Award Nominee

As a result of the appearance of the Australian Magpie with their aggressive nature there was a serious depletion of the native bird life in the Riverton district. To correct this problem a group called the Aparima Pestbusters was formed.

Having constructed fifteen Magpie traps the Pestbusters quickly set them to work out in the farmland and park land areas.

Success was immediate to date [three years] over 4500 Magpies have been caught, this has resulted in a much a safer environment for the native bird to live in once again.

The Pestbusters were approached by Mr Nik Rosewarne Bio Security Officer from Environment Southland to see if we would extend our operations to attack the native bird predators in the bush covered areas around Riverton.

The area set aside for this operation was called Mores Reserve [240 hectares] above the Riverton Township

The project was called The Return of the Birds

As a result of maintaining a poison bait station line of some 440 traps on a monthly basis, the predator numbers have decreased and the bird life is flourishing once again.

This presented another problem; as someone said, You have the birds back, now how are you going to feed them .

There was only one way, we had to plant a selection of native trees that had large crops of berries for the birds to feed on.

A new project was put in place called Pest Plants out Native Trees In .

Under the guidance of Randall Milne, Bio Security Officer. Es. Our members set about the removal of the Pest Plants in and around the Reserve.

Fortunately the Mores Reserve area is relatively free of noxious plants, compared to the adjoining land areas.

However there were some patches of Gorse, Blackberry and Chilean flame Creeper that needed to be removed and planted out with natives.

Approximately some 500 native feed trees have now been planted in these problem areas with another 500 to be planted out in the next two months…

We are encouraging our members to gather native seedlings and pot them up to be planted out later on.

This aspect of our activities has been worthwhile as it creates an interest for the people who support our efforts by playing a worthwhile part in what we are trying to achieve.

Riverton was one of the first early areas in New Zealand settled by immigrants from the UK.in 1835.

Unfortunately they bought a baggage of environment troubles with them, pest plants and noxious animals.

Any tree with a spike on it travelled first class with them

Our major problem here is the Holly and Barberry trees

The Kereru are attracted to their red berries, and after getting a belly full of seeds they fly to the highest tree in the forest and let go.

These seeds germinate quickly and can survive under the forest canopy.

We have spent countless hours pulling out these seedlings as well as cutting down the larger tree and pasting the stumps with an herbicide.

Thankfully at this stage we are now on top of this problem, we have left one area to be cleared up by the local College students as part of their school curriculum.

Overall there are six problem areas in and around the Township that somehow we have inherited the role as environment control managers.

While we give our labour free of charge, we are fortunate for having received a substantial funding grant from the Pacific Development Trust, and the support we receive from Environment Southland

This work gives us an interest in the out-door world, that alone is reward enough.