More than 200 volunteers regularly work to restore Maungatautari; in fact volunteers are integral to the success of the Maungatautari restoration project. Working in a variety of areas including pest monitoring, planting and weeding, building and maintenance, administration and species monitoring, their work is always of a very high standard.

“Much of the progress this conservation project has made is due to the hard work and determination of our very talented volunteers,” said Jim Mylchreest, Maungatautari Trust chief executive.

Massey University, along with a number of other conservation groups, have requested plan details of the portable kit-set aviary designed and built by Maungatautari volunteers.

Specifically produced earlier this year, the aviary complex was used as a temporary ‘home’ for hihi (stitchbirds) and popokatea (whiteheads) during their recent translocation to Maungatautari.

“It seems that our kit-set structure is just what other groups have been looking for”, said Trust ecologist and co-designer Chris Smuts-Kennedy.

“It is completely pest proof, colour coded for easy assembly, and is able to pack down to flat panels for transportation and cleaning. It includes a double-door entry system so birds can’t escape when a door is being opened, which is rather cleverly incorporated into the aviary layout to minimise the need for extra components. The light H4 treated timber framing makes the panels light to carry yet rigid when assembled.”

“Basically we have tried to think of everything from the animals and users point of view, and I think we have. I guess other groups think so as well which is a wonderful complement to the hardworking Trust volunteers who have put a total of 408 hours into designing and building the aviary.”

From an animal perspective the whole structure is enclosed in galvanised or stainless steel wire mesh to keep it pest proof and then internally covered with 30% shade cloth to stop birds injuring themselves and to provide some cover from the sun. All hooks holding the perches and feeding trays have been recessed so as not to damage any inhabitants. The food tray area is placed for easy access to the doors to reduce disturbance.

With other wildlife translocations to Maungatautari planned over the next few years the structure will be well used and will occasionally be on loan to other groups for conservation work.

Maungatautari volunteers Bill Mathers, Bryan Jenkin and Warwick Gatland led the build with assistance from Rod Lugton, Jim McKnight, John Shaw, John Sheat, Bob Vercoe, and David Welch.