Christchurch Biodiversity Targeted Rate programme

This project by Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust seeks to document impacts of the invasive weed pig’s ear (Cotyledon orbiculata) on coastal cliffs, basic tors (rocky outcrops), scarps and rocklands, as well as the coastal forest and scrub remnants and grasslands of Banks Peninsula.

Additionally, it will examine the features driving spread into interior vegetation communities and determine the effects of chemical control of pig’s ear on these ecological communities, using the 1,800-hectare area between Menzies Bay and Little Akaloa in the north-eastern bays of Banks Peninsula as a case study. 

This project will continue the funding of a Pest Free Community Activator position for the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust, to work with community trapping groups across Christchurch and Banks Peninsula. The Activator will deliver training and support, and a range of resources, to support community groups to positively impact biodiversity outcomes.

Linda Woods Reserve is a 233 hectare reserve, made up of Horotane and Avoca Valleys, which is owned and managed by the Summit Road Society. Supporting the Society’s aim of restoring lowland dry podocarp hardwood forest to the reserve, this project is for maintenance of 14,000 native plants in Avoca Valley, focusing on weed control and protective plant guard removal and recycling.

This project by Diamond Harbour Community Association Inc aims to increase the extent of indigenous coastal forest through weed control, natural regeneration, and community tree planting from Purau to Te Waipapa Diamond Harbour. It will reduce environmental weed sources through control of outlier populations and, through community engagement and outreach, inspire and educate local gardeners to remove weeds from their gardens.

This project by Port Hills Park Trust Board involves the protection, enhancement, research and monitoring, and education and engagement on rocky outcrops of significance within Mt Vernon. The restoration work within Mt Vernon will be supported by collaboration with research and restoration communities to document and monitor various restoration/intervention strategies and external impacts and influences. 

This project by Orton Bradley Park Board will involve the protection and enhancement of the Te Wharau Stream catchment to ensure improved biodiversity habitat, improved freshwater quality, higher carbon capture, and higher survival rates for native flora and fauna.

This project will protect identified areas on the summit of Te Ahu Pātiki and designated special areas on Mt. Bradley. Te Ahu Pātiki is host to a variety of nationally and regionally rare species, which are all under threat from recent gorse incursion.

This project by Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust will control problematic weeds in the wetland edge of Te Roto o Wairewa that the Little River Rail Trail runs through. Weed control in this area will also prevent significant incursion into other high value areas that have recently had extensive weed control treatment.

Recognised as an area of high ecological value, this project focused on habitat restoration by facilitating the expansion of raupō and wetland areas within the reserve, as well as targeted terrestrial plantings to stabilise wetland margins. This work is intended to provide an immediate habitat expansion for wetland bird species such as the matuku-hūrepo/Australasian bittern. Monitoring of this nationally critical species was conducted through regular listening surveys throughout the year.

Yellow flag iris control was completed across 17 hectares of wetland and saltmarsh areas. This invasive weed species had become established in areas on the margin of the Waimakariri River, and without control would reduce the preferred habitat for wetland and coastal bird species. 

Banana passionfruit and old man’s beard control is ongoing within the 1600-hectare Wainui catchment. Funding was granted to the community group Re-Wild Wainui to lead efforts in addressing the core infestation zone at Anchorage Bay.

The project began with community education and workshops, aimed at building local understanding. This was followed by on-the-ground control carried out by a local contractor, alongside coordinated efforts by landowners. Progress is tracking well, and Re-Wild Wainui remains committed to continuing the work to achieve long-term restoration goals for the catchment.

We continue to deliver aerial control and ground control of weeds at high value sites across Lavericks Bay, Akaroa East, Nīkau Palm Gully, Tamatea, and Mt Evans. The focus is on controlling invasive species such as spur valerian, which threaten native biodiversity on rocky outcrops. 

Monitoring at two of these sites has shown promising results. Populations of spur valerian have reduced in density and the remaining plants are predominantly seedlings, indicating successful reduction of mature seed-producing plants. This monitoring helps to shape best practice approaches for future control work. 

This project supported the wider Mediterranean fanworm (Sabella) incursion response, and funding was provided for divers to deploy and survey structures throughout the harbour. A Box Fish ROV was also used to survey the Z-berth in the inner harbour, deemed too unsafe to dive under.

This project funding the mapping of seagrass meadows in Duvauchelles, Takamatua, Robinsons, and Childrens Bays in the Akaroa harbour, and Purau Bay in Whakaraupō. Seagrass is classified as at risk/declining nationally, with an unknown status in Waitaha. Mapping is at the first stage of a multiyear project which aims to protect and restore existing seagrass meadows.