All previous newsletters can be found here.
Work Day Reminder, May 17 2025
The next monthly work day will be from 9.00am – noon this coming Saturday.
This month we’ll be working somewhere around the wetland yet to be decided.
If you arrive late there will be a notice on the Education Centre door explaining where we have gone and a phone number for you to call if you need more guidance to our location.
All tools provided. Gumboots are recommended, but if you don’t have any we have pairs for loan. Please bring your own gloves if you can, but we have some of them for loan too.
If the weather on the work day is poor and we decide to cancel then an email will be sent by 8am on Saturday morning. So if you think the conditions are marginal, please check your emails.
If you’re reading this on the website and are not on the email list then you can add yourself to it through the form at the foot of the home page. If you change your mind there’s an unsubscribe link in each newsletter.
Volunteers welcome
Would you like to volunteer to help with caring for the wetland? We would be interested to hear from you. You may have a community group, workplace or extended family that would like to be involved too. Please contact us via info@traviswetland.org.nz
Latest News
Report on the Previous Work Day, 12 April
We had a fine morning for 17 volunteers to get stuck in to a variety of weed control projects. Most of us headed to the bird hide track to tackle the problem of persistent grass growth near the path edges. After careful weeding we covered the ground with newspaper and cabbage tree leaves, hoping to control weed regrowth. Great care was taken not to disturb small self-seeded totara, pōkākā and plagianthus. Plantings in the area were mostly thriving and it was pleasing to see many climbing natives doing well.
The group then moved on to the Beach Road entrance path for some releasing of plants. Hidden patches of convolvulus and smaller weeds close to the path were tackled. Blechnum ferns received careful weeding and a paper wasp nest was found inside a plant guard in a drier area. We noted that a large Urtica ferox (native nettle) remained green and leafy with no easily visible caterpillars, which matches the observed low numbers of red and yellow admiral butterflies this year. Meanwhile a hardy gang of three spent all morning dealing to a troublesome patch of flowering Japanese honeysuckle near Mairehau Road. They did a great job of clearing this weed from the track edge, though spread into nearby raupo has occurred.
Thanks to everyone who came along.
Article: Sue Britain, images: Sue and Dave
John Skilton’s 25th Anniversary at Ōruapaeroa
John Skilton became the first CCC ranger assigned to Travis Wetland in April 2000. This was a time when the CCC was investing a great deal in the development of the wetland. Angela Stream had been formed, an old farm pond had been reshaped and naturalised to make the main pond, the Millennium forest had been planted and plans were being drawn up for the bird hide and Information Centre. Ōruapaeroa Travis Wetland today is a totally different place from the way it was then. There were few native trees apart from limited plantings and the historic mānuka area.
John managed a big program of works over the following years. Following the bird hide and Information Centre there was the building of the boardwalk and the erection of the Stout viewing tower. The circular Wetland Walk followed on from the boardwalk. The supposedly intermittent stormwater overflow from Tumara Park created a big fuss for a while, as did the laying of a new sewer along the northeastern boundary of the park. The Southern Woods planting was initiated in 2007 and reached its full extent only recently. The car park was created and the old Florance homestead was gradually converted into the Education Centre, being completed in 2010.
Then in 2011 the destructive and deadly earthquakes caused major changes to the topography and hydrology of the wetland. Sections of paths had to be raised and raised again. The boardwalk had to be extended and extensive repairs made to the Education Centre. All this was on top of the usual planting, weed control and maintenance – John has been kept very busy! Always ready to go the extra mile for the wetland and has always had a harmonious relationship with the Travis Wetland Trust. There are still many enhancements for John to watch over and despite receiving his Super Gold Card he’s got several more years work ahead of him as a CCC ranger.
Big Shout out to Wayne’s Wonderful Wednesday Workers!!
This tireless troop do heaps of everything in various parts, wherever there is a need!
One week they will be endlessly weeding and controlling overgrown plants at Mairehau Road carpark area; plus collecting rubbish. Next time they can be spotted removing convolvulus and other weeds along Sanctuary Villas pathway, or doing the same near Clarevale Park, or ‘slaving’ at Southern Woods. Great work too in the Shade House the other week, achieved by Wayne & John.
During the dry Summer months watering plants is part of the day, some have even been seen placing branches over water for the birds to rest on! Regardless of the weather, unless it is a continuous down pour, they will be on duty!!
Many, many, thank you’s to Wayne, John, Glenn, Beryl, Diane, Pat, Sue, Shona and New Sue too!!
Sadly, Glenn has had to retire, we do miss him and wish him all the best.
Article: Eleanor Bissell (who might just be one of the Wayne’s Wonderful Wednesday Workers)
Wet conditions at Ōruapaeroa Travis Wetland
The heavy rain at the beginning of May caused high water levels and some flooding at Ōruapaeroa Travis Wetland. The road down to the bird hide was under water, which must have made it unpleasant for some of those out for a morning constitutional. The pond in front of the info centre was brimming and the water must have been close to the floor boards. The view from the air was impressive.
City Nature Challenge Results and Observations at Travis Wetland
The recent City Nature Challenge was a triumph for Ōtautahi when it took out the national title with 25,418 observations over the four days, well ahead of Te Upoko o te Ika (Wellington) on 18,619. Trust member Jon Sullivan deserves a lot of the credit for this result as his 7031 observations of 866 species literally made all the difference. He must have spent a great deal of time making observations over those 4 days.
There was a burst of observations at Ōruapaeroa too. Mostly along the wetland walk but notably work day regular Heath Hammond made a lone observation from off the beaten path in the centre of the wetland. All goes to show that Travis is an ideal place for observing the diversity of nature.
Avon Ōtākaro Forest Park Looking Ahead to 2025
Avon Ōtākaro Forest Park (AOFP) group was formed after the earthquakes with the aim of creating a city-to-sea native forest park along the Avon-Ōtākaro River. A lot of their efforts have gone in to planting alongside Brooker Ave, in the residential red zone across Travis Rd from Ōruapaeroa. The site is looking great – those plantings that have been completed over the years are now well on their way to developing into significant stands in the years to come.
AOFP have working bees on the second Sunday of every month. If you can make the time please help them to expand and maintain their plantings. Here are the dates for the winter planting season: Sunday, 8th June, Sunday, 13th July and Sunday, 10th August. All 10am – midday. Keep an eye on their Facebook Page for updates.
Five big wins from DOC’s National Predator Control Programme
Learn how bats, Fiordland tokoeka kiwi, and kākā are all benefiting from DOC’s landscape-scale predator control programme using 1080 to protect public conservation land. Read this encouraging post on DOC’s conservation blog.
Recent images
