title: Liberation and spread of stoats (Mustela erminea) and weasels (M. nivalis) in New Zealand, 1883-1920

authors: King, Carolyn M.

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: This paper reviews the timing and spread of weasels and stoats across the South and North Islands of New Zealand during the late nineteenth century, entirely from historical records. The flavour of the debates and the assumptions that led to the commissioning of private and government shipments of these animals are best appreciated from the original documents. I describe the sites of the early deliberate releases in Otago, Canterbury, Marlborough, and Wairarapa, and list contemporary observations of the subsequent dispersal of the released animals to named locations in Southland, Westland, Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, Auckland and Northland. Originally, weasels were landed in far greater numbers than stoats (2622 weasels and 963 stoats listed in shipment records) and, while at first they were very abundant, they are now much less abundant than stoats. Two non-exclusive hypotheses could explain this historic change: (1) depletion of supplies of their preferred small prey including birds, mice, roosting bats, lizards, frogs and invertebrates, and (2) competition with stoats. Contemporary historic written observations on the first impacts of the arrivals of weasels and stoats on the native fauna offer graphic illustrations of what has been lost, but usually failed to consider the previous impacts of the abundant rats (Rattus exulans since the late 13th century, and R. norvegicus since 1770s–90s), and cannot now be distinguished from the activities of R. rattus arriving in the 1860s–90s.

text: Liberation and spread of stoats (Mustela erminea) and weasels (M. nivalis) in New Zealand, 1883-1920 This paper reviews the timing and spread of weasels and stoats across the South and North Islands of New Zealand during the late nineteenth century, entirely from historical records. The flavour of the debates and the assumptions that led to the commissioning of private and government shipments of these animals are best appreciated from the original documents. I describe the sites of the early deliberate releases in Otago, Canterbury, Marlborough, and Wairarapa, and list contemporary observations of the subsequent dispersal of the released animals to named locations in Southland, Westland, Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, Auckland and Northland. Originally, weasels were landed in far greater numbers than stoats (2622 weasels and 963 stoats listed in shipment records) and, while at first they were very abundant, they are now much less abundant than stoats. Two non-exclusive hypotheses could explain this historic change: (1) depletion of supplies of their preferred small prey including birds, mice, roosting bats, lizards, frogs and invertebrates, and (2) competition with stoats. Contemporary historic written observations on the first impacts of the arrivals of weasels and stoats on the native fauna offer graphic illustrations of what has been lost, but usually failed to consider the previous impacts of the abundant rats (Rattus exulans since the late 13th century, and R. norvegicus since 1770s–90s), and cannot now be distinguished from the activities of R. rattus arriving in the 1860s–90s.

year: 2017

title: Moiapu 3: Settlement on Moiapu Hill at the very end of Lapita, Caution Bay hinterland

authors: David, Bruno O.

abstract: The Caution Bay archaeological project on the south coast of mainland Papua New Guinea has excavated 122 sites over a 9  km²  area. Lapita ceramics appear at a number of sites at c. 2900 cal. BP. Here we present the results of excavations at Moiapu 3, a site that helps define the end of the dentate-stamped Lapita phase of this region. It is suggested that the decline and ultimate cessation of dentate stamping related to a loss of symbolism during a period of major socioeconomic readjustment and innovation.

text: Moiapu 3: Settlement on Moiapu Hill at the very end of Lapita, Caution Bay hinterland The Caution Bay archaeological project on the south coast of mainland Papua New Guinea has excavated 122 sites over a 9  km²  area. Lapita ceramics appear at a number of sites at c. 2900 cal. BP. Here we present the results of excavations at Moiapu 3, a site that helps define the end of the dentate-stamped Lapita phase of this region. It is suggested that the decline and ultimate cessation of dentate stamping related to a loss of symbolism during a period of major socioeconomic readjustment and innovation.

year: 2019

title: Location of Te Wahitapu Stream and other possible streams in 1877

authors: de Lange, Willem P.

abstract: Review of evidence to establish, with as much confidence as possible, the path of the Te Wahitapu Stream at Matapouri in 1877. The review also examines if other streams may have been present on or in the vicinity of Te Wahitapu Stream in 1877, and if the 1877 or later tsunami may have latered the course of the boundary stream.

text: Location of Te Wahitapu Stream and other possible streams in 1877 Review of evidence to establish, with as much confidence as possible, the path of the Te Wahitapu Stream at Matapouri in 1877. The review also examines if other streams may have been present on or in the vicinity of Te Wahitapu Stream in 1877, and if the 1877 or later tsunami may have latered the course of the boundary stream.

year: 2009