"Tui to Town - Natural Habitat Restoration for the Wairau Plain"
Tui and other native birds and animals (lizards, fish and insects), would once have been common on the Wairau Plain and around Blenheim. Before humans arrived the Plain was covered in a mix of swamp forest, dryland forest and large flax wetlands, all of which would have been teeming with native birds and animals. While tui are occasionally seen in Blenheim during winter, they are not common anymore because there is very little suitable habitat and food available for them.
Today the Wairau Plain is one of New Zealand's most changed and modified landscapes, with less then 1% of the natural vegetation cover remaining, and the rich variety of native animals is mostly lost. Tui are still present in reasonable numbers in the forests on the Northbank of the Wairau River and could be encouraged back onto the Plain if there are some stepping stones of natural habitat created. Other native birds and animals are likely to also benefit.
Tui need trees and plants that provide nectar, flowers, fruit and insects to feed on. Nectar is an important food for tui - more then 70 percent of their diet at some times of the year. A number of non native plants like eucalyptus species and banksia and bottlebrush can be good sources of nectar, along with the native species like flax, kowhai and native tree fushia. Fruits and insects are also important. Tui will travel over 20 km to feed at some times of the year (mostly winter and spring before they start breeding). Research has shown that to breed they need at least 1 hectare of suitable habitat so it would be a while before we could expect to get them breeding on the Wairau Plain but we need to start somewhere.
By restoring the few remaining natural areas (mainly small remnant wetlands and areas alongside waterways) and re-creating small areas of natural habitat through new plantings, there could be a better balance between production, urban living and natural habitats for native birds, lizards and insects.
The vision of the Tui to Town project is to work together as a community to increase the area of natural habitat on public and private land suitable for tui and other native birds, lizards and insects by creating a minimum of 5 hectares of new habitat over the next 5 years.
Tui Facts
- Endemic to New Zealand (found nowhere else in the world)
- Known for their song which includes rich, fluid melodious notes mixed with croaks, clicks grunts, wheezes and chuckles
- Found throughout New Zealand but very scarce east of the Southern Alps in the South island (including the Wairau Plains and South Marlborough), due to a lack of forest habitat
- Feed on nectar, fruits and insects and have an important ecological role in pollinating native plants and spreading seeds from native fruits and berries
- Breed October to January, raise 2-4 chicks, females build nest and incubate eggs, males help feed the chicks
- Territorial when breeding, but quite mobile the rest of the year and will travel long distances for nectar (10-30 km)
- Main predators are ship rats and possums, also stoats, females and chicks are very vulnerable in the nest
- Native falcons will hunt tui in the air
What You Can Do
Report tui sightings to the Council by filling in the form at the bottom of this page to help build a better picture of where and when tui visit areas on the Wairau Plain, and also what they are feeding on.
Protect existing remnants of natural habitats like wetland areas or pockets of native vegetation you may have on your property.
Create more natural habitat by planting suitable native species on your property, in your garden, your school, on your vineyard or farm (use the information in this brochure and in the publications listed below for advice).
(Note: Due to drainage responsibilities there are restrictions on plantings within 8 metres of a waterway on the Wairau Plain. Consultation with Council's Rivers staff is necessary before any planting can be undertaken along waterways).
Support existing landcare groups that are carrying out restoration projects on public land on the Wairau Plain;
- The Grovetown Lagoon Restoration Group "Te Whanau hou" - contact Lynda Neame Ph 03 578 2013.
- The Rarangi Landcare Group - contact Trudie and Barry Lasham Ph 03 570 5073.
- The Tuamarina/Blind Creek Landcare Group - contact Philip Hunnisett Ph 03 570 5188.
Information and help available from the Marlborough District Council.
Simple planting suggestions over the page.
- Wairau Plain Landscape Concept Guidelines 2002 (native planting guidelines in more detail) Click HERE.
- Native Vegetation for South Marlborough - A Planting Guide 2004 (more detail again) Click HERE.
- Financial Assistance may be available for larger protection or restoration projects of more then 1000 square metres - contact Nicky Eade at the Council.
Report Tui sightings
