New management for Pūponga Farm Park

Date:  03 March 2025

HealthPost Nature Trust will carry out restoration work in the Triangle Flat area of the farm park. They aim to build a 3 km-long low predator fence across the base of the spit to provide a line of defence against reinvading introduced predators. The farm and crossing road area will remain open to the public.

Pax Leetch and Ellie Miller, who manage land next to the farm park, have successfully applied to graze land from the west of Old Man Range to Greenhills. This area will remain as a working farm.

These concessions run for five years while DOC works with our Treaty partners —Iwi Chairs of Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Rārua and Te Ātiawa, and Manawhenua ki Mohua — to develop a long-term strategic vision for the site, which is rich in ecological and cultural values and a popular visitor destination.

Last September, the Department of Conservation (DOC) ran an expression of interest process inviting parties to put in proposals for managing these sites as the previous license to graze was ending after 27 years.

Eight proposals were received and an evaluation panel made up of Manawhenua ki Mohua, Nelson Marlborough Conservation Board representatives and DOC staff decided on the successful applicants.

HealthPost Nature Trust will also fund 50 per cent of a salary for a DOC ranger to be based in Pūponga, who will spend half of their time working on the Trust’s biodiversity initiatives and half keeping the popular area maintained for visitors to enjoy.

They will work closely with Pest Free Onetahua, a large-scale conservation project removing pests on Onetahua/Farewell Spit and the surrounding areas.

Triangle Flat is a very significant archaeological site, and any proposed restoration would need to be careful not to impact these important values.

The Trust’s agreement will expand the significant restoration work they have been carrying out at Cape Farewell since 2017 to benefit burrowing seabirds, including creating a 3-hectare predator-free sanctuary.

The Trust has worked in partnership with Manawhenua ki Mohua and DOC for several years which has led to pakahā/fluttering shearwaters translocated to the area.

DOC Golden Bay Operations Manager Ross Trotter says Onetahua/Farewell Spit Nature Reserve is a unique ecosystem and a significant biodiversity hotspot, with several rare plants and more than 90 bird species recorded in the area. It’s recognised as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

“HealthPost Nature Trust’s vision is exciting because if we can get predators down to really low numbers, Onetahua would be a much-needed safe haven for some of our threatened species in the area. It might also mean more rare species could be released into the area in the future.”

Ross says DOC was impressed with the calibre of the proposals and wants to thank everyone who submitted an expression of interest.

“We believe we’ve got a great outcome for the future of Pūponga Farm Park that is in the best interest of this really special part of the country.”

HealthPost Nature Trust have also released a statement: From Farmland to Wildlife Haven: Major Restoration Project at Triangle Flat

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