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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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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

What a great resource from PFHCCT now available to everyone. Backyard trappers or small community trapping groups can use this audit guide to check traps are in great working condition and keep a record of trap maintenance. 👍We're excited to share with you a Trap Audit Manual, a guide to effectively identifying problems, make any necessary adjustments, and ensure that each DOC200 and DOC250 mustelid trap operates at its maximum potential. Ultimately improving the quality of our trapping networks, making us more successful at trapping our target species and reducing the likelihood of ‘educating’ predators to become trap shy. This manual is the outcome of the PFHCCT Kiwi i the Kainga project’s peer-reviewing program, a Save the Kiwi Jobs for Nature funded initiative in the Hauraki-Coromandel region. To download the manual go to: pfhc.nz/trap-audit-manual ... 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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Hey Coast locals! Apparently there are lots of mussel buoys washed up along the coast from this windy weather. ⛈🌬💨 If you have a ute or trailer and happen to be driving the coast today, salvaged mussel buoys are a great fundraiser for TCKC. Clean mussel buoys can be dropped off at 904 Thames Coast Road Te Mātā. As always a big thanks to the the Kuypers for organising this for us!Thanks so much! 🙌 ... See MoreSee Less
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Hey Coast locals! Apparently there are lots of mussel buoys washed up along the coast from this windy weather. ⛈🌬💨 If you have a ute or trailer and happen to be driving the coast today, salvaged mussel buoys are a great fundraiser for TCKC. Clean mussel buoys can be dropped off at 904 Thames Coast Road Te Mātā. As always a big thanks to the the Kuypers for organising this for us!Thanks so much! 🙌 ... See MoreSee Less
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Nat & the team at Auckland Zoo incubation facility does an incredible job and have once again successfully hatched a late coming ONE egg from our project area.This wee chick came from the egg of kiwi sire Ngāwari who is sponsored by John McGill, PlaceMakers Kopu, Thames. Congratulations on the latest member of your kiwi whānau!Thanks also to our ONE partners Save the Kiwi NZ & Rotoroa Island NZ 💚Helping Wild Kiwi Thrive Tukua te kiwi kia tupu, tukua te kiwi kia ora. ... 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