About Tiromoana Bush
Tiromoana Bush is a 410-hectare area of land in the middle and lower Kate Valley. It has been farmed with sheep and beef cattle as part of the Tiromoana Station for over a century. The area has some regenerating native forest and wetlands. These ecosystems are the core of the restoration project.
Transwaste Canterbury Limited decided to restore Tiromoana Bush so that one day it will be as it was before people came to New Zealand. Coastal and lowland forests like Tiromoana Bush are now rare, so this restoration project is very important for biodiversity conservation.
Vision and goals
The restoration plan has a 300-year vision! But it also has five year and 35-year goals. So far, the following work has been done:
- The bush area has permanent protection under the QEII National Trust open space covenant.
- Sheep and cattle have been excluded.
- A deer fence has been put up and deer and pigs have been eradicated.
- Native forest and wetland plants have been planted.
- A new wetland has been created.
- Public walking tracks have been put in place so people can enjoy the area.
A pine forest plantation has been planted to help fund restoration after the landfill has closed. Revenue from the forestry will provide sustainable funding for ongoing conservation management of Tiromoana Bush.
The restoration plan has been developed by our field trip expert Professor David Norton. He sees that Tiromoana Bush will eventually:
- be restored to a mostly forest ecosystem
- include coastal broadleaved, mixed podocarp-broadleaved and black beech forests
- be a place where the plants and animals typical of the Motunau District survive without threat of extinction
- be a place where people visit for recreation and to appreciate the restored natural environment.
Ecological management
Many people are helping to restore Tiromoana Bush so it will be a treasured conservation area for future generations. This includes landfill staff, scientists, contractors and university and school students.
A key approach to the restoration of Tiromoana Bush is to balance this active restoration with natural succession. This is a process where the structure of an ecosystem evolves over time. Strategically located plantings are used to help speed up these natural processes. Plant and animal pest control is also giving these natural processes a helping hand. But the idea is to give nature time to sort out its own ecosystem.
Tiromoana Bush was opened to the public for the first time in 2006. The walkway was upgraded in 2017. Anyone can now walk through the bush along a four kilometre track down to the coast and back.
- More about Tirimoana Bush
- Download PDF of Tiromoana Bush Walkway brochure and map
- Download PDF of Mt Cass Walkway brochure and map
Getting involved in a restoration project
There are plenty of ways to get involved in a restoration project. The following links will help you find restoration groups, activities, and projects in your area:
- Nature Space - Comprehensive website for groups, individuals and landowners undertaking ecological restoration in New Zealand.
- Nature Space Groups - Nature Space has over 400 ecological restoration groups around the country. Use this page to locate groups near you.
- DOC volunteer activities in your region.
- DOC projects to protect and restore habitats on conservation land.
- Get Involved - Part of the DOC website for conservation volunteering, training, teaching, activities and projects, and applying for permits and funding.
- Volunteering for conservation.
- A list of conservation groups on the DOC website.
- Restoration activities happening around New Zealand that need volunteers.
- A map of wildlife sanctuaries around New Zealand.
These links are useful for starting your own restoration project:
- How to start, improve or evaluate a conservation project. Get information on guidelines and best practice.
- See also the links on background pages Animal Pests, Plant Pests, and Native Plant Restoration for other ways to get involved in ecological restoration.
