Volunteers

There’s a stoat stalking the greens at Hastings Golf Club and members are determined to catch it. In fact, the stealthy stoat has inspired the start of a comprehensive trapping programme for other introduced predators, including any rats, possums or hedgehogs hanging out on the wilder fringes off … [Read more...] about Stealthy stoat eludes Hastings Golf Club trappers

“Community conservation work should be designated a sport,” Helen Lindsay believes, “Then it might get more funding.” Helen is Chair of the Otuwhero Wetland Trust and cites the (sporting) benefits of being part of a conservation volunteer team. Otuwhero Wetland Trust volunteers take a break … [Read more...] about Otuwhero Wetland Trust cites ‘sporting benefits’ of volunteer work

Bushy Park-Tarapuruhi Forest Sanctuary and Historic Homestead lies 25km north of Whanganui and has a long history of community-led conservation, going back to the early 1960s. A large northern rata (Metrosideros robusta) named Ratanui ('Big Rata') is estimated to be between 500 and 1000 years … [Read more...] about Community-led conservation dates back to 1960s at Bushy Park-Tarapuruhi

Injured and sick wildlife have been pouring into Dunedin’s new wildlife hospital since it opened just over a year ago. Some are sick and starving, others have had a close encounter with a shark, while a significant number of native wildlife were wounded during a narrow escape from people’s pets. … [Read more...] about Wildlife Hospital patients show scars of narrow escapes

The New Zealand Conservation Trust (NZCT), based in Christchurch, has one of the largest kiwi breeding facility facilities in the South Island. They have an office at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve and work closely with Willowbank Wildlife Reserve staff who manage and care for three different kiwi … [Read more...] about NZ Conservation Trust raise kiwi and trap stoats

It’s not just native birds that the Tamahunga Trappers are keen to protect. There’s a native iris growing in their reserve that isn’t found anywhere else in the world. “One of our members is a keen amateur botanist and we keep a list of any new plants we discover,” says David Wilson, … [Read more...] about Tamahunga Trappers look out for rare plants as well as wildlife

Dai Morgan says there’s a job for everyone in the Parihaka Landcare Group. “It’s not too onerous. There are different grades of work. It’s usually one Sunday a month and all done in three hours. The traplines can be checked in small sections,” he adds. “If we get enough people, we can do it very … [Read more...] about Parihaka volunteer roles ‘not too onerous’ and everyone welcome

Since forming in Feb 2018, the Wanaka Backyard Trapping Group has been going from strength to strength. “The Post Shop approached us about putting up a display,” explains the group’s co-ordinator, Kris Vollebregt. “It was great. Customers were all standing in the Post Shop queue line by the … [Read more...] about Post Shop and workshops help new Wanaka group recruit backyard trappers