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Key Facts about Kaitoke Beach & Wetlands Pest Management Project
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What’s Happening? |
Feral cat trapping; rat trapping; NZ
Dotterel monitoring and recording at Kaitoke Beach; wilding pine & other
exotic tree felling; general weed eradication. |
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What’s the objective? |
Reduction to elimination of
pests, both flora and fauna, to assist ecological recovery and
provide protection of rare species. This area is primarily
Department of Conservation land so it is public. |
Why are we
controlling pests? |
Because the natural environment has
been severely degraded and eliminating/reducing the presence of pests and
their impact on indigenous species will assist the recovery of our
indigenous species, some of which are endangered. |
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How is it happening? |
Kill & live capture feral cat traps;
kill rat traps; regular field monitoring over nesting season; Department
of Conservation contracts for wilding exotic tree felling. |
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Who Pays? |
World Wildlife Fund NZ; Auckland
Regional Council Environmental Initiatives Fund - Coastal Marine;
Department of Conservation; BioCare Aotea Ltd (matches $ for $ although
has fully funded the project this year aside from D.o.C contracts re trees);
private landowners. |
Who are the
Trustees? |
This project is currently run by a
private limited company - BioCare Aotea Ltd (Ralph Golaboski - Director).
Establishment of a Trust is likely. |
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How do we know we are achieving our objectives? |
Monitoring species i.e. bird counts;
increase of indigenous plants; monitoring invertebrates; trapping scales -
reduced 'sign' of feral cats etc. |
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How do we involve our community? |
Free firewood for elderly people; part
of the school holiday programme; pinewood milled for Aotea Community Art
Gallery; information installation at Claris Airfield; lifting the profile
of environmental issues and promoting debate. |
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What are the benefits? |
Employment opportunities and increase
in skill base. (One of our tree fellers is now attending Otago
University - arborist certificate); flow of wages into the community;
increase in species numbers; increased awareness of the special ecological
status of Kaitoke Beach and wetlands within the community and visitors. |
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What are our achievements? |
Increase in NZ Dotterel and other shore birds;
establishment of full pest management system with sanddune area of
Kaitoke Beach (50m grid) and wetlands; involvement of Department of
Conservation in the project; raised public awareness through a
highly visible site.
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What’s next? |
Secure funding; continue pest
management and monitoring; source field staff; establish a Trust. |
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To assist recovery of indigenous
biodiversity, create employment and practice the principles of Kaitiakitanga. |
