Pest Management

 Te Whakamaru o Horohoro started in 2019 with the aim to reduce the number of pests on our whenua that were destroying our ngahere (bush) and the home for our birdlife.  Where the bush used to thrive with birdcall, the bush was now sitting silent.

The Te Whakamaru o Horohoro project covers 1,250 ha over two project sites.  The first site is on the Mamaku plateau and part of the Horohoro Forest.  Within the forest is a high point, 800m above sea level on Horohoro maunga.  To the local hapu, Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuara – the maunga (or mountain) is also known as Te Horohoroinga o nga ringa o Kahumatamomoe.

This site is approximately 1250ha with the new extension area adding an extra 244ha onto the project area of Horohoro maunga.

Tihiotonga native bush area, is another significant site to Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuara within the Mamaku plateau, bordering Rotorua city.

Both of these sites have large gully areas and large flat areas broken with vertical cliffs within them.

The native bush areas are covered with large tawa, kamahi and podocarp forest.  There is reasonable understorey but also areas that have been heavily browsed by possum and deer.  As these pests are eradicated, time will be needed to allow for seedlings to regrow.

Tihiotonga native bush has areas of gorse on the edge of bush and farmland with native and large areas of grass within a valley of native forest.  This site is approximately 180 ha.