Walking in a Tutukaka coastal forest on a stormy day when diving was impossible I almost stepped on a greenhood orchid. Seeing its resemblance to a coral shrimp set me thinking and I started exploring the land as a diver would the sea: following the seasonal flux in pursuit of biodiversity; getting to know parallel patterns of life on sea and land.
From the time of the orchid my life began to broaden. From beneath the sea with my own movie camera I followed pathways of biodiversity across the inter tidal and up into the mangroves; in estuaries, river mouths and harbours
Then Jan and I embarked on a major land project: an exploration of remnants of Northland rain forest along a broad corridor from west to east, coast to coast and in between. Our descent into Maungatapere volcano crater, entering an antediluvian swamp forest, was very like a deep dive...Soon we had created an archive of most of its flora and fauna: all its trees, shrubs and vines; most of its birds.
At present we are deeply concerned at the broken links between sea and forest; between native birds and their food sources; between native trees and their pollinators. We are staggered at the marginality of so many superb native trees and shrubs; at the advance of bird silence in so many of our forests. We found people in Northland striving to establish a microcosm of how it should be or may have been before man intervened. On our own land we have begun establishing an arboretum where rare natives have refuge and sparse berry trees are encouraged while the predators on native birds are controlled. We are currently involved with a battle to protect from subdivision one of New Zealand’s last undeveloped sandspits and the truly unique Whakairiora forest remnant: near our home at Ngunguru.
EBOOK
Chapter one: Down to Whale Bay Beach: Tutukaka Coast
The ocean is calm. On a golden, warm spring morning I wind my way down the
cliff path to Whale Bay beach with as much to marvel at as on any undersea
journey. In this benign, earth-scented forest world from late August a festive
time begins. I pass the sentinel hollow puriri tree near the entrance. By the
picnic table with its panoramic coastal view a plosive cluck and a chortle of
birdsong. A slightly inebriated celebrant on the nectar trail. A thick whirring
of wings and a black ellipse hurtles from the cliff edge kowhai blooms and
swoops down the path towards the next golden grove. I follow eager to
catch a tui on film.
My way leads through a glade of broadleaf trees...[extracted]
KOWHAI BLOOMS
CONTENTS:
PROLOGUE: WHALE BAY
Chapter 1: DOWN TO WHALE BAY BEACH: TUTUKAKA COAST
2: TUTUKAKA COAST FORESTS
3: QUEST FOR KOHIA: THE NEW ZEALAND PASSIONFRUIT
4: MOUNT PARIHAKA: UP ROSS TRACK
5: TUTAMOE RANGES: MARLBOROUGH ROAD
6: MAUNGATAPERE: THE VOLCANO CRATER FOREST
7: THE SWAMP FOREST RELICT AT HIKURANGI
8: LAND OF THE GIANTS: WAIPOUA FOREST
9: TAHERE FALLS
10: WAIPAEPAE RESERVE: REALM OF A RARE RATA
11: MAUNGANUI BLUFF
12: WHAKAIRIORA: THE SACRED MOUNTAIN
13: OPUAWHANGA RESERVE: DEEP VALLEY DESCENT
14: BREAM HEAD JOURNEY
15: ASCENT OF MANAIA
16: THE PEACH COVE TRACK
17: HOME BAY- WHANGAREI HEADS
18: SMUGGLERS’ COVE
19: JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF NORTHLAND:
WILLIAM UPTON HEWETT MEMORIAL RESERVE
20: WHATITIRI SCENIC RESERVE
21: THE TANGIHUA FOREST
22: CYNTHIA HEWETT RESERVE: HIGH PLATEAU SWAMP FOREST
23: TAWHARANUI: ABOVE AND BELOW: OPEN SANCTUARY
24: TIRITIRI MATANGI ISLAND: OPEN SANCTUARY
25: MIROMIRO DAY
26: OUR ENDANGERED WADING BIRDS
27: MARSDEN POINT
28: TIRITIRI ISLAND BIRD SANCTUARY-SECOND VISIT
29: LITTLE BARRIER: ISLAND SANCTUARY
30: CONCLUSION.
EBOOK AVAILABLE: www.wadedoak.com
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