Editing Turakirae Head (section)

== Scientific reserve ==
During the 1960s, thousands of tonnes of boulders were removed from Turakirae Head to be used in construction of the [[Wellington Urban Motorway]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 June 1965 |title=Threat To Wellington seal colony |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19650630.2.199 |work=The Press |via=Papers Past}}</ref> In 1970 the government bought 240 acres of land at Turakirae Head from the Riddiford Estate, in order to protect and preserve the geologic record shown by the raised beaches along the shoreline which were in danger of being destroyed by further possible removal of rock for public works.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1 May 1970 |title=Land at Turakirae Head Bought To Preserve Earthquake Record |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/FORBI19700501.2.6 |journal=Forest and Bird |issue=176 |pages=3 |via=Papers Past}}</ref>  A fur seal colony became established at Turakirae Head in 1950, and up to 500 seals, mostly juvenile males, overwinter at the colony each year.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Turakirae Head Scientific Reserve |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/wellington-kapiti/places/turakirae-head-scientific-reserve/ |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=[[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] |language=en-nz}}</ref> The reserve is also home to [[Skink|skinks]] and [[List of geckos of New Zealand|geckos]], and birds such as the [[Double-banded plover|banded dotterel]], [[Caspian tern]] and [[variable oystercatcher]]. Fire and grazing by sheep, cattle and rabbits have affected vegetation in the area. In 1998, a new population of [[Muehlenbeckia astonii|shrubby tororaro]] – classified as a nationally threatened plant – was established at Turakirae Head to bolster an existing population of the shrub at the reserve.<ref name=":1" />