Black mud fish

In December 2023 our Trust submitted an application to the Department of Conservation (DOC) for the translocation of black mudfish into a blind gully swamp in Mangaiti, Hamilton, New Zealand. This was after identifying the location as an ideal natural mudfish habitat and it being highly probable that mudfish would have occupied this location in the past, before European settler land modification. This is also in line with our Trust’s vision: To manage the gully in such a way that native fauna (birds, fish, bats, reptiles & insects) will re-establish, either naturally or by introduction and for this to be sustainable. In March 2025 this year, a permit was granted. Translocating mudfish has historically, not been that successful so there was reluctance by DOC to translocate them from a known stable habitat. However, the Rotokauri urban subdivision is about to commence where 14 sites of mudfish have been identified. These wetland sites, which in most cases are farm drains, will be modified (drained) during the groundwork. Because our permit specifies that they are to be translocated from “at risk” habitats within Hamilton City, this has, in essence, become a rescue mission of an at-risk, declining, indigenous species through habitat loss. Managing the translocation is not that straight forward, and part of the DOC permit requires three years of monitoring and reporting. We are fortunate to have a retired NIWA marine scientist as one of our volunteers who is being the lead on this project. The following Link https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/freshwater-fish/mudfish/black-mudfish/ will take you to a DOC pdf with extra links explaining all about the unique features of this species. Photo: Waikato Regional Council

Translocating eels

A concern had been raised that successful establishment of mudfish might not succeed if there was heavy predation by eels. Mudfish have evolved alongside both of our long and shortfin eel species. While the eel population in the main Mangaiti stream is quite healthy, from eDNA testing we suspected that the eel population in the swamp we have identified for the mudfish release was low. We have therefore undertaken a fish survey using Fyke netting at 5 sites along the length of the mudfish release area (site Fyke 1-5, Figure 1). After setting the net 6 times (site 2 was sampled twice) the only fish caught were 4 short fin eels (ranging in size from 700 - 813 mm) and 4 very healthy banded kōkopu (145 - 180 mm long). The kōkopu were all released where they were caught, and the eels were transferred into the upstream tributary of the main Kirikiriroa Stream where there was suitable eel habitat.

Book review – KIWI BEES HAVE TINY KNEES Native bees of Aotearoa New Zealand

In the January 2025 blog posting there was an article on NZ native bees. This book is an excellent follow up on that. Although it is designed for young people it is packed full of interesting information that most adults would not know. There are a number of QR codes throughout the book that take you to YouTube videos that support of the page content. The author, Rachel Weston, needs to be congratulated for bringing these tiny native insects to our attention. Every school library should have a copy. It can be purchased online direct from author Racheal Weston’s website https://www.rachelweston.co.nz/shop/ for $30.

A story from a Mangaiti Gully neighbour

When we first moved here 15 years ago, there were no tūī. It took about 5 years of clearing, planting and predator control before we saw our first tūī in Mangaiti Gully. They are now so common we have regular visits to our bird bath, and they are so comfortable around us they let us this close to film them. Check out this video. (video – John Smulders)

Dog poo!

Since opening our section of the gully to the public we have had to manage a certain amount of anti-social behaviour. While this is always disappointing it was not unexpected. Anecdotally it would look as though youth was responsible for most of it with their graffiti, drug paraphernalia, pulling plants out, leaving rubbish behind and even lighting fires. However, one anti-social behaviour not attributed to youth, is the practise of SOME dog walkers disgusting habit of disposing of their dog’s poo bag into the gully understory as they walk along our tracks. If you own a dog, you also own their poo bag. Please do not dispose of it into a natural area. Dog poo in a plastic bag is not part of nature. Take it home. That’s part of the responsibility of owning a dog. If you could do that please, it would be great.