The catchment is relatively undeveloped. It is a microcosm of Great Barrier Island: all ‘Land Units’ (and ecosystems) from the summit of Hirakimata to the sea, are represented. Several rare and endangered bird species nest in the area.

Projects supported by the Trust over the last four years have been aimed mainly at gathering baseline data and paying for year-round field operations, hence creating employment and establishing the basis for further local work in future.

The Trust has been supported financially by the founding Trustees, the UK based Whitley Awards Scheme (Rufford Small Grant), the Auckland Regional and City Councils, and the Department of Conservation. It has also had voluntary local assistance, advice and cooperation from landowners. The Trust is currently seeking funding to continue its current projects and undertake some modest expansion.

The Trust has co-operated with the Awana Beachcare Group in the protection of the endangered beach-nesting birds: New Zealand dotterel and variable oystercatcher. Protection of the brown teal flock has also been a priority. The key activity here has been reducing dog activity on the beach and estuary and reducing pest infestations. Monitoring suggests that these efforts are having a successful outcome for the birds, but the long-term prospect remains in doubt: species numbers are perilously low and are showing only a modest increase each year.

The Trust’s three-year rat-trapping project concluded in March 2004. Traps were monitored for three days each month along a 2.5km line passing through five distinct vegetation types. The aim of establishing the seasonal abundance cycle for ship rats and kiore, and recording differences in rat numbers between the vegetation types, has been successfully completed. These data are currently being assessed and will contribute to the knowledge base required before Barrier-wide rat elimination can be attempted.