Incorporating predator free activities into your summer is fun and fulfilling, but don’t just take our word for it. Here are five ideas that will fit seamlessly into your quintessential Kiwi summer.
BBQ small talk
Any good summer in New Zealand is filled with family BBQs and endless bags of chips, but eventually you might run out of things to say about rugby and the weather. Do you need help with conversation starters? Try these out and be the life of the party:
- “Have you ever seen a kiwi in real life? I heard they are making a comeback thanks to predator control efforts.”
- “There are probably rats watching us right now in your backyard. Have you ever considered getting a trap?”
- “What’s your favourite New Zealand native animal? It could be one of the species that predator control programs are helping to protect.”
Support a predator free tourism business
Show your support for the growing trend of eco-tourism operators that include predator control in their operations.
With Kapiti Island Nature Tours you can take guided day trips or glamp overnight on a predator free offshore island.
Pure Salt runs boat voyages through the remote and wild Tamatea (Dusky Sound) with kayaking, shore excursions, snorkelling – and predator control
Rotorua Canopy Tours traps in the native forest that it operates in, removing possums, rats and stoats so the bird song can return.
Pōhatu Penguins in Akaroa offers group tours to mainland NZ’s largest kororā (little penguin) colony. The owners spent decades trapping predators and creating nesting sites for these birds.
Kaitiaki Adventures in Rotorua offers trekking on volcanos and sledging down rapids while also helping eradicate introduced predators along a section of the Kaituina Awa.
Trips & Tramps have been guiding walkers through Milford Sound for decades. They’ve been involved in a stoat trapping project for the past twenty years.
Visit a sanctuary
Glimpse the wonders of a predator free future at one of many ecosanctuaries across the country.
Much of our land has been damaged by humans and predators, where ecosanctuaries work to restore our native plants and creatures. Most of them are encircled by predator-proof fencing, giving our birds and animals a chance to replenish their populations again.
You’ll see some epic wildlife and forest, plus your entrance fee or donation directly supports ecosystem restoration and the maintenance of these safe habitats.
Read a book (or 7)
Nothing says summer like kicking back and reading under a tree while pīwakawaka chase bugs about, but if you really want to get major bird nerd cred you can check out some of these excellent books on the topic.
- Letters of a Naturalist: The Field Accounts of Richard Henry of Resolution Island by Susanne Hill, John Hill, Victoria Jaenecke
- NZ Nature Heroes (for kids) by Gillian Candler
- Takahē: Bird of Dreams by Alison Ballance
- Great Stories of NZ Conservation by Alan Froggatt
- Ghosts of Gondwana by George Gibbs
- Treasures of Tāne by Rob Tipa
- Tamatea Dusky: The Remarkable Story of Fiordland’s Dusky Sound by Peta Carey
DIY at home
Warm summer days spent at home with family are fun, and we can help you make it even better with these outdoor DIY activities, just don’t forget the sunblock:
