Nick’s Head Station

Our final excursion was to Nick’s Head Station, a mixed sheep and horticulture farm formed from the amalgamation of three properties, one of which incorporates Young Nick’s Head, named for the seaman who first sighted land from HMS Endeavour. The Māori name is Te Kuri o Pāoa (the dog of Pāoa), which it is said to resemble. It was the site of the landing place of two waka – one commanded by Pāoa – which carried Māori settlers to Poverty Bay around 1350CE.

We started off in the office, where farm manager Kim Dodgshun told us about the history of the station, the background to the 2002 purchase, and the subsequent conservation, reforestation and predator control. The farm employs 22 staff (compared to just three at the neighbouring farm) to ensure that not only is the farm well-managed, but all aspects of conservation and care are undertaken.

The owner has cleared the area of predators, added a predator-proof fence, and introduced endemic species such as tuatara and wētā. Using solar-powered speakers to imitate bird calls, tākapu, tītī and other sea birds have been tempted to recolonise the cliffs and establish new colonies there.

We ate lunch alfresco in the substantial wetland, an area created by Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects. Afterwards we walked to the beach, seeing many New Zealand species on the way: pūtangitangi, poaka, weweia, and kakīānau in the wetland, and tūturiwhatu on the beach. These are only possible because of the protection given to this habitat. My photography in this area was not an unbridled success, as I didn’t have my 500mm lens with me, but we were able to identify many species.

Afterwards we boarded the bus which took us back to the hotel. We picked up our car and drove down to Napier on a Sunday afternoon road thankfully clear of logging trucks, to arrive in time for dinner.