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Significant Wairarapa
coastal area protected
 One
of the most intact dune ecosystems along the Wairarapa south coast
is being protected through a partnership between the Department of
Conservation and the landowners. The Te Humenga dunes are among the
10 most important dunes in the lower North Island. In March 2009,
landowner Simon Crawford, supported by Palliser Bay Station farm
manager Brian Jephson, entered this coastal land into a DOC land
protection covenant.
The 21.1 hectare section of dunes contains many native coastal
plants including the rare sand tussock (Austrofestuca littoralis)
and animals such as katipo spiders, lizards and the threatened
Notoreas Wellington moth. DOC biodiversity programme manager Bruce
Vander Lee believes that this is an excellent opportunity to protect
a coastal area with significant conservation value for the Wairarapa.
“A recent project identifying coastal properties of significance has
been completed and it is exciting to work with private landowners to
protect areas that have been identified as nationally important. We
look forward to doing more in the future,” says Bruce.
Brian Jephson believes, as a Wairarapa local, that it’s important to
look after our coastal sites.
"It will be great to have this area protected to prevent further
damage by vehicles, grazing stock and the dumping of weeds and
rubbish," says Brian.
Work to protect the covenanted area has already started, supported
by a successful bid to the Biodiversity Condition Fund. Fencing is
being erected to protect the native plant communities and threatened
species that live there. The fence has been designed so that access
to an existing car-park utilised by boat launchers and fishermen
continues. Other work at the dunes will include weed control and
information signs describing the value of the area.
Captions:
Fencing is protecting the conservation values of the Te Humenga
dunes on Wairarapa’s south coast. Photo: Joe Hansen/Department of
Conservation.
The Te Humenga dunes on Wairarapa’s south coast. Photo: Joe
Hansen/Department of Conservation.
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