Tag Archives: Pest control

The Cape to City team visits Whangawehi

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Wendy and Nathalie from HBRC came to have a look at the catchment. They work for the Cape to City project and were interested to see how we were carrying out our pest control work. Pat drove them to the whare, the weather was terrible but they enjoyed their time there and got to see the project for themselves.  Pat also took Wendy and Nathalie to Okepuha Station where the next generation of environmental warriors are growing. Eva Coop was proud to show us her rifle…and apparently she doesn’t like cats !

A big thank you to Pat and Sue, Richard and Hannah (and Eva) for making themselves available.

We may see Wendy and Nathalie a bit more if the Mahia Pest free project progresses.

 

Mahia Pest Free community meeting 14th of April at Tuahuru Marae

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MAHIA peninsula could be an ideal area for a large scale pest eradication programme says the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council. In 2016, the government proposed a $28 million project-to make New Zealand predator free by 2050. The project was aimed at ridding New Zealand of possums, rats, stoats and other introduced species to help the goal of predator free New Zealand become a reality. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council manager land services Campbell Leckie said achieving this goal would deliver huge benefits across the country, particularly to threatened native species. “Due to its isolated geographical configuration, the Mahia peninsula could be an ideal area for a large scale pest eradication programme,” Mr Leckie said. “Back in the 1990s, a project involving a predator fence didn’t get enough community support to get off the ground.”

The regional council has been involved with pest control in Mahia for many years and has organised a series of community meetings. Mr Leckie encouraged feedback from the community about a pest free Mahia vision. “The meeting will discuss a range of elements of a potential pest free project including pest control techniques, community benefits, funding and the importance of community support. “One potential funder from a petroleum company OMV NZ Ltd will be present to discuss their interest in participating in the project, should it proceed.” Mr Leckie said the Mahia pest free project was an exciting opportunity for the community to be involved in a cutting edge ecological restoration project. “It can only work if local landowners, Hapu and Iwi participate in, show leadership and help shape the direction of a Pest Free programme.

“This is an opportunity for locals to leave an impressive conservation legacy for future generations to come. Come along, ask your questions, air your concerns. Bring your family and whanau. Hot drinks and finger food will be provided.”

The first meeting will take place on Saturday April 14 from 9.30am-12pm at Tuahuru Marae for the Rongomaiwahine Iwi Trust.

The second meeting will be open to the wider community and will take place on the same day and at the same venue from 1-3.30pm.

Suzi Lewis

Journalist

The Wairoa Star Ltd

 

PREDATOR CONTROL WORKSHOP – MAHIA.

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FOR FARMERS, LANDOWNERS, OR ANYONE WISHING TO LEARN HOW TO TRAP PESTS. 17TH OCTOBER 2017 9.30 AM – 3PM TAHAROA STATION 1637 MAHIA EAST COAST ROAD, MAHIA.

 

17TH OCTOBER 2017 9.30 AM – 3PM TAHAROA STATION 1637 MAHIA EAST COAST ROAD, MAHIA. A practical day with trapping experts from the pest control business. Learn about best practice.

PLEASE REGISTER BY 15TH OCTOBER; MHSMITH @ DOC.GOVT.NZ OR PHONE 0274998527

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Visit to the Cape Sanctuary

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On the 24th of November, The Whangawehi Catchment Management Group had the privilege to visit the Cape Sanctuary to learn from a famous initiative. A big thank you to Campbell Leckie and his team for guiding us through and giving us an insight on the work done. The visit was inspirational and gave us all an idea of what could be achieved at Whangawehi.

Pest control update.

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The last pest control run was undertaken before the Christmas holidays. A large number of pests have been killed over the past six months including Wild Cats, Stoats, Weasels, Hedgehogs, and rats.  Thanks to Grandy Lake Forest, a new gate was opened which allowed contractors to access the different sites more efficiently, therefore reducing the costs associated with pest control.  One hundred and twenty five traps are currently operating over four properties with the intent to reduce pests along the Whangawehi Stream.  Thank you to all the landowners for maintaining the traps and reporting back those results to the Project Co-ordinator.

Trap lines along the Whangawehi stream

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The recent trap checks along the Whangawehi river was quite encouraging with 4 hedgehogs and one rat caught on Grandy Lake Forest and two hedgehogs caught on Pat and Sue O’Brien.

Traps are monitored every second week and rebaited with deshydrated rabbit meat. The data is logged into a custom made booklet and kills are entered by the landowners into a data base (cloud application : trap.org.nz). Monthly reports are presented to the Whangawehi Catchment Management Group Committee and Hawkes Bay Regional Council.

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First trap line inspection along the Whangawehi stream

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Pat and Sue O’Brien in partnership with Grandy Lake Forest have retired 10 ha of riparian margins along the Whangawehi stream. A total of 30000 native trees will be planted at completion of the restoration initiative. Both landowners are thrilled to see the bird life coming back to the site. A small scale predator control plan was put in place on the Taharoa Trust just before Christmas with technical support from HBRC. 10 DOC 200 and 6 Timm traps have been donated by HBRC to the group in order to support landowner’s aspirations. These traps target Mustellids, possums and rats. When successful, this community based pest control programme will expand on the other side of the river on Grandy Lake Forest in order to completely protect 1.5 km of retired habitat and create the beginning of a buffer.

In the meantime, landowners and the Whangawehi Community have to demonstrate their ability to maintain and service the traps while reporting on a monthly basis to the group.Trap maintenance will be done by the landowners and volunteers fortnighly from October to April and monthly from May to September. Traps are located along high traffic tracks for easy and regular maintenance. Reporting is currently done via an online application trap.org.nz. Each landowner is able to login and report via a very user friendly interface. Unfortunatelythe traps haven’t caught anything so far. We will keep you posted!

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