Ablution Pod Opening

The STDC ablution pod for the Nowell's Lakes Walkway was officially opened today and in time for the Christmas holiday period for visitors.  The blessing was performed by kaumatua Sandy Parata  of Nga ti Ruanui.  

There are two toilets within the pod and the District Council will maintain the facilities.  The pod comes with its own power source of solar panels with the only connection being a water supply from the farm 

Reg Korau (STDC), Doug Hutchinson (Nowell's Lakes Trust, Michelle Dwyer (Fonterra), Shay King (Nga ti Ruanui), Mayor Phil Nixon, Nigel Kareko (Nowell's Lakes Trust Volunteer), Sandy Parata and Graham Young (Nga ti Ruanui)

Matuku-hūrepo

 Rare Birds Find Safe Haven

See video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vpqO1_visY

Jenny Kerrisk hid and waited for hours to photograph one of the shy Matuku-hūrepo (Australasian bittern) now living at Nowell's Lakes, Hāwera. Years of riparian planting around the Nowell’s Lakes walkway near Hāwera have paid off with the discovery that a colony of critically endangered birds have moved in.

Although Matuku-hūrepo are very well camouflaged and will freeze when approached, South Taranaki bird enthusiast Jenny Kerrisk was able to snap photographs of some of them by patiently waiting for hours. With 90% of the wetland habitat they live in lost across the country, the birds were classed as nationally critical or near to extinction.  It was not known how many were currently left, but the last count done in 1980 tallied just 700 birds across the North and South Islands.

New Signage For The Walkway

New signage has been erected at the start of the Walkway explaining to visitors that the Nowell’s Lakes are home to a number of native wetland birds including the “Nationally Critical” Matuku (Australasian bittern).  The Matuku are extremely sensitive to disturbance and if approached, they will either try to ‘steal away’ silently or freeze, standing with an erect neck and bill. The signage was sponsored by "Wild for Taranaki".