Creatures – Shakespear Open Sanctuary Society

Besides birds, Shakespear is home provides a safe refuge to a diverse range of New Zealand’s animals and insects.

Lizards

All are very vulnerable to predation by introduced mammals including rats, mice, mustelids and feral, non-companion and companion cats. They are under further threat from the endeavours of human activity in the never-ending developments that we engage in.

Shakespear Open Sanctuary has seven species of native lizards, three geckos and four skinks as far as is known to date. Of these, six of them are designated to be nationally “At Risk” in the Department of Conservation terminology from their assessment in the latest (2021) “Conservation Status of New Zealand Reptiles” publication.

Three species of gecko exist in the Sanctuary, the elegant gecko probably more familiarly known by its previous name – Auckland green gecko, then the forest gecko and the pacific gecko. Of these the pacific gecko is in healthy numbers overall but the forest and elegant have only been occasionally observed.

Geckos are usually arboreal, living in trees and shrubs. They are cryptic and elusive relying on their colouring to elude potential predators be it to blend against the bark of a tree or in the green foliage of the canopy.

A bright green Elegant gecko clings to a tree branch, surrounded by moss and illuminated against a dark background. Its head is turned slightly, and its tail is elegantly curved around the branch. — Elegant gecko

The elegant gecko occurs in a forest canopy habitat and often utilises north facing bush or forest edges to get the full benefit of the sun. It is active during the day.

The forest gecko is also a forest dweller and is often found in mānuka or kānuka where it can take refuge in the loose bark and hollow branches on these trees. It can be active day and night.

A brown Pacific gecko with mottled patterns blends into the texture of a dry, gray branch. The sunlight highlights its camouflage against the wood, showing the geckos detail and colours. Surrounding foliage is blurred in the background. — Pacific gecko

The pacific gecko has a widespread habitat from forest and bush to clay banks and cliffs with crevices, flax and rotting logs. It is active at night and is found in trees and on the ground.

Of the four species of skink the moko skink is the most iconic, as, when it was first discovered at Shakespear in 2004, there were only three or four known populations on the New Zealand mainland although they were plentiful on offshore islands. Other skinks present are copper skink, shore skink and ornate skink in healthy numbers.

A slender Moko skink with striped markings lies on a weathered log. The background features tall, dry grasses and a hint of a cloudy sky, creating a natural, earthy scene. — Moko Skink

The moko skink lives on the ground but can climb to forage. Prefers rank grass habitat and forest edges or open clearings. It is active during the day and is an avid sun-basker.

The copper skink survives in a wide array of habitats from rank grass to forest, sandy beaches, flax and other dense, ground foliage and even urban gardens. Mainly active during the day. Usually on the ground but can climb to forage or for cover.

The shore skink, as the name implies is never far from the tidal zone inhabiting sandy and boulder beaches, dunes and the plants associated with this landscape, including forays into the littoral zone. Active during the day and an avid sun-basker. Can flee into rock pools if threatened and can stay submerged for several minutes.

The ornate skink is very secretive living in damp, thick leaf litter in the forest, or in rock piles or other dense vegetation. Mainly ground-dwelling in deep cover and sun-basks cryptically. Mainly active at dawn and dusk.

The discovery of the moko skink partly drove the decision by the Auckland Regional Council, as it then was, to erect a pest proof fence across the end of the peninsula to enclose Shakespear Regional Park, the New Zealand Defence Force land and the Watercare treatment installation and turn it into a wildlife sanctuary to benefit the wildlife already present and to start a programme of reintroductions.

Maintaining a pest free environment at the Shakespear Open Sanctuary will enable these lizards to flourish, establish healthy long-term populations and reverse trends that are all too apparent in the wider New Zealand landscape.

A small Copper Skink with dark, glossy scales blends into a background of dry, brown and yellow leaves on the forest floor.

A small Shore skink with brown and black markings basks on a textured tree bark, with lush green grass in the blurred background.

Wētāpunga

Description

Wētāpunga are very large insects, unique to New Zealand. There are 70 endemic species of wētā in Aotearoa/New Zealand including 11 species of giant wētā, and wētāpunga is the largest of these. In fact, wētāpunga are one of the largest insects in the world. When fully grown they can be heavier than a mouse or sparrow (Females are larger than males and can weigh up to 35 grams). The wētāpunga is a taonga, or precious item, and is known as the “god of ugly things”.

Wētāpunga are nocturnal. During the day they usually hide in dead foliage such as the drooping dead fronds of tree ferns or cabbage trees, but leave their resting places at night to move around in trees or on the ground. Wētāpunga feed on fresh leaves and prefer native plants with large leaves such as karaka, karamu, māhoe, and kohekohe.

Wētāpunga shed or moult their hard outer covering (exoskeleton) in order for them to grow in size. After they hatch from eggs they pass through 11 ‘instars’ (developmental stages) before reaching adulthood, meaning they moult an incredible 11 times!

It can take 14-24 months for them to become adults and wētāpunga commence breeding 1 to 2 months after maturity. Adult wētāpunga live for only about 6-9 months, during which time they will mate repeatedly, with the females laying many groups of eggs in soft soil on the forest floor. The females will lay eggs throughout their adult life, generally producing between 100 to 300 cigar-shaped eggs.

Distribution

Wētāpunga were previously distributed throughout Northland and Auckland, including the islands in the Hauraki Gulf. However, due to habitat destruction and predation from exotic pests (rats, mustelids, hedgehogs, etc.) its range was reduced to just Te Hauturu-o-Toi/Little Barrier Island.

As part of a DOC recovery programme, and thanks to captive breeding programmes at Butterfly Creek and Auckland Zoo, wētāpunga are now making a comeback. The Auckland Council has released wētāpunga into parks and islands in the Hauraki Gulf to help ensure the survival of this endangered species. Shakespear Open Sanctuary received its first translocation of wētāpunga from Butterfly Creek in September 2022, with several top-ups since then. Wētāpunga have also been released at Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary and on Tiritiri Matangi, Motuora, and Motuihe Islands.

Because of the long life cycle of wētāpunga, and young instars being particularly difficult to find, successful reproduction will most likely be indicated by the presence of large juveniles or adults in 3-4 years time!

In the meantime, look out for wētāpunga on trees as you walk up Waterfall Gully. You just might get lucky and spot one!