Treasure Islands and
WORKBOATS
BY JEFF COOK
The danger of hitch hikers
Our islands in the Hauraki Gulf and other
areas around New Zealand are often the last
bastion for threatened species. Kiwi, tuatara,
takahe and other native species at risk from
predators on the mainland, find sanctuary on
these offshore islands.
H
owever, despite the fact that these islands
are offshore and away from the mainland,
there is still the risk that pests like rats,
mice, mustelids and invasive insects and
lizards, can make their way out there, either by stowing
away on a boat, or in equipment going to an island.
A boat does not even have to land on an island for
some of these hitchhikers to find land as many of them,
including rats, mice and stoats can swim from a boat
moored offshore.
"People visiting or working on islands, or island
residents, can make a big difference however, by simply
checking what they are taking with them and making sure
there are no nasty stowaways," says Jeff Cook, Auckland
Council's Biosecurity Officer for the Hauraki Gulf.
The Auckland Council and Department of
Conservation have run Treasure Islands, a joint awareness
campaign for our Hauraki Gulf islands, since 2008. This
campaign aims to raise awareness about our precious
pest-free islands and other islands that are partly pestfree, and what people can and should do to protect them.
Always check your vessel and your gear for stowaways:
rats, mice, Argentine ants, rainbow skinks; and clean your
footwear and gear, removing soil and seeds. Commercial
operators and recreational boaties should also keep traps
Treasure islands
Check for stowaways
PLEASE
or bait on board their vessels to control pests.
Argentine ants and rainbow skinks are both emerging
pests in the Gulf and although small and harder to spot
than larger pests, they can be found if you check for
them. It is vital that you do, as some islands are free of
these pests, which though small, can have a significant
impact on ecosystems.
Argentine ants love pot plants, so before taking pot
plants to an island or moving them around an island,
dunk your plants in water for at least one minute which
will send the ants to the surface.
Also check building materials, aggregate and equipment
like camping gear. If you find ants, leave the gear behind
and report the sighting to 0800 DOC HOT. Keep a
sample of the ant in a container if possible.
For rainbow skinks, look particularly at pot plants
and other gardening supplies and building materials for
the lizards and their eggs, which are oval and around
8-10mm. Leave gear behind if you find any skinks or
eggs and report the sighting to 0800 DOC HOT.
Report any pest sightings to 0800 DOC HOT (0800
362 468).
For more information visit www.treasureislands.co.nz ■
www.treasureislands.co.nz
www.projectislandsong.co.nz
CHECK YOUR BOAT AND GEAR FOR RATS, MICE,
ARGENTINE ANTS, RAINBOW SKINKS, SOIL AND SEEDS
SET BAIT OR TRAPS FOR ANIMAL PESTS
REPORT ANY SIGHTINGS TO 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468)
VIP.WB12
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NZ WORKBOAT REVIEW 2013
