Boffa Miskell Ltd | Waihi North Project | Terrestrial Ecology Values and Effects of the WUG | 22 June 2022 23 to prevent a ‘patchy’ mitigation approach (whereby mitigation effort is dotted at irregular locations) and prefers a concentrated mitigation effort at selected locations. In addition, our integrated mitigation strategy has sought to enhance the ecological connectivity benefits across the landscape. In line with the intention of OGNZL, we have sought a net gain in biodiversity and ecological value in applying the effects management hierarchy and a demonstration of enhanced connectivity is part of this net gain. 5.0 Ecological Descriptions and Values 5.1 Vegetation Communities 5.1.1 Desktop Assessment A botanical plant list for Kauaeranga Valley, approximately 30 km north of the Wharekirauponga catchment, records 262 plant species naturally occurring in the area (Smith-Dodsworth, 2009). This is a relatively high species richness given the area’s history of modification, and reflects the complex environment of soil, topographic, altitudinal and bio-climactic gradients present. The physical environments of Kauaeranga Valley and wider catchment are generally comparable hence the flora species of the lower Kauaeranga Valley is likely to be broadly representative of older bush remnants, regenerating scrubland, hillslopes and higher elevations of the Wharekirauponga catchment. The SNA report for Waihi ED describes lowland vegetation in this area as predominantly tawa forest with emergent northern rata, rimu, totara, miro, pukatea and kauri (Kessels & Associates, 2010). The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network database (2019) records 54 orchid taxa from the Thames-Coromandel District, of which 16 are Threatened or At Risk. However, orchids are frequently only identifiable when they are flowering. Vegetation surveys were completed at 26 sites within the Wharekirauponga biodiversity survey area in 2019 and 2020. An additional eight ordination transects of 20 plots each were also surveyed in 2020. These surveys recorded a complex forest structure including plant groups such as epiphytes, lianes, ferns, mosses, and common species of orchid (BML 2019, 2022a (in preparation)). The Wharekirauponga catchment contains vegetation types of various ages, which indicates that large parts of the forest are recovering from historical clearance. Stands of kauri (Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable) were found throughout the site and wider Wharekirauponga catchment. These stands were predominantly observed at higher elevations, usually on ridgelines and knolls. Two Pittosporum virgatum (Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable) were observed within the RECCE plots in Wharekirauponga. King fern (Ptisana salicina, At Risk- Declining) was incidentally observed within the wider Wharekirauponga catchment. There was evidence of introduced plant pests, wilding pines in particular, affecting the composition and structure of the forest in the wider Wharekirauponga catchment. 5.1.2 Vegetation Survey Results Willows Road Farm
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