About Us

Our Vision & Plan

Our Vision & Plan

Established in 2002, the Bream Head Conservation Trust is in an operational partnership between iwi, the community, the Department of Conservation and supported by Foundation North and the Whangarei District Council.

Our vision is to restore Bream Head as a place in which natural ecology is restored, with healthy forest and abundant bird song and where everyone can experience nature at its best.

The Trust aims to:

  • Restore and maintain the ecology of the Reserve
  • Preserve its historical and archaeological features
  • Enhance its recreational and educational potential in ways which are compatible with conservation values.

Why Restore Bream Head Scenic Reserve?

The Bream Head Scenic Reserve, situated at the entrance to Whangarei Harbour, is classified as an outstanding ecosystem supporting a diversity of species. The Reserve contains unique archaeological, historical and landscape features and represents the largest and highest quality area of coastal pohutukawa-broadleaf forest remaining in Northland, and one of the best in the country.

The plants in the Reserve have suffered from competition by weeds and grazing by cattle, goats and possums. Meanwhile the native animal populations have come under attack from predators like cats, dogs, stoats, rats and mice.  The Trust wants to restore and maintain the Reserve as it existed in pre-European times so people can enjoy its richness and diversity once again.

The Five Year Plan

The Trust’s key focus is the ecological restoration of the Reserve revisited every five years. Our current Ecological Restoration Plan provides an overview of what can realistically be achieved in the five years between 2023 and 2028, including the possibility of reintroducing further lost species. Our operational plan covers:

  • Threat management (managing animal pests, plant pests and biosecurity)
  • Revegetation (new planting utilising our onsite nursery)
  • Safeguarding our biological assets, like the survival of the grey-faced petrel, the reintroduced toutouwai/robins and popokatea/white heads, lizard monitoring, flax snails etc.
  • Reintroduction of lost species using translocations

The plan has been jointly developed with the local community and key agencies to guide work at Bream Head/ Te Whara for the next five years.  Its preparation reflects the need for a more focused and action-oriented approach to the Trust’s restoration efforts, and for this approach to have support from the local community and be compatible with other restoration efforts being undertaken in the wider Whangarei Heads area.

The Trust also supports the goal to be predator free in 2050. To help us achieve that goal, we will keep assessing new predator management technologies and implement those that have proven to be successful.

Our Successes

  • We increased the protection of the grey faced petrel/oi burrow nest site and have seen a significant increase in successful chick fledging.
  • We successfully installed a stronger second boundary of traps along Ocean Beach Road called "Load the Road"; which has been catching important predators before they make their way into the Reserve.
  • An on-site native tree nursery was established to facilitate the continuation of revegetation following the cancellation of the tree planting programme in 2018 due to the myrtle-rust outbreak.
  • We saw a continued increase in the number of volunteers by 100% including the engagement of young working adults.
  • Through a Whangarei Heads collaboration, Bream Head Scenic Reserve became the location of the launch of Predator Free Whangarei.
  • A big effort in fundraising made it possible to employ full time and part time rangers.

Our aspirational goal is to create a self-sustaining restoration project over the long term. This requires reliable funding sources and the continuing support of the local community, Mana Whenua and the Department of Conservation.

Trustees

Nicola Hartwell

Chair

Patrick Holmes

Whangarei District Council representative trustee

Paul Cresswell

Treasurer

Geoff Pike

Trustee

Lil Craig

Trustee

Roger Tuck

Trustee

Annelies Struijcken

Trustee

Stephanie Versteeg

Trustee

Jenny Lawrence

Volunteer Co-ordinator

Rangers

Tom Flynn-Plummer

Head Ranger

Tom Grinsted

Ranger

Kees McCahon

Ranger

Financial Performance Report for 2024

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Audited Financial Performance Report for 2023

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Audited Financial Performance Report for 2022

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Audited Financial Performace Report for 2021

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Audited Financial Performance Report for 2020

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Audited Financial Performance Report for 2019

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Audited Financial Performance Report for 2018

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Audited Financial Performance Report for 2017

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Audited Financial Performance Report for 2016

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Audited Accounts for 2015

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Audited Accounts for 2014

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Audited Accounts for 2013

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Our Vision & Plan