Te kapu ō Waitaha

Targeted pest control to protect and restore the plants, birds, bats and insects of the central section of Otanewainuku-Otawa.

Three generations, from koro to mokopuna tuarua (great grandchild), are working together to restore the mauri of their traditional lands of Otanewainuku-Otawa. In the past financial year, the field team of four expanded their total project area by 150 hectares  - installing an additional 286 Good Nature A24 traps. 

While the aim is to eradicate predators to bring back an abundance of taonga like the Hochstetter’s Frog, General Manager Ray Wihapa says the kaupapa is much more than that.

“This project is just a stepping stone. The kaupapa itself is bigger than the individuals. Anything that’s adding to the life of our taiao is adding to our future generations. It’s for our mokopuna. A rākau planted today, a rat trapped today, we won’t see the benefits. But they will. That’s our legacy.”


Ko Otawa te maunga

Ko Raparapa ā Hoe te awa

Ko Hei te tūpuna

Ko Takakōpiri te tangata

Ko te pūtaratara tāhuhu whakairinga korero

Ka tū te ihiihi. Ka tū te wanawana

Tai tū te wehi o te moana o Punga ee e mauri

Ko Waitaha te iwi

Te Arawa te waka

PROJECT AREA

LATEST UPDATES

impact

Targeted pest control to protect and restore the plants, birds, bats and insects of the central section of Otanewainuku-Otawa.

*1 July 24 - 30 June 25

*Ecosystems services valuation report can be found here.

2,205

Predators removed through trapping

550

Hectares undercontrol

7,455

Hours worked

$856,900

Ecosystem services contribution to regional economy.

THE MAHI

  • Track lines

    Marking, cutting and maintaining trapping lines over the 550-ha project area.

  • Pest control

    Ground based pest control targeting rats, mustelids and possums.

  • DATA

    Input all operational data into a data management system supplied and supported by the Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust.

  • Education and engagement

    Promote kaitiakitanga within Waitaha and the wider community.

PROJECT AREA VALUES

Threatened and “at risk” species

Hochstetter’s frog

Other DOC assets

Network of tracks, 20x20 vegetation plots, possum foliar browse index monitoring

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY