Other articles written by Simon Wong

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?
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?
Wildlife sanctuary with a big rat

How a wildlife sanctuary accidentally trained rats to avoid traps

In the struggle to achieve its predator free status, Kaipupu Sanctuary faced unexpected challenges, including inadvertently training rats to avoid traps.
A volunteer checking a trap.

Why does logging your trap results matter?

The key to keeping track of your contribution to predator free 2050 is likely already in your pocket. You might even be using it to read this story.
Sam holding his book open.

The reptile files: your guide to identifying reptiles and amphibians in Aotearoa

The search for native reptiles is a bit like a Hollywood drama. There’s adventure, suspense and sometimes the main character gets what they’re after.