Hawke’s Bay: Barking geckos found on work site pause road project on Taihape Rd

The discovery of a native species at a work site on Taihape Rd near Waiwhare has paused the road slip repairs before it could begin.

Two barking geckos, moko kākārikiwere, were found between the Willowford and Lawrence Rd intersections on the Taihape Rd on November 6.

Plans for the work at Site 5 were halted because the animals are a native species with a conservation status of At Risk – Declining.

Two barking geckos were found and will be relocated. Photo / NZ Herpetological Society

Hastings District Council transportation manager Jag Pannu said physical work had been programmed to start but the discovery meant work was started at the other sites instead while a Wildlife Act Authority was obtained to manage the geckos.

“Investigations in line with the Wildlife Act Authority are under way to relocate the geckos.”

Two barking geckos were found on Taihape Rd at Site 5. Photo / Hastings District Council

Pannu said the site repair would only start once the appropriate Wildlife Act Authority permits were obtained and “a plan for managing the lizards has been put in place.”

“There was no additional cost as the works had not started."

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Pannu said there had been no other discoveries of protected species at any of the other work sites along the road and the work at the site was expected to start again in February 2025.

According to the New Zealand Herpetological Society website, barking geckos are regarded as the largest species amongst Aotearoa’s green geckos and can grow to 95mm.

The omnivores have a combination of a deep blue mouth with a black tongue and are active both during the day and night.

The barking gecko species is considered to be at risk. Photo / NZ Herpetological Society

Barking geckos have been recorded reaching ages of up to 25 years in captivity, but are likely to live longer according to the Herpetological Society.

The society said the status of at-risk and declining is due to a mix of land development, clearance of habitat, and predation by mammalian predators.

A Department of Conservation spokesman said typically the species are found in areas covered in plants and trees, like forests shrublands or alpine herbfields.

Michaela Gower joined Hawke’s Bay Today in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke and Hawke’s Bay news and loves sharing stories about farming and rural communities.