Building on the Qualmark Gold Standard awarded in December 2020, the team at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari have just received the exciting news that we have been shortlisted as a finalist in the New Zealand Tourism Awards. This acknowledgement is the result of many years of hard work by our volunteers, partners, staff, and contractors. As it is often said, today’s inspired Kaitiaki are indeed standing on the shoulders of giants.

 

An important part of the award process is the feedback we receive from the judges and assessors on how to improve our key operating systems and procedures. In today’s world, business can be volatile, uncertain, complex and at times ambiguous. To remain relevant, SMM must be open to feedback, work collaboratively, and keep striving to improve.

 

Coincidently, we will soon receive a visit from the Waikato Business Awards judges as part of our Business Awards application process. Again, we are looking forward to engaging with these knowledgeable business leaders and look forward to receiving their feedback.

 

Ultimately, our quest for excellence will enable our team of inspired kaitiaki to have a greater impact as we:
 

Share the mauri.

Grow valued relationships.

Enhance the mana of the maunga.

Safeguard our taonga, and

Engage with our communities.
 

Nga mihi,

Phil

 

Other than two sites (Maungatautari and Hauturu-O-Toi), current hihi populations are heavily dependent on sugar water but many sites have issues with bellbirds consuming large quantities and have issues with wasps. Currently there are no methods for excluding bellbirds but wasp mitigation measures are possible and many sites including SMM plan on wasp control this season.  
 

New hihi bands with imbedded microchips are being trialled at Tiritiri Matangi with dataloggers installed at feeders to retain information about feeder usage of hihi. The data can also add to the population estimates data and start to reveal patterns of feeder usage by different individuals over time. This technology could be rolled out to all sites for a relatively cheap cost. The meeting was concluded with a site visit to a magnificent old growth forest area in Wainuiomata that has potential as a future hihi site. 
 

Following the meeting, conservation officer Mhairi McCready started her annual survey at Maungatautari in July and included a training session for nearly 20 SMM volunteers. They learned some of the background of hihi recovery, how to identify hihi calls, read bands and physical identification. The volunteers will largely work in teams of two to sight unbanded and banded birds with the idea that any identifications will improve the population estimates. Also finding unbanded birds will assist Mhairi’s trapping efforts while she is here.

Mhairi will be onsite again in August and October to complete the annual survey – you can tell who she is as she will be carrying mist net poles! Please do say hello if you see her across the mountain one day. Finally, the hihi annual report (glossy) is now complete and printed versions have been distributed to all sanctuaries – copies will be available very soon at the Visitor Centre!
 

Hihi population estimate at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari

 

 

Since the March issue of MM when we first wrote about the project to produce a beautiful book telling the story of Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari over the past twenty years, our group has been meeting regularly. A “treasure trove” of resources has been found, the first important interview recorded, and several applications for funding submitted.  
 

At the Volunteer Appreciation Event in May, an invitation to obtain a pre–print priority copy of the book by pledging $100 was made and many of those present did just that. If you would like to have your name and contact details added to the list that Viv Clarke has, please contact her by e-mailing keviv.clarke@gmail.com

 

 

Volunteer hours and numbers are showing a significant increase and a lot of our teams are at capacity, however, we are always looking at ways to ensure all enquiries are attended to and matched according to the information provided. 

A new Odd Jobs Team has been created to accommodate those volunteers who are not available on any set days or times, and if you are able to provide some time during the week every now and again, then this will be the perfect team for you.
 

Our Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari Volunteer Facebook page now has 82 members that include current active volunteers and staff. All current active volunteer or staff members are welcome to join this community page and it’s a great way to keep up to date with news, share comments, and to post photos.
 

We are a big group of volunteers and a good way to keep in touch is online. We use social media platforms including Instagram and Facebook which are good ways to stay connected with what is going on here at the maunga.
 

I love working with a great bunch of people, and every day is a great day when it’s filled with passion and a common goal that is a familiar and comforting. Sincere appreciation and thanks to everyone who makes a difference.