On the Thames Coast, around 20 years ago, vigilant locals knew that the local kiwi population was on the verge of collapse. Thames Coast Kiwi Care was formed in 2006 with the mission: “To protect and enhance kiwi populations on the Thames Coast”.
We wanted to ‘hear kiwi calling from backyards again’. This dream has become reality as Te Mātā and Tapu locals are reporting a significant increase in kiwi foot prints, calls and also sightings over the past few years.
We now have around 350 kiwi in our recovery area!
This is an incredible achievement by our community, with essentially ten times the 2006 kiwi population now present locally.
We’re thrilled to share a short trail camera compilation from the burrow of sires Taringamā and his family. It captures adorable moments from their lives but also worrying has some unwanted cameo appearances from you know who.
This hexmap represents real-time trapping data from our project area. The more red the colour, the higher the number of catches or density of traps.
You can mouse-over the hexagons for breakdowns on species catches. You can also use the top left red menu buttons to display subsets of data: by project, species or trap.
Massive thanks to the smart people at Groundtruth and Trap.NZ for this amazing resource!
Our scope has expanded from solely protecting kiwi to a “whole of habitat” approach. Our updated mission is:
To work with our community to restore the habitat so kiwi and other native species thrive.
Thanks to substantial funding provided by the Waikato Regional Council’s Natural Heritage Fund we have also been targeting rats and possums in the project area since 2023. These self-setting AT220 traps work continuously each night, extending the existing DOC200 trap lines that focus primarily on mustelid control and providing a buffer zone to public conservation land. Trap lines are checked and maintained each month by our Rat and Possum Project Leader, and also our dedicated team of volunteer trappers that undertake their fortnightly DOC200 checks.
The trap design and the servicing of the AT220 traps is leading to great successes. In early 2025 we have approximately 200 traps working and almost 4000 possums have been removed protecting our native flora and fauna. In the next year we plan to set another 90 self-setting traps
Running alongside the active pest trapping are bird surveys, to help gain an understanding of the existing biodiversity of NZ birds in our project area. We hope to collect data on how the control of rats and possums can help bring about an increase in both bird numbers and also the range of bird species recorded in the project area.
In early 2025 we installed three listening devices that all confirmed the presence of our precious pekapeka tou roa, native long tailed bats. They have the highest threat ranking of Nationally Critical and effective predator control is essential to their survival as well.
This is a new focus for us to raise awareness and add additional protection for New Zealand’s only native land mammal that is critically endangered.
Watch this space!
Want to know more about these fascinating creatures? Visit the great New Zealand Geographic for a brilliant article: ‘Bat Signals’ by Jonathan Carson. Photographed by Rob Suisted.
Facebook Posts
Congratulations to the Hospice shop for winning the Steampunk window display competition.
We got an 'honourable mention' for our cousin Koro the Kiwi, who loves to come down from @Moehau Environment Group on steampunk weekends. 😁
Thanks for lending him to us our friends at @MEG, Koro has looked very styley in the main street window 💚
Native species like this little fella are under threat from rodents, stoats, and possums – and without protection, we risk losing the precious natural heritage and biodiversity that make Moehau mountain so special. 💚
Over summer, our awesome kaitiaki are out there doing the hard mahi – checking traps, protecting habitats, and giving this taonga species a real fighting chance.
Every trap checked and every predator caught helps keep the ngahere alive and thriving.
"Why is a dog so harmful to kiwi?"
"Kiwi don’t have breastplates and chest muscles to protect their internal organs like other birds do. This means just a gentle nudge from an inquisitive dog has the potential to crush its very delicate ribcage and internal organs – even if the dog wasn’t being aggressive."
"The best option is to keep dogs on a lead and away from kiwi areas. But for dogs that need to go into areas where kiwi live, avoidance training is a tool that could help reduce the threat dogs pose to kiwi."
TCKC will be hosting kiwi avoidance training in January 2026- we will be advertising this in the coming months, keep an eye out.
Kiwi avoidance training for dogs
savethekiwi.nz
Kiwi avoidance training for dogs Dogs and kiwi should never meet. But just in case they do, kiwi avoidance training could help protect the kiwi. Dogs are a major threat to adult kiwi. The death of jus...
Live between Maungatautari and Cambridge? You’re in the Bush to Burbs corridor and eligible for free backyard traps to help native birds and bats thrive.
We’re here to support you with everything you need: personal advice on trapping, help getting started with TrapNZ, and access to FREE Flipping Timmys and DOC200 traps, plus discounted AT220s. By joining in, you’re not only protecting precious species but also enhancing the health and beauty of our community.
It’s easy to acess free traps and resources:
– live within the project area
– register your traps (and catches) on TrapNZ
This mahi is about more than trapping pests - it’s about kaitiakitanga: restoring balance and connection between people and te taiao. Every trap set helps native life return to our backyards, farms, and bush edges. 🌿
Ready to trap pests or expand your current setup?
Drop a comment below or email Greg at greg@envirocentre.org.nz to secure yours before our current funding round closes.
Watch: Ferret’s bloody rampage lays waste to seabird colony
Watch: Ferret’s bloody rampage lays waste to seabird colony
www.waikatotimes.co.nz
After years of effort by conservationists, a ferret decimated nine burrows in a night, leaving just one chick alive - and its time was short.
Pekapeka Tours are back at Hamilton Gardens 🦇
Our very own Paul (yes, that’s him in the pic with his origami bat 🫶) is leading these awesome evening walks, and the first session is already sold out!
These tours are such a cool reminder of how much incredible wildlife we have right here in Kirikiriroa. The pekapeka-tou-roa, (long-tailed bat), is one of only two native land mammals in Aotearoa, and spotting them in flight is something truly special.
Paul’s tours are full of learning, laughter, and a bit of magic. It’s a chance to experience nature after dark and see the results of years of conservation mahi. Plus, there’s a spooky Halloween special on Wednesday 30 October, perfect for curious kids (and adults!) who love a bit of mystery 👻
Spaces fill fast, so don’t sleep on it (leave that to the bats).
👉 Find out more and book your spot: lnkd.in/gakWhx6H
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TRAPPING TIP TUESDAY:
One of your traps hasn't caught anything for awhile?? It could be time to move it.....
Our success with pests, depending on the landscape can be seasonal regarding the location of the trap in the environment and what trees/shrubs are producing food......BUT....if your trap hasn't caught anything for months now then it may be time to move it and adjust your approach.
Even by just moving your trap a few meters away/ to a more productive tree or track where pests will regulate can be a real game changer.
Possums in particular are very habitual and will go to the same places over and over again for feeding and socializing.
You can look for pest sign close by or find better feeding trees for rats and possums, which may not be far from where your current trap is...but metres and adjusting that location can make all the difference to the success of your project and protecting our native species 😎😎 Let us know how you go!
Small changes=BIG IMPACTS.
#trapsmarter #saveourspecies #predatorfreewaikato #smallchangesbigimpact
