Nature

If you have an interest in nature there are numerous natural features of national and international interest that may be seen at or near Rangipo Museum including:
  • Native monkey flower or Mimulus repens which is endangered. 
  • Longfin Eels in large numbers in Te Pueaharuri Stream.
  • Best examples, possibly in the world, of least-modified Chenier Plain shell banks.

Mimulus Repens

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Known as native monkey flower, Maori Musk and Native Musk, Mimulus repens is a small plant with a beautiful flower that lives in the intertidal lagoon. 

Please see  http://nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.asp?ID=286 for further details on  mimulus repens.


Longfin Eel (Tuna)

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In decline across the country the longfin eel is still found in numbers in Te Pueaharuri Stream next to Rangipo Museum. 


Come and see these fish at Rangipo Museum.

Longfin eels are classified as 'in decline' and 'threatened', the same status as the iconic kiwi bird. 


Chenier Plains Shell Banks

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What some say is the best example in the world of Chenier Plains Shell Banks exists just below the Rangipo Museum.

Please see http://www.miranda-shorebird.org.nz/natural-history/chenier-plains  for further details.

Freshwater Fish & General Surveys

Three surveys were performed by the Department of Conservation during 2010.

The freshwater fish survey in November 2010 was to determine the composition and abundance of freshwater fish species in McCarties Stream. 

Please read more on the results of this survey in the attached file below:
freshwater_fish_survey_report_-_mccarties_stream_miranda.pdf
File Size: 2225 kb
File Type: pdf
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Key recommendations from the conservancy surveys were:
  1. The ecological and botanical value of the intertidal lagoon is high as it is a rare landform component with the Chenier Plain geological composition of this coastline and the regionally threatened population of Mimulus repens should be given protection soon.
  2. If this area is given Reserve status then it has significant potential for ecological restoration with plantings of the locally occurring and threatened green mistletoe (Ileostylus micranthus).
  3. Protection to one of the few remaining intact examples of Chenier Plain.

Gambusia

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A biological control gone mad, Gambusia were introduced to control mosquitoes however they now exist in numbers in Te Pueaharuri Stream. A native from Mexico these fish are now a source of worry in New Zealand. 
the_gambusia.pdf
File Size: 1235 kb
File Type: pdf
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