Newsletter -June 2025
- pukekurafriends
- Jun 27
- 6 min read
Events Programme July 2025
1st Wanderers’ walk.
Leaving from Bellringer Pavilion at 10.30am
Tony and Alan will lead a walk around the northern end of the Park looking at some of the centennial trees.
8th Committee meeting
15th Wanderers’ walk.
Meet at the Bellringer Pavilion at Noon.
A talk with Dr Emily Roberts (Strategic Lead Te Whānau Toroa) https://wildfortaranaki.nz/te-whanau-toroa/ :
A report on the improving populations of coastal birds - Oi and Dotterels - how to use the iNaturalist app and observations to understand wildlife better. Probably about 30minutes. Then a short walk in the Park to try out the app.
22nd Staff lunch
Citizens Advice Bureau, next to the Y.M.C.A.
Members to arrive at 11.30 with food, with lunch starting at noon.
24th Evening Meeting
Citizens Advice Bureau, next to the Y.M.C.A. - 7pm
A presentation by Tony Barnes.
Tony, an Assessor for the NZ Gardens Trust since 2017, will give an illustrated talk about the NZ Gardens Trust, and its Gardens of Significance.
Review of May's Events
June 3rd - Wanderers' Walk
There was a group of a dozen enjoyed a walk around Brooklands looking at the effects of light when taking photographs. We started at the Zoo car park, then made our way down the path west of the plane trees. We stopped and looked at how the light give the effect of depth depending on where the tree was viewed from. We continued down to the Bowl and stopped on the Bowl bridge. Here we looked at the refection of the trees in the lake. Derek pointed out that the reflection can often have more contrast than looking at the object itself, as was the case here.
We continued over the bridge and along the path going away from the Bowl. We stopped halfway along the path when Tony pointed out a kohekohe tree in flower. The walk continued past the Aotearoa statue into the Rhododendron Dell then up the grass track leading to the Brooklands traffic island. We ended the walk in Kunming garden looking at the gingko trees showing their autumn colour.
June 17th - Curators' Walk
Sixteen of us enjoyed the curator’s walk. We started at the Bellringer Pavilion where Sheryl pointed out a large cycad, one of fifteen donated to the Park by Mark and Lucy Braun of Te Kuiti in 2019.
Next, we stopped at Palm Lawn and looked at two types of fishtail palms in flower. Caryota Ochlandra and Caryota urens both of which are monocarpic, resulting in the death of the tree on completion of the flowering and fruiting processes. Flowering starts at the top of the trunk and progresses downwards. The tree eventually dies after the last flowers at the base of the trunk have bloomed. This process can take several years. The fruit of Caryota should not be consumed as it contains oxalic acid, a skin and membrane irritant.
We then proceeded to the Hatchery lawn via the Children’s Playground and the Japanese Hillside. Here Sheryl spoke about the investigative work done on the dam and the instruments to be installed to monitor the ground pore water pressure. These instruments are called piezometers. In geotechnical engineering, piezometers are used extensively to monitor the stability of earth structures such as dams, levees, embankments, and retaining walls. Excess pore water pressure can weaken soils, leading to slope failures or liquefaction during earthquakes. By continuously monitoring pore pressure, engineers can assess risk levels, make informed decisions about construction or remediation, and ensure the long-term safety of structures.
For those technically minded, below is a link to NZ Dam Safety Guidelines. For sections of interest relating to the dam in the main lake check out Module 3 (page 41) Section 6.5 Embankment Dams and Module 5 (page 20) Section 4.2.6 Performance Monitoring Instrumentation.
We them moved on to Racecourse Walk where Sheryl pointed out various camelias in flower and some orchids.
The walk ended in the Fernery where House 4 is undergoing a revamp. Sheryl outlined the aims of the project.
June 26th - Evening Meeting
We had a most interesting evening with Jayne Bright and Shonagh Hopkirk from Seedsavers Taranaki, who told us about the local seed bank project. We can select and grow the plants that grow best in our local area, taste best and are resistant to local pests and diseases. The group has a web presence under Sustainable Taranaki (who are based at the EnviroHub in Pukekura Park). There are eight Seed Banks around Taranaki, with stocks of seeds to share for a donation. 'Heritage' seeds are grown in Taranaki, and 'Potluck' seeds came from a great parent plant but have an unknown history.
We picked up some handy hints on how to keep seed from worthy plants - and to maintain heritage status.
Brassicas
Plant broccoli and cauliflower a month apart so they flower at different times - this stops cross pollination and seed that is not true to type.
Cucurbits are eager to cross pollinate, so care is needed to keep the zucchini, squash and pumpkins separate.
Tomato - to keep seed
Wash the seeds, put in a glass with a small amount of water for 5-7 days so the flesh is soaked off, and it starts to ferment.
Spread on a paper towel to dry
Leave till the following spring when ready to plant
There will be a longer article about the Seed Savers in the next magazine, with more information and links to local experts. In the mean time you may be interested in buying a great booklet Seed sowing, planting and harvesting guide by Dee Turner. $10 from Seedsavers, and we can arrange to bring orders to the next meeting. Bank with your name in details - Seedsavers Taranaki account 15-3953-0804255-00
From the Zoo
Article by Monique Earp – Brooklands Zookeeper.
Brooklands Zoo acquired some southern brown tree frogs in March. Brown tree frogs (Litoria ewingii) are small light brown amphibians, sometimes referred to as whistling tree frogs due to their loud cricket-like call.
Brooklands Zoo’s frogs arrived as tadpoles but have since metamorphosised into small frogs and will grow to lengths of 4-5cm over the next year. These frogs usually breed year-round in New Zealand, with females laying clumps of eggs underwater which hatch into tadpoles after 4-9 days. Tadpoles often take up to 12 weeks to morph from eggs to frogs but occasionally take up to a year, depending on conditions.
In 1875, brown tree frogs were deliberately introduced from Tasmania to the South Island (Greymouth) then later translocated to the North Island (Manawatu) in 1948. They are now naturalised and considered one of New Zealand’s seven frog species.
Like most other small frog species, brown tree frogs are insectivores. Their specific diet is unknown but likely consists of small freshwater invertebrates and small terrestrial insects, spiders and other invertebrates. Their habitat at Brooklands Zoo will be run as a bioactive tank (an enclosed ecosystem that mimics a natural habitat that is self-sustaining with live plants, natural substrates and a variety of small invertebrates and microorganisms that help break down organic waste) with slaters and spring tails. These invertebrates will also act as a portion of the frog’s diet.
Brown tree frogs are considered nocturnal but are still known to be active during the day. Like most frogs, they are semi-aquatic, predominantly living in moist habitats. They can even withstand freezing cold temperatures. They have suction on their toes and are therefore good climbers, often found in low-hanging vegetation rather than in the water.
Their conservation status is classified as ‘least concern’ on the IUCN red list but they still face some dangers in the wild. Their biggest threat is chytridiomycosis – a common fungal disease affecting frog species worldwide. Their life expectancy is up to five years in human care but is likely much shorter in the wild.
You can find the brown tree frog habitat at Brooklands Zoo in the barn along with the reptiles and other amphibians.
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