Kauaepepe Landcare have a familiar Northland story – the locals have banded together to tackle the incessant pests that have impacted not just their native forests and wildlife, but also attacked their crops and invaded their dwellings. Kiwi calls, once heard in the area, have dwindled to silence over the last twenty or so years.
Ngaire Sullivan from Kiwi Coast visited Kauaepepe Landcare in January, walking up to the trig to get great views out over North and South Hokianga.
“It was great to see all the hard work being carried out by Kauaepepe locals to look after their special native forests ” said Ngaire. “The group pointed out regionally threatened native plants like Gunnera monoica and the diversity of the native forest was incredible.”
“Since getting started in 2022, they have installed a range of traps and begun using toxins to run an efficient and effective pest control project.”
Mae Lewis, Hokianga Kiwi Coast Coordinator, is one of the locals involved in Kauaepepe Landcare, and helped the project get up and running.
“Kauaepepe is in a special corner of the Hokianga” says Mae. “Our local native forests are home to tui, kukupa, tomtits, fantails, warblers, fernbirds and just down the road from us the neighbours have seen and heard bittern in their swamps and farm dams. Kiwi haven’t been heard here for a few decades, so we were excited when a male kiwi was detected on a nearby farm recently.“
“Our Landcare group is working hard to reduce pest numbers. We use a range of traps and last year had great success with a Double Tap toxin operation, thanks to good support from Kiwi Coast and funding from Northland Regional Council.”
“We have a market garden nearby too, and after the toxin op they had a fantastic seed germination rate with their spring spinach crops, and for once the possums didn’t eat all of the cherimoyas!”
“We’d love to hear kiwi here again – that’s one of our goals. We’re going to take part in Kiwi Coast’s Kiwi Listening Blitz to see if we can detect them this year. We’ve also got plans for another toxin op so we can keep the good results coming!”
If you would like to get involved or start a local pest control or native wildlife protection project near you, just get in touch with Kiwi Coast. We’re here to help.
Photo: Thriving putaputaweta / marbleleaf in the Kauaepepe forest
