The Hutton’s Shearwater Charitable Trust
PO Box 58
Kaikoura 7340

20 August 2010

MEDIA RELEASE

Hutton’s Shearwater Trust to celebrate completion of Predator
Protection Fence for new seabird colony

Minister of Conservation, the Hon. Kate Wilkinson will be the guest
speaker at Takahanga Marae, Kaikoura on Saturday 28th August for a
celebration to mark the completion of a predator protection fence for
a third colony of Hutton’s shearwater on the Kaikoura Peninsula.

According to Trust Chairman Paul McGahan, this is a milestone for
Kaikoura and the future protection of this species. It celebrates the
amazing community effort, support and commitment that has gone into
the project.

The Kaikoura Charitable Trust, founders of Whale Watch provided the
land, making the creation of a third colony possible. Other key
stakeholders include Department of Conservation, Te Runanga o
Kaikoura, Kaikoura District Council and Kaikoura Wilderness Experience
who have worked closely with our Trust to make this possible according
to McGahan.

Additionally the support of volunteers and funders including NZ
Lotteries Commission, ECAN, and the Canterbury Community Trust who
recognised the importance of creating a third colony to protect this
species has been outstanding.

The Trust, founded in October 2008 by Geoff Harrow of Christchurch,
quickly set about raising over $200,000 within six months and by April
of this year the fence was completed. Harrow, with a lifelong passion
of protecting this species over 47 years first came upon this species
in the headwaters of the Kowhai River after speaking with local
hunters in 1964. Hutton’s shearwater only breeds in burrows in the
Seaward Kaikoura mountains at heights of between 1200-1800 metres ASL
and spend their winters feeding in offshore Australian waters.

He subsequently discovered seven other colonies throughout the
Kaikoura Ranges but within less than 20 years, only two were left. The
other colonies had been wiped out by predators, mainly pigs, placing
Hutton’s on the endangered species list.

In 2005 DoC set about establishing a third breeding colony due to the
risks faced by the species. Between 2005 and 2008 transfers of 270
chicks were made from the Kowhai headwaters to the new peninsula
colony. The chicks were fed until they fledged so they would imprint
and return to breed at this site.

Geoff Harrow says this is a long term project and over time will make
a significant contribution to the conservation and protection of this
species.

The Trust welcomes the public to join in the celebrations on Saturday
28 August.

ends

© Scoop Media