Maungatautari, a forested volcanic cone rising above the Waikato basin near Cambridge, has for the first time in a century welcomed kiwi onto its slopes and the mountain is also now home to the first breeding takahe in the North Island.
The Trust, proudly supported by Mighty River Power since 2002, has a vision to remove introduced pests and predators such as rats and stoats from Maungatautari and to restore a healthy diversity of endangered native flora and fauna to the mountain. Mighty River Power shares that vision.
September 2006 marked the completion of the Trust’s 47 kilometre pest-proof fence which now encloses 3400ha of indigenous forest. The fence will ensure the ongoing protection of some of New Zealand’s most endangered wildlife and enable the reintroduction of many species that currently only exist on off-shore islands.
As well as kiwi, takahe, kaka and hihi (stitch bird) MEIT has also reintroduced four species of kokopu, into the mountain streams.
The Ecological Island is open to members of the public, and has a number of walking tracks, a 16metre viewing tower and an aviary where daily takahe feeding sessions can be observed. For more information, visit www.maungatrust.org.