Waihi North Project: Assessment of Terrestrial Ecological Values & Effects 62138 WNP AEE 71 • waste treatment; • wastewater renovation; • hydro-electric power lakes (excluding Lake Taupō); • water storage for irrigation; or • water supply storage; unless in those instances they meet the criteria in Whaley et al. (1995). 7 It is an area of indigenous vegetation or naturally occurring habitat that is large relative to other examples in the Waikato Region of similar habitat types, and which contains all or almost all indigenous species typical of that habitat type. Note this criterion is not intended to select the largest example only in the Waikato region of any habitat type. Not significant- - ecosystem types are small areas of exotic and / or planted, or regenerating vegetation 8 It is aquatic habitat (excluding artificial water bodies, except for those created for the maintenance and enhancement of biodiversity or as mitigation as part of a consented activity) that is within a stream, river, lake, groundwater system, wetland, intertidal mudflat or estuary, or any other part of the coastal marine area and their margins, that is critical to the self-sustainability of an indigenous species within a catchment of the Waikato region, or within the coastal marine area. In this context “critical” means essential for a specific component of the life cycle and includes breeding and spawning grounds, juvenile nursery areas, important feeding areas and migratory and dispersal pathways of an indigenous species. This includes areas that maintain connectivity between habitats. Not significant- areas concern terrestrial vegetation (Refer Boffa Miskell 2022) 9 It is an area of indigenous vegetation or habitat that is a healthy and representative example of its type because: • Its structure, composition, and ecological processes are largely intact; and • If protected from the adverse effects of plant and animal pests and of adjacent land and water use (e.g. stock, discharges, erosion, sediment disturbance), can maintain its ecological sustainability over time. Not significant- vegetation is comprised of plantings with very low diversity throughout- it is not an exceptional, representative example of any recognised ecosystem type. 10 It is an area of indigenous vegetation or habitat that forms part of an ecological sequence, that is either not common in the Waikato region or an ecological district, or is an exceptional, representative example of its type. Not significant- plantings do not provide or support any uncommon sequences or are exceptional, representative examples. 11 It is an area of indigenous vegetation or habitat for indigenous species (which habitat is either naturally occurring or has been established as a mitigation measure) that forms, either on its own or in combination with other similar areas, an ecological buffer, linkage or corridor and which is necessary to protect any site identified as significant under criteria 1-10 from external adverse effects. Not significant- plantings are not naturally occurring and have not been required as mitigation. 8.3 TAILINGS STORAGE FACILITY 8.3.1 SNA 166 The ‘At-Risk’ and ‘Threatened’ species within SNA 166 are moko skink (Oligosoma moco), kānuka (Kunzea robusta), pōhutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa), other rata (M. perforata and M. robusta-both individuals within the northern fragment) and kauri (Agathis australis). As stated in Section 3.2.2, some of these occurrences do not trigger SNA rarity criterion (e.g. kānuka, relict trees) and the highest values (moko skink and kauri tree stand) do not occur within the project area. Moko skink, were recorded from a very particular habitat in this landscape that relates to open and edge habitat, provided in localised parts of SNA 166 and beyond. Moko skink have not been recorded within TSF3.
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