Rural Women New Zealand Alex Eagles-Tully

 The magnificent Kaimai Mamaku ranges form a backdrop for the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions.

Unless marvelling at spectacular red skies as the sun sets behind the peaks from the Bay or welcoming the sunrise over the Waikato, most of us take the ranges for granted.

Not so the Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust (MKMT). These passionate people are determined to restore this taonga to its former glory as a sustainable life force from the mountains to the sea.
Since 2009, when the original Kaimai Catchment Forum was formed, Rural Women New Zealand has been behind the mission to restore the 240,000ha conservation park. Over a decade later RWNZ is excited to share the news that $19.4 million is starting to be distributed to approved projects throughout the five districts the ranges cover. The welcome financial boost to MKM resulted from the successful application to the Jobs for Nature fund by local iwi and hapu with Te Papa Atawhai- Department of Conservation.
In 2019 MKMT was formed after the Kaimai Mamaku Catchment Forum identified the need for a unified entity of Kaimai kaitiaki under one umbrella organisation to apply for funding for restoration projects.

Stakeholders include community conservation groups, iwi, hapu, farmers, landowners, recreation groups, Department of Conservation, Waikato and Bay of Plenty Regional Councils as well as the five districts councils.

Considering that the rugged volcanic range stretches 70km from the Karangahake Gorge to the Mamaku Plateau near Lake Rotorua this was no mean feat.
The new MMKT website has the latest technology that allows live updates from stakeholders who can record the removal of pests, etc as they happen.
The organisation also has a new CEO, Louise Saunders, with 25 years of experience in ecological restoration.
"This founding role is an opportunity to make a significant difference to conservation on a scale rarely seen," Louise says.
The ranges are the natural home of endangered natives such as whio, kaka, kokako, kiwi, karearea/New Zealand falcon, whitehead, bats, skinks, the Hochstetter’s frog and the Mount Te Aroha stag beetle.

Except in the areas where intensive pest control is being undertaken, predators like stoats, cats and rats are decimating this wildlife.
The park marks the northern limit of trees such as kamahi, red and silver beech and the southern limit of the mighty kauri. This unusual meeting of northern and southern species as well as the combination of semi-coastal and montane plants make the forest composition unique.
Goats, deer, pigs and possums are eating so many native plants on the forest floor that the majestic canopy trees are not being replaced, plant pests are taking over and the mauri of the forest is dying. The exception to this is where intensive pest control is occurring.
For most of us, the Kaimai Mamaku ranges are our local forest-ngahere to go on multi-day tramps or short walks in, to be at one with nature.
We can all play a part, however big or small, to make sure the sun never sets completely on the forest and the fauna that calls the ranges home.
The opportunities to be a part of this vision are varied and numerous.

The Bay Conservation Alliance (BCA) is accepting applications for Jobs for Nature cadets for those wanting to be environmental guardians.

The Trust is calling for volunteers to sit and listen for kiwi calls for an upcoming kiwi survey, Predator Free BOP are offering rat traps to set in your backyard, the Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust need help to protect kiwi and kokako in the area and the Kokako Ecosystem Expansion Programme are on the exciting mission to create a pest-free corridor between the Otanewainuku and the Kaharoa forest enabling these birds to connect.

Alex Eagles-Tully is area coordinator for Rural Women New Zealand.