Forest hopping

Data collection has begun and the torrential rains have come to greet me for the occasion! The last couple of weeks have involved: decorating kawakawas (in true Christmas tree fashion) with tiny numbered labels; discussion with very helpful council members/landowners; sliding down muddy waterfalls (not to be recommended) and listening to hours of Dictaphone playbacks documenting tree measurements. Therefore the good news is I now have 16 sites set up: 8 on the Banks Peninsula and 8 in the Nelson area (just another 24 to go).

I have posted this pic below as I think it exemplifies just how isolated some of the native forest remnants can be. This is Onawe peninsula, one of the smaller sites in the Akaroa harbour where I am working. The area within the forest where there is kawakawa is rather steep and impenetrable but I just about managed to squeeze through the undergrowth.

(Note: although this is not actually classed as an island, if you ever visit make sure you check the tidal regime because it's rather worrying when the water comes up between you and the 'mainland')