of each lot, this extensive planting plan ensures adequate screening will occur between the building platforms. Each planting area has a large volume of woodchip around the plants, this ensures that in dry conditions the plants do not dry out. Taumata has had great success in establishing planting areas with very few plants having to be replaced.
Post forestry, there has been an extensive weed control program, the main targets are Invasive Grasses, Green Weed and Woolly Nightshade. Taumata has managed weeds with a combination of spray, mowing and mulching.
Due to the large volume of logs that were left on the property post forestry, there were hundreds of cubic meters of woodchip created onsite. Taumata has completed over 50 deliveries of firewood and wood chip to local families much of this was donated to the local pensioner trust.