Waihi North Project: Assessment of Terrestrial Ecological Values & Effects 62138 WNP AEE 47 166 is low, particularly the southern edges of the southern fragment, including within the proposed TSF3 footprint where stock breaches have compacted the ground below the canopy. Throughout, there are very few lying logs that typically provide retreats and an invertebrate food source, and this is likely a result of the young age of the vegetation. The lizard surveys (ARs, pitfall traps, funnel traps) did not locate any native lizards within vegetation or ground cover within the proposed TSF3 footprint area. It is notable, however, that moko skinks were previously recorded (Bioresearches 2012) within the northern and southern fragments of SNA 166 in grass clearings. All four specimens identified in the 2012 surveys were recorded on the northfacing sides of both fragments, beyond the WNP area. Moko skinks are considered to be open habitat specialists, occurring in grassland and vineland habitat. They are not forest dwelling species and this may explain why, despite a considerable sampling effort, the only specimens recorded have been in open grassland at the northern boundaries of the two SNA 166 fragments or in small rocky hillock pine areas between the fragments. Moko skink have a conservation status of ‘At-Risk – Relict’ (Hitchmough et al. 2021) and are therefore a moderate value species (Roper-Lindsay et al. 2018). No lizard species were recorded within any forest interiors or at the south-facing southern edges of either of the two fragments of SNA 166, where the habitat quality was poor for these species. Of note, the more widespread native lizard, copper skink, was not recorded in SNA 166 despite a high survey effort (Figure 4). This species would have been expected to be present within SNA 166, as it inhabits a wide range of habitats with dense ground cover from open scrub to shaded forest areas and was recorded in the wider landscape (Gladstone, Favona areas, Figure 10). This species is also often sympatric with moko skink. The tree fern dominated parts of SNA 166, within the area affected by proposed TSF3, may provide some habitat for arboreal geckos, such as forest gecko and pacific gecko, particularly where dense skirts provide good retreats. However, beyond these trees and with the exception of scattered pines, the habitat quality for arboreal lizards is poor due to the homogenous nature of the young rewarewa forest, which was typically small stature and spindly (Figure 21, Figure 24). The young canopy trees supported few epiphytes that could support refugia for arboreal species and the subcanopy was very sparse. This lack of structure provides little cover for arboreal lizards, such as geckos. Overall, the habitat quality within the proposed TSF3 footprint in SNA 166 is considered low. No other lizards were recorded from the survey, including nocturnal VES. Overall, the values of the vegetation and potential habitats for native lizards within the proposed TSF3 area are low. 5.3.1.2.3 SNA 166 five-minute bird counts and targeted NZ pipit survey The results and weather conditions for the 5MBC and NZ pipit surveys are summarised Appendix III. Within the 5MBC plots, the avifauna consisted of 12 species, five native (three endemic) birds and seven introduced species were recorded. However, despite a greater diversity of introduced species, three of the most abundant species were native, being fantail, grey warbler and silvereye.
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