Taranaki Taku Tūranga – Towards Predator-Free Taranaki  2020

There’s something special happening in Taranaki that’s not only bringing back the birds, it’s transforming the region. 

Launched in 2018, the Taranaki Regional Council-led Taranaki Taku Tūranga – Towards Predator-Free Taranaki is a large-scale project aiming to restore the region’s unique wildlife and plants and protect lifestyles and livelihoods by removing introduced predators.

To some, it seemed a lofty goal. But thanks to a community that shared the vision, it’s already making an impact. 

Kiwi footprints have been seen at Pukeiti for the first time in 20 years. Toutouwai (North Island robin) have been spotted there and at Lake Mangamahoe after an absence of more than 100 years. Whio are starting to spill out of Te Papakura o Taranaki (the national park) down rivers through farm land. And thrilled locals are reporting an increase in native birds visiting their gardens, farms and parks. 

It’s been a true team effort – from the city-dweller with a single rat trap in their backyard to the farmer maintaining a network of stoat traps to the volunteer checking traps on their weekly walk.

In the urban space there are more than 6,000 traps in public parks, walkways and backyards in New Plymouth alone. School students are making wooden trap boxes and selling rat traps as fundraisers. Many schools have trapping groups, with passionate young people leading the way.

 The rural programme is building on the success of the Council’s long-running self-help possum programme. Towards Predator-Free Taranaki is helping farmers target mustelids (stoats, ferrets and weasels), with a 10-year roll-out around Taranaki Maunga. It’s working. Results from areas targeted in the first two years show a 90 per cent reduction in stoats.  A recent highlight was the completion of a trap buffer around the perimeter of the national park boundary.

Predator-Free Taranaki project manager Toby Shanley is encouraged by the results so far – but says there’s a long way to go. 

“If we all do our bit, together we can restore the region’s unique native biodiversity and create a better Taranaki for our children and grandchildren to enjoy.”

 How to help: Get a trap, register it on trap.nz, set it and check it regularly. Volunteer. Follow Towards Predator-Free Taranaki on Facebook and spread the word.

5:09                                                                                                       19/10/24