skip to Main Content

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
0
Kiwi resident (approx)
0
Hectares protected
0
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.

0
Traps deployed
0
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

Thanks to PFHCCT for organising these 'how to' online Trap.nz workshops. Perfect for any TCKC trappers who missed our workshop at the start of the month! Trap.nz is an amazing nationwide database for any trapping project, from individual backyard trappers to community groups right up to DOC. Get started with these training sessions! 😀 😀🚨 Attention Trap NZ users! If you missed out on our Trap NZ training workshops, or if you attended and have more questions for Lenore. Trap NZ is holding online training sessions in October. Please get in touch with us if you'd like to enroll in any of these workshops, and we will send you the access details. Register by messaging us via Facebook, Instagram, or emailing info@pfhc.nz. ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
Our special thanks to the local businesses who supported our Koki the Kiwi book sales:👉Bite Café👉Carsons Bookshop👉The Music Shop👉Mitre 10 (Saturday footpath stall)👉Stihl Shop👉Tapu Camp StoreAlso thanks to the places that posted the promotion notice.And all the people who bought copies from direct sales outlets and in advance those who will obtain copies from the Grahamstown Saturday Market stalls planned for 14th and 21st October 2023.And an extra big thanks to Beth Gordon & her team for driving this great little fundraising project for TCKC! 🙌 ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
View on Facebook
TCKC would like to say a huge thank you to Noeleen & John Kuypers who have donated a staggering $10.5K since Oct 2018 by salvaging mussel buoys from the Thames Coast! Thanks to all those locals, such as neighbour Bob Martin who helped collect mussel floats so TCKC could receive $15 per float from the mussel farms.And to Jono, buoy-boy extraordinaire & on-call scout who did a sterling job of rescuing floats from the more obscure places they washed up.This cash for kiwi is a huge bonus for TCKC and we'd love the scheme to continue! If anyone who lives up the Thames Coast has a large property that could be a collection point, we'd love to hear from you.Leave a comment belowor email coordinator@thamescoastkiwicare.org Thanks again and all the best with your move John & Noeleen Kuypers 💚 ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
An important message here! ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
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