Ahuahu An island conservation journey in Aotearoa New Zealand

Aotearoa New Zealand is renowned among biologists worldwide for spectacular ecological restoration work over the last 50 years, through advances in pest eradication and native species translocation. This book documents the development of these world-leading technologies. It uses examples from throughout the country, but has a special focus on one island group – the Mercury Islands off Coromandel, of which Ahuahu (Great Mercury Island) is the largest. The story is told through the eyes of pioneer conservation biologist David Towns, who was there from the start. It is a story of triumphs and setbacks, of opportunity and innovation, of teamwork and emerging bicultural collaboration. Today, all seven islands of the Mercury group are free of mammalian pests, providing a haven to native plants and animals. This book is the story of how that was made possible.

David Towns did his MSc and PhD at the University of Auckland. After six years overseas at universities in the USA and Australia, he returned to New Zealand in 1982 to work as a conservation scientist with the Wildlife Service and then the Department of Conservation (DOC). He stayed with DOC until 2012, when he began a shared appointment between DOC and Auckland University of Technology, teaching conservation. David retired as Professor Emeritus in 2020 and lives in Auckland.

Islands and archipelagos mentioned in this book Ecosanctuaries and other protected areas mentioned in this book Acknowledgements He mihi Foreword Preface 1 Heroic explorers, movers and shakers 2 Footprints on the landscape: The last great Polynesian migration 3 Hidden gems: The secret lives of seabird islands 4 Can pigs have wings? The role of seabirds in island ecosystems 5 Threats to island flora and fauna: Invasive species 6 External effects on seabird islands 7 Taking the offensive: Mercury Islands and the development of rodent eradications 8 Pest eradications as ecological lessons 9 Ecological restoration of island ecosystems 10 Conservation from inside the cell: Genetics 11 Are we there yet? Measuring the success of restoration projects 12 The art and science of people power 13 Communities at work 14 ‘ Thank God we played this game’ : Partnerships, philanthropy and ambition 15 Working with communities 16 New horizons Appendix 1: Maori, common and scientific names of species mentioned in this book that are found in New Zealand Appendix 2: The Mercury Islands and their conservation history Notes References Image credits Index