Forest & Bird's Tauranga Branch covers the area from Te Puke to Waihi, bordering on the Waikato.
Volunteer your voice for nature! Every little bit is appreciated and there are no obligations.
Just do what you can, when you can - with the time you have!
Tauranga.Branch@forestandbird.org.nz
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With the 37,000 hectare Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park as a backdrop, the area also has one of the country’s largest natural harbours. We submit on proposed development plans which we feel are at risk of permanently changing or harming the natural environment, from Mountains to Sea.
The committee are always open to meeting members who would like to participate and be part of the group, or even just learn more. We need people interested in trapping, baiting, weed pulling, admin and making submissions on national and local issues.
Our newsletter is produced seasonally, you will find our current newsletter at the bottom of this page.
Restoring the "Plenty"
Against the odds, a small group of kaumatua and kuia from Motiti in Te Moana a Toi (the Bay of Plenty) have successfully taken cases to the Environment Court and High Court. They have been working for nearly a decade to protect their marine environment, with Forest & Bird joining the Trust's legal fight in 2016.
Trustees of the Motiti Rohemoana Trust and Forest & Bird Board members: Te Atarangi (F&B Board), Umuhuri (MRMT Chair), Maria (Motiti), Katarina (MRMT), Mark (F&B President), Hugh (MRMT)
In June, the Motiti Rohe Moana Trust was announced as the winner of Forest & Bird's prestigious new Kotuku Award, with president Mark Hanger paying tribute to its "ground-breaking and outstanding marine conservation achievements".
Forest & Bird National Board & Committee member Te Atarangi Sayers believed the Resource Management Act could be used to work around the limitations that govern New Zealand's marine space. This new framework of marine spatial planning could result in a fundamental change to the way New Zealand manages its inshore fisheries. Read more: https://interactives.stuff.co.nz/2018/11/motiti/
Aongatete Stream - Photo by Richard James (Forest & Bird Committee Chair)
Kaimai Mamaku Forests Forum
The Kaimai Mamaku Ranges are 37,000 hectares of native forest which stretch from Paeroa to Rotorua. The seven local branches of Forest and Bird around this region are working towards restoring the forest and hinterland to a state where biodiversity is enhanced and sustained. The Kaimai Mamaku Forests Forum has been set up as a partnership between forest users and Councils to oversee the restoration of the Kaimai Mamaku forest. Forest & Bird is involved in several of the Steering Groups, including the Biodiversity Project Group.
Get involved
Please contact the Tauranga Branch if you would like to be involved in any of the following...
Aongatete Forest Project
The Aongatete Forest Project volunteer group is conserving over 500 hectares of native forest in the Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park, between Tauranga and Katikati. This project is currently in expansion mode and we are always pleased to meet new volunteers who would like to get involved to protect and restore our native forest.
Public awareness of the current threats to the native forest and education about some of the solutions are an important role, along with administrative tasks, fund raising and participation in group work days. Volunteers can also take responsibility for monitoring and looking after their own bait line, working towards reducing the animal pests which are destroying the forest habitat and resident bird and insect life.
To find out more, visit the Aongatete Forest Project page on the branch home page.
I'Anson Reserve
Once a dairy farm, the 10 hectare Te Puna reserve was planted in the early 1990's by Forest & Bird members. It is now a remarkable example of native forest and native birds are returning.
The "Friends of I'Anson Bush Reserve" formed in 2018 to nurture and improve the reserve. They meet every 3rd Thursday of the month for working bees, tasks include animal and plant pest control and ongoing planting of native trees.
Please get in touch if you would like to join in.
Mauao Pest Control
Several Tauranga Forest & Bird members regularly meet to look after the bait lines on the Mount. This is imperative to the protection of the Little Blue Penguins and the Petrel population here.
Papamoa Dotterel
Pest control and dotterel protection work is occurring at Papamoa after a pair of Dotterel were observed attempting to nest on the dunes behind the beach. A sign has been placed beside the boardwalk informing the public of the presence of Dotterel and how they can be helped by keeping dogs on leads and staying off the dunes. This is a joint Te Puke and Tauranga branches project.
