Taranaki Mounga

He Kawa Ora – Back to Life
Mt Taranaki is the revered volcanic peak at the heart of Taranaki region. A rich cloak of native vegetation spreads in all directions from its steep volcanic cone and across the adjacent ranges Pouakai and Kaitake to the north-west forming Egmont National Park. It is surrounded by lush dairy farms and more than 300 waterways radiate from the mounga and adjacent ranges.

The forest is thick with trees like kahikatea, tawa, tōtara, and rātā, with a twisting ‘Goblin Forest’ that gives way to mountain cedar and red tussocks in the alpine zone. Rare native birds like North Island brown kiwi, whio/blue duck and seabirds can still be seen occasionally in the Park. But like most areas of New Zealand, much of the native biodiversity has been laid to waste by introduced predators like wild goats, weasels, stoats, possums and rats.

Taranaki Mounga’s objectives align with the Government’s vision of a predator free New Zealand by 2050.

The Parties are united in the vision: He Kawa Ora – Back to Life
To restore the ecological vitality of Taranaki Mounga in partnership with iwi, agencies and commuinty

Project Outcomes
The Parties will collaborate to achieve the following outcomes:

• Taranaki iwi Chairs and community, supported by local and regional government, embrace and sustain the transformation of Taranaki Mounga to an ecologically resilient state.
• The ecological resilience of Taranaki Mounga is restored.
• The Taranaki Mounga Project inspires other communities and investors to address NZ’s ecological challenges at landscape scale.

Project Objectives
The focus of investment by the Project Mounga consortium (Taranaki iwi Chairs – NEXT - DOC – Other parties) will be to:

1. Secure the Mounga against animal and weed pests. Eradicate goats and significantly reduce pest numbers and impacts on Taranaki Mounga. This would be the first New Zealand National Park to be ungulate free.
2. Restore Species. Transform the ecological prospects of the Mounga through the reintroduction of lost species and the strengthening of existing populations of threatened species.
3. Build community support and commitment. Ensuring the transformational changes are valued and secure for the long-term

The project objectives may be complimented and enhanced by:

• The creation of a halo. Develop innovative, effective means of pest control to protect the perimeter of the Park and beyond including a biodiversity halo and ecological corridor’s between the Mounga and the Moana (Mountain to Sea) being restored.
• Oranga Mounga Oranga Tangata – Healthy Mountain, Healthy People. Create opportunities for health, environmental education benefits as well as skill development as a result of the close connection with nature and the Taranaki Mounga Project.

Camera Monitoring
By monitoring the national park with wildlife cameras, we will be better able to estimate population levels of predator species in contrast with native wildlife. As predator control continues, we expect to see higher numbers of native wildlife like Kiwi birds in the photos taken by our camera network. Current camera work will help to establish a baseline to inform evidence-based decision making.

The images you will currently see were captured at four locations on the south side of Mt. Taranaki, moving from their last location on the Kaitake Range. The cameras will continue to be moved in a cycle around the national park, and will eventually be returned to their original locations in order to observe how the structure of wildlife populations may have changed.

Check out our video showing you how-to use our Zooniverse project made with local Taranaki students from Omata School.