A trust which was set up last year by the local community, who’s aim is to eradicate wilding pine, has been helped greatly by the $90000 fund from the New Zealand lottery board Environment and Heritage Fund. The trust also received a $113000 grant from the Department of Conservation Biodiversity Condition Fund.

Wilding pines are pine trees which have spread from forestry plantations on to the native bush and grasslands. The pine trees are threatening at least eight types of native plant and many native animals, birds, lizards invertebrates and fresh water fish are also at risk. The Marlborough Sounds has a very unique look and the locals and the Department of Conservation combined are attempting to encourage native plants and wildlife to settle and thrive here. If the wilding pines are left unchecked the area will lose its distinctiveness and special identity which are all based on its natural qualities. This area is also frequented by many tourists and New Zealanders alike, who either visit to walk Queen Charlotte Track or are travelling between the two islands. If the landscape was to be altered due to the growing number of wilding trees, the tourist numbers may drop and not only does the New Zealand native bush and wildlife suffer but also will the businesses which are set up to encourage tourists to this area.

The first stage of the control programme will initially focus on the inner Queen Charlotte Sound and involves interjecting herbicide into mature tree trunks. If this is successful the control area will be enlarged.

The Arapawa goats which can be found in the Marlborough Sounds are a recognised unique and rare breed which are thought to be the descendents of the goats which were released on the island by Captain James Cook on 2 June 1773.

Unfortunately the goats are settled in an area where attempts to regenerate growth of natural New Zealand flora and forna are been made and the eradication of any introduced species is a must. DOC states that the goats are encroaching on their attempts to protect rare coastal vegetation and a cull must be carried out to control the number of goats on the land. This method has apparently been used for the past 20 years.

But the supporters of the goats claim that the goats are as rare as the native vegetation, and are backed by a DNA test which was carried out at the University of Cordoba in Spain which states that the goats are in fact unique.

I feel that there is no right or wrong answer, DOC, who want to protect rare and endangered species of animal and plants native to New Zealand, state that they are only killing to control numbers, not to eradicate the population. However, it has to be recognised that if the Arapawa goats are descendents of those brought on Captain Cook’s voyage and from early European settlements, they are also part of New Zealand’s rare heritage. Since the goats are a part of New Zealand heritage, should we kill off one part of New Zealand’s historical animal and plant life to save another?

This weekend we were spending a relaxing weekend fishing from the coastal shores of Endeavour Inlet. The weather unfortunately was having a different idea and we rocked and bumped our way out to the Outer Sounds where Motuara Island, our first stop, is situated.

As we reached the jetty it seemed unlikely we were going to make it as the wind was making the sea very choppy and grey, but by some good boating skills we arrived with no fuss. Once we got off the boat and under the shelter of the trees it became a more welcoming day and to be greeted by the sounds and calls of the native birds was indeed an ore inspiring moment. As we headed up the steep incline we first stopped at a rock pool where, it appeared thousands of bellbirds were drinking and frolicking. Our next stop was at one of the many penguin nesting boxes, which are situated on regular intervals up the pathway, where we had a close encounter with the smallest penguin in the world, the blue penguin. As we climbed higher and higher we saw gangs of two or three saddlebacks which, according to Greg, is a rare sight as usually they are only seen one at a time. By the time we reached the top of the hill I was out of breath, but if I hadn’t been the views would have taken my breath away. The stunning sight was not ruined by the cloudy and grey day but was an amazing 360 degree view of the sounds and out to the cook strait.

Whilst taking in the view we spotted the native New Zealand robin, an unusually round bird that could basically be described as a grey ball of feathers on two legs. Greg showed me a way of attracting the bird to come closer, by scraping your foot along the ground it draws the robin closer as it is attracted by the possibility of insects or other food. We slowly made it down the hill and realised we still had half an hour to spare before the boat came and picked us up so we decided to watch the activity around the rock pool. After five minutes of staying quiet the birds acted as if we were part of the scenery. As I am not a native New Zealander I was quite pleased by my knowledge of the birdlife but I then saw a small brown bird with an unusually long thin curved beak coming down to the rock pool for a drink. I was curious to find out what it was and pointed it out to Greg, to his astonishment he also did not know what it was so took some photos of it. It was not tagged and luckily Greg managed to capture one good photo showing the size of the birds beak. It came and went very quickly so we hung around for another glimpse but unfortunately it never returned and we had a boat to catch. When we got on to the boat we showed the picture to the skipper to see if he knew what it was. He stated it resembled a huia bird, a now extinct bird of New Zealand.

When we arrived at our destination we borrowed a bird book and could find nothing that resembled the bird on our photo, we looked up the huia bird but apart from a similar beak, it did not have the distinct wattles of the huia bird. We were flummoxed as was everyone we showed the photo to. Once we arrived back in Picton we took the photo to the Department of Conservation who were also keen on seeing the photo, it turns out our mystery bird was a juvenile saddleback with an unusually long beak.

Natural Encounters Guided Walks is pleased to announce it's new updated website for the 07/08 season. We have added on a 1 day guided walk, a 3 day luxury adventure in the magical Marlborough Sounds and we are now running a 4 day, 4 night guided walk of The Cape Camppbell Walkway

For more information about any of these walks please click on the links above or Contact Us