International Arapawa Goat Association

The following news update comes from Betty Rowe's granddaughter, Shannon:

Arapawa Goat News

By Shannon Rowe, March 2009

Shannon (left) with daughter Giovanna, Debbie (centre), and one of Diane Kelly's goats at Motukarara

With the very sad news last year that Nana (Betty) had taken ill, I moved out to the Island with my four-year-old daughter to take care of the animals at the Arapawa Wildlife Sanctuary in late April 2008. After Nana’s passing we stayed at the Sanctuary until the beginning of September to see the goats through the kidding season.

Many a moment I was sure that I had stepped into my grandmother’s gumboots – having to sleep in the haybarn with Daisy (as she semi rejected her first kid) to ensure proper feeding intervals; assisting in a delivery, my first in over 12 years; having that last orphan at the Sanctuary. All of which I couldn’t have done without the knowledge Nana passed down over the years.

Giovanna with the last of the Sanctuary orphans, Apollo

After four and half months at the Sanctuary, the time came for the big move. A select few would be leaving the island (as would I) – they were to start a new life in Lyttleton with David Hughes. It was always Nana’s wish that the “Home Goats” (the hand raised/pets) would go to David in the event of her passing or falling ill. This arrangement had been made years prior, and Nana and I had discussed it at length. David could not only provide the goats with the daily people contact they were accustomed to but also secured yet another satellite farm off the island.

On the barge

September 8th began with a 60 knot southerly and torrential rain – perfect weather for transporting nine does (two with kids at foot, one heavily pregnant) and three bucks 34 kilometres by sea! An enclosure was made from half a dozen cattle gates and Tarps to keep out the rain. Plenty of hay along with myself and my mother (Debbie) kept the goats calm. After four hours on the barge and a few close encounters, weather wise, we made it to Picton where we were met by David. With a trailer full of hay, nine of the goats were loaded, with another five in the back seat of his car. He left Picton at 4 pm and arrived at 11 pm to snow in Lyttelton!

Young McGinty in the back of David's car

I keep in regular contact with David and the goats are doing very well in his care, and love their new home. As far as the goats that remain on the Sanctuary go, they are all doing extremely well. There are approximately 40, plus up to 60 that we regularly monitor, in the Sanctuary. Last winter’s kidding having been a great success with an unusually high percentage of twins thrown, all in good health.

The Department of Conservation went onto the Island for three weeks in December for ‘The Cull.’ I had several meetings with them prior to this, where issues were discussed from both sides. They were open to providing travel arrangements (i.e. when they would be “in and then out” on a weekly basis, so that we then were able to take a team up the hill) and also post cull information. They reported a total cull number of 403 goats over an area of 1107 hectares. Also as in negotiations in 2006, there was to be no culling from May to October to ensure that kids had a chance of survival should their mothers get caught in the cull.

Shannon accepting the Assisi Award

In September last year we attended the New Zealand Companion Animal Conference in Masterton. We were overwhelmed to experience first hand the huge support of the animal welfare network that Betty shared with many of those who attended, and we were humbled to accept on her behalf the posthumous presentation of the NZCAC Assisi Award.

The Arapawa Wildlife Trust is working on a Management Plan for the Sanctuary which includes exploring financing sources for fencing, something Betty had already begun to pursue, and also other means by which it could easily remain accessible to school parties and eco tours.