Many of us may be aware of the Society and its goal to reintroduce species back onto the mountain and to support the control of noxious non-native species that have invaded the maunga and ngahere.
The vision of the society is:
“… to see Kōkako and other key native species re-introduced to Mt Pirongia, and we’re getting the community on board to help us make it happen.
We focus our efforts on controlling pests and reintroducing native species on the mountain. This work is achieved by working with our local community and landowners around the mountain.
Whatungarongaro te tangata toitu te whenua
As man disappears from sight, the land remains”
Whanau will recall we were invited in May of this year to be a part of the reintroduction of two species of native mistletoe that were either endangered or no longer present on the Maunga.
Recently the society has sought the support of the Runanganui in its programme of physical trapping and filling of bait stations in selected parts of the forest. The Runanganui has indicated it will support this programme of work in an effort to improve the health and wellbeing of the taonga that reside on the maunga and in the ngahere.
The Society has welcomed the support from the Runanganui and has extended an invitation for whanau to take part in the work as volunteers if they wish. Below is a link to the Society’s website. If you click on the projects page, it sets out how whanau can volunteer if they wish.
This is important work, both for our iwi and our whanau. The Runanganui encourages our whanau who have the time and skills to support this work to contact the society and register as a volunteer.
