![]() Cultural, historical, spiritual, amenity, and intrinsic values are the heritage of future generations and damage to these values is often irreversible." The legislative basis for this is found in the Conservation Act, the Resource Management Act, and the Treaty of Waitangi, which states: The Pīkao Recovery Group's work is based on the aims of the communities and groups who want to see pīkao re-established on the Otago coast. DOC's workĪ pīkao recovery group has been set up with representation from a number of groups including DOC, Dunedin City Council, Otago Regional Council, Yellow Eyed Penguin Trust, the Runaka o Kāi Tahu, and other community conservation groups. Other threats to the plant include sand mining and indiscriminate use of vehicles in dune areas. This can be a major problem in areas with high rabbit numbers where the plant is being re-established. ![]() Originally the damage on coastal properties was done by sheep and cattle, but rabbits and possums have also developed a taste for pīkao. Several plantations along the Horowhenua-Wanganui coastline are good examples. Many dune areas that were once covered in pīkao are now stabilised by pinus radiata plantations. As a result pīkao succumbs to the invader's pressure.īurning by early settlers was a major reason for pīkao's decline along with land development for agriculture and forestry. One of the reasons that marram is so competitive is that it turns more mobile dune habitats (pīkao's preference) into a much more stable environment. Together they literally smother the smaller and far less competitive pīkao.īecause of its invasive qualities, marram has been used a lot on reclamation and development projects, often at the expense of pīkao remnants. Marram's nitrogen fixing companion plant, the yellow tree lupin, arrived around the same time. The greatest threat to pīkao is considered to be marram grass which was introduced at the turn of the 20th century to stabilise areas that had been protected by pīkao but had been burnt from around the 1880s onwards. Pīkao's disappearance from the coastal environment can be attributed to a wide range of influences and events. ![]() Southern Māori once wore woven pīkao chest protectors in battle and when the young shoots were steamed, it was used as a food. It's used extensively on tukutuku panels in the wharenui, as well as for making kete (bags), pōtae (hats) and whāriki (mats) and many other functional or decorative items. ![]() Pīkao is a taoka or treasure one of four main native fibres used by iwi for weaving and sought after because the dried leaves are a brilliant yellow. In the south, therefore, pīkao is hardier more compact and erect, has fewer rhizomes and withstands cold winters. In the north the plant has sprawling rhizomes, but heavy frost will knock these back. It's thought that the regional differences in pīkao's morphology relate to frost tolerance. Naturally occuring pīkao is a good indicator of biodiversity in a coastal environment. It does this between its leaves, around the plant's base and with the long rope-like rhizomes or runners it sends out.īy allowing or encouraging sand dunes to form, pīkao creates an environment in which other native coastal species can establish and flourish. Pīkao is found only in New Zealand and is one of our major native dune builders, stabilising sandy areas by trapping wind-blown sand. Today only a few remnant populations remain. Stunning pīkao stands would once have been found on almost every sandy beach, from Northland to Rakiura (Stewart Island) and the Chatham Islands. In spring it produces flower heads up to 30 cm long, with dark brown flowers that spiral around the stem. It has stiff, curled leaves that can be a brilliant green - especially when young - golden yellow or, on more mature plants, a fiery orange. Pīkao or pīngao, the golden sand sedge ( Ficinia), is a native sand-binding sedge that plays an important role in New Zealand's dune ecosystems.
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