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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 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.

Our Effort
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Kiwi resident (approx)
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Hectares protected
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Volunteer hours per year

Trapping is crucial for protecting and enhancing the local kiwi population.

TCKC operates a comprehensive grid of traps targeting stoats, weasels, ferrets & feral cats over thousands of hectares. A team of committed volunteer trappers clear, service, and re-bait the traps 16 times per year.

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Traps deployed
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Volunteer trappers
Project Area Trapping Data

This map represents real-time mustelid trapping data from our project area, including the count of total predators removed.  An outer hexagon represents trap density for the area, and the the inner hexagon represents catches. The more red the colour, the higher the density / catches.

Touch a hexagon for breakdown numbers per trap. AT220 trap data coming soon.

Thanks to Groundtruth and Trap.NZ for this amazing resource!

Project area trapping data map legend

Kiwi are prolific breeders given the chance.  If New Zealand had its predator problem under control, we’d be knee deep in kiwi!

New Possum and Rat Project

For the first time we are trapping possums and actively targeting rats as well as mustelids, thanks to a 4 year funding grant from the Waikato Regional Council. We are using AT220 self-setting rat and possum traps to support the existing trap lines and create a buffer zone to public conservation land. We started at Tapu and have trap lines at 2 locations moving north into the Te Mātā Forestry boundary. Whilst the project is still in its early phase, monthly monitoring has provided a promising picture. Data shows a significant catch rate, with 157 possums and 91 rats caught across 25 traps.

The next phase is to continue with trap placement, moving deeper into Te Mātā Forestry which is a possum hotspot. As funding allows, we will add more traps with another 50 expected to be added in July 2023. An important aspect of the project is to measure success not just by possum and rats killed, but by the positive impact on the wider biodiversity such as diverse returning bird species. Shortly, surveys will be undertaken to accurately monitor the number of bird species within our project area. We look forward to having everything from birds to bugs bouncing back as more pests are removed! This project has only been made possible by the Waikato Regional Council’s Natural Heritage Fund, the development of self setting traps and the support of NZ Autotraps.

AT220 NZ AutoTraps
AT220 photo courtesy NZ AutoTraps

LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS

Woootwooo check out Mr. October! Who needs muscley firefighters when you can have this handsome fella! 😍Thanks to John & Nicole at Read Bros Hardware for your wonderful support, and nice work on this fabulous 2024 Calendar! 👏Community working together to Help Wild Kiwi Thrive💚 ... See MoreSee Less
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2 weeks ago

Thames Coast Kiwi Care
Thames Coast Kiwi Care's cover photo ... See MoreSee Less
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A clever campaign by John Oliver who drummed up 290,374 (American?) votes for pūteketeke. But we're proud Kiwi is the winner in the hearts of us here in Aotearoa 💚The votes are in ... and after an eventful week filled with pūteketeke-related controversy, we’re proud to announce that kiwi has come from behind to take out Bird of the Century for 2023!Sike! We’re kidding! Congratulations to the pūteketeke, John Oliver, and the team from Last Week Tonight with John Oliver for taking out Bird of the Century.Thanks to everyone who supported the Vote Kiwi campaign. Despite not coming away with the win, Bird of the Century has raised awareness of the dangers so many manu in New Zealand face, and the conservation efforts going on to save them. Plus, we now know how much New Zealanders value the kiwi – and how much of a following the little guy has overseas!And well done to Forest & Bird for another epic competition. Bring on Bird of the Millennium, we say! The kiwi will always be our #1.You can still help to Save a Kiwi by becoming a regular supporter – find out more here >>> savethekiwi.nz/save-a-kiwi/#votekiwi #savethekiwi #birdofthecentury HBO ... See MoreSee Less
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Vote for bird of the century!!And how cool our friends fromPredator Free Hauraki Coromandel Community Trust are giving away two of these beautiful posters. 😇Voting is now open for Forest & Bird Bird of the Year! This year, there's an exciting twist. In celebration of Forest & Bird's 100th anniversary, they've stepped up from Bird of the Year to Bird of the CENTURY!To mark this centennial celebration, PFHCCT are giving away two Predator Free New Zealand Trust NZ Native Bird posters 🍃To enter, comment below telling us which NZ bird gets your vote for the Bird of the Century.For a BONUS ENTRY, soar a little higher by sharing this post to your story. Don't forget to tag us so we can see your support take flight. ... See MoreSee Less
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Thames Coast Kiwi Care committee members, coordinator and volunteers extend our condolences to the friends and family of Bruce "Mayor of Tapu"Bruce supported TCKC in many ways over many years. He bought our first trapping shed that was set up behind the Pub and later, a fantastic set up in the Camp. He extended his contribution by building the housing and donating a bait freezer which has been a game-changer for our trapping programme, allowing us to use a wider variety of baits & lures to trap predators.Bruce would often comment how he loved watching TCKC trappers come and go from the trapping shed and was impressed that our volunteers "did a good job" We've all enjoyed Bruce's friendly chats, had some great laughs, and we will all miss his generous & big personality in the Tapu Community. Go well Bruce 🍂 ... See MoreSee Less
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🐀🐀 RAT & POSSUM UPDATE🦦🦦Joe & Fin have been out making adjustments to our AT220s to get the most out of the traps that are paired with our DOC 200 traps The idea is that AT220s take out the rats {& possums of course} leaving the DOC 200s open for stoats They were also marking out new traplines that will soon be installed along Te Mātā River, from Te Mātā Forestry. See the graph for rat & possum count since March 23 and a map of the extension. Thanks again to the Waikato Regional Council for funding this predator control expansion project 👍👍👍 ... See MoreSee Less
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Photo wall
Beautiful juvenile kiwi
TCKC Coordinator Sheena Beaton demonstrates predator traps
Scanning for kiwi transponders
Kiwi chick Ngawari Tiwhiri
Sheena Beaton and Neil John, Ollie the kiwi's release 2021
Early trap line deployment, 2006.
Eggs mustered as part of Operation Nest Egg
Trailcam photo of wild kiwi, Te Mata.
Bob Carr and Robert Mannes, trapline working bee
Coordinator Sheena Beaton in kiwi costume
TCKC Fundraiser 2017
Kiwi chick weighed, Operation Nest Egg, 2020.
WIld kiwi print in the mud
Coordinator Sheena Beaton gives a presentation to local community