This month we extend a warm welcome to Kohukohu Landcare – the latest group to get up and running and link into the Kiwi Coast network. This group is based in the North Hokianga and stretches along the edge of the Hokianga Harbour from Te Karae out towards Motukaraka.
The group say their inspiration came from a bittern / matuku workshop that Kiwi Coast Hokianga Coordinator, Mae Lewis, ran with Wendy Ambury from the Love Bittern Trust last October. The event sparked an interest in locals who had seen and heard bittern along the edges of the harbour. But there was something else the locals were seeing frequently – stoats and feral cats darting across the road.
Mae explained: “Kohukohu locals love their birds. They often see and hear banded rail, kotuku and spoonbill along the edge of the harbour, and it was this love for their local wildlife that spurred them into action. We helped them set up some DOC 200 mustelid traps and they caught their first stoat within 12 hours!”
Local bird enthusiast Lois Buchanan was thrilled:
โI had been seeing a stoat cross the road in the same spot, so I set the trap under some cover, scuffed the entrance and caught one that same night!โ she said.
The community then got together to put in an application to the Northland Regional Council Biofund for some equipment to further boost their efforts. When the traps arrived Mae, along with NRC Biosecurity Officer Clayton Rameka, ran a practical pest control workshop so that participants felt comfortable and confident setting and unsetting traps.
Lindsey Davidson, founding member of the group said, โAbout a dozen members of our group were able to attend the trapping workshop run by Mae and Clayton, and all were really impressed by the extent of the information, advice and practical learnings gained. Participants came away enthused and excited to set up their new Biofund supplied traps and try out all the different methods and new tips and tricks to maximise our pest control efforts.
We’d like to say a massive ‘Thank you’ to both Kiwi Coast and NRC – we’re extremely grateful for the support and advice in helping us to lower pest numbers, and protect our local ecosystemโ.
Do you live near Kohukohu and want to connect with, or start a local trapping group with your neighbors? Reach out to mae@kiwicoast.org.nz for support.
