Keep your ears open for kokako and your eyes open for caches alonf the Kaharoa Kokako Track
The Kaharoa Conservation Area is a rugged piece of Crown land about half way between Rotorua and Te Puke. Covered in native forest, the area is bounded by steep gorges. In pre-European times the area was occupied by Ngati Rangiwewehi and Tapuika with many pa and other important cultural sites remaining in the area.
The Conservation area is home to a remnant population of kokako, which is protected through the work of the Kaharoa Kokako Trust. The main activities of the Trust relate to pest control of possums and ship rats. This labour-intensive work is carried out by groups of dedicated volunteers. During the nesting season bait stations are filled with poison bait. These bait stations are connected by a large network of tracks that must be maintained every year.
The Trust also conducts monitoring of kokako numbers to determine the size and spread of the kokako population. The results of monitoring shows that the kokako numbers have increased significantly since the Trust began pest control in 1997.
Another major role of the Kaharoa Kokako Trust is to ensure community buy-in to the project and encourage wide-spread support.
From 1989-1997 the block was part of a major research project by the Department of Conservation and Landcare Research. This study showed that predation by possums and ship rats was the main cause of kokako decline. This breakthrough research provided valuable information that has enabled groups like the Kaharoa Kokako Trust to protect the birds.
The Kaharoa Kokako Track does require a certain level of agility. Tree roots are exposed in places and there are steep areas. However, those of us who are able to traverse these areas are able to admire this conservation area in it's natural beauty.
All caches hidden by DOPBOP do not require you to stray any significant distance from the track. For your own safety - and to protect the environment - please do not wonder into the bush looking for caches.
A routine maintenece check on 28/10/2015 left me clueless! I couldn't find the original cache despite it being found by a cacher recently and the tree which was taller than me last year is now a heap on the floor (disappointingly looking like there was some human activity involved in this). A replacement cache has been placed at the same site in a Collective yoghut pot.
You do not need to stray any significant distance from the track to find this cache. Please stick to the tracks.