Other articles written by Simon Wong

A stoat trap in a pile of matresses

Last stoat standing: wildest game of hide and seek on Waiheke

A battle of wits is unfolding on Waiheke Island. No, it’s not a rivalry between winemakers — but conservationists and the island’s last stoats.
A man opening a trap box on a ridge with mountains in the background.

The hills have eyes: cameras reveal predators dodging traps in Mt Aspiring National Park

Record numbers of predators are being trapped in the West Matukituki Valley, but some still evade capture — new trap designs aim to catch them.
The Spitfire: outsmarting possums with their own habits

The Spitfire: outsmarting possums with their own habits

Envico Technologies’ new device, the Spitfire, is a clever twist on nature, turning predator habits into their undoing.
Two people with a large drone.

Taking flight: saving nature from the sky

Founded in true number 8 wire fashion, Envico Technologies began in an Auckland garage. And its drones are taking on the world.
Kereru flying with poop emojis raining down

Free labour: how bird poo is helping replant our native forests

What if the solution to restore our native forests more effectively, efficiently, and cheaply has been flying around us all along?
Members of the Huia Trapping Group.

Fellowship of the trap: how an unlikely trio grew a trapping community

What do a mechanic, a cartoonist, and an oceanographer have in common? The Huia Trapping Group.
Willow, wearing gumboots and outdoor gear standing in a clearing in the bush.

Wild at heart: the untold story of conservationist Willow van Heugten 

Threatened species benefit from the adventures of this nature legend, who’d much rather be out in the field than interviewed.
The van Heugten family standing in native bush

Keeping up with the van Heugtens: Auckland’s nature hero family

The van Heugten family isn’t just another household; they’re a powerhouse for nature, spanning generations.
Possum trapped inside a Tāwhiti Smart Cage. A chewed up lemon in the foreground.

Smarter not harder: the trap that adds clever to conservation

Traditional pest-trapping methods weren’t working. Predator Free Franklin spearheaded the creation of Tāwhiti Smart Cage.
A trap box in the bush

Predator control: there’s no one tool to rule them all

An intricate web of ecological, technological, and logistical challenges makes it clear that a diverse range of tools and skills is required.
A man holding a gecko.

From corporate life to conservation – how one man made the switch

For years, Reino Grundling was living two lives. He worked in international logistics, but his real passion was volunteering to trap and control possums, stoats, and rats across Wellington.
Stencil with Birdsong Opānuku on it.

The 3 Ps: creating a thriving ecosystem in West Auckland

For Birdsong Opānuku Trust in West Auckland, success is spelled with three Ps - predator trapping, people, and planting.
NZ Dotterel in Sandstorm

Shooting their shot: the stories behind the stunning photographs

Wildlife photographers reveal the untold stories behind their stunning shots, and we launch our first-ever competition with Photo Warehouse.
Predator Free Ngaio community picnic stand.

Bird banter: how Predator Free Ngaio grew a thriving community

Once every fortnight, a ping can be heard across hundreds of households in the suburb of Ngaio. It’s the e-newsletter from Predator Free Ngaio.
Two volunteers in the forest.

Dropping the F-Bomb: the latest new trap tech

Meet the F-Bomb: the latest predator trap invention. Lightweight, simple and easy to use, is it the key for the wider public to get into trapping?

National map

Click our map to discover the extent of predator control being undertaken throughout the country.

Click our map to discover the extent of predator control being undertaken throughout the country.

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