35 / 60
plant communities and protect
East Lake from farmland run-
off. Scientists are working
with volunteers to monitor
progress, with baseline studies
undertaken on pest animals,
native lizards, birdlife, bats
and vegetation.
To improve the experience for
volunteers and visitors, the
Trust and Waipa District Council
have worked together to build
a safer access off the highway
and gravel parking area,
installed an eco-friendly toilet,
and built walking tracks and
seating, with more planned.
Already visitors at
Rotopiko can:
• picnic overlooking the lake in
a spacious grassland;
• explore a forest of Jurassic
giants (ancient kahikatea
trees);
• see rare giant cane rush and
look for the elusive ‘Fred the
Thread’ caterpillar;
• stroll around a natural peat
lake on newly constructed
boardwalks;
• read a series of interpretation
boards to learn about various
wetland types;
• look for signs of increasing
birdlife within the pest-free
sanctuary.
Future plans of the National
Wetland Trust are to build a
state-of-the-art interpretation
centre, with research and
educational facilities, wetland
gardens, heritage trails and
a pest-free wildlife haven
teeming with rare species like
North Island fernbird, spotless
crake, Australasian bittern,
native geckos and long-tailed
bats. They are also teaming up
with the NZ Landcare Trust to
expand the pest control to the
wider catchment, increasing
the area of wetland with no or
low pest numbers to around
40 hectares.
The grant from the Waikato
River Clean-up Trust has
kicked off a project of national
significance which is capturing
the imagination and support of
the Waikato community.
“Scientists are working with
volunteers to monitor progress, with
baseline studies undertaken on pest
animals, native lizards, birdlife,
bats and vegetation.”
33
Waikato River Authority
Five Year Report
2015