Peninsula on track to welcome back kiwi

The group aiming to make the Okahukura Peninsula, at Tapora, predator free are hopeful kiwi could be released into the area within the next two years.

The Tapora Land and Coast Care group was started in 2004 by local farmers with the intention of turning the 10,000ha peninsula into a mainland island.

The programme involves the eradication of gorse, possums and other pests in order to allow native bush to regenerate to support birdlife.

The Auckland Regional Council has supported the programme to the tune of around $80,000, which has been used to fund two part-time workers and purchase additional predator traps and weed killer.

Group chairman Wally McConnell says that after a visit by the Kiwi Recovery team from Whangarei to check pest levels, he is confident kiwi could be reintroduced within two years if trapping continues on the same scale.

“We were fortunate to be allocated a further $33,000 by the ARC, in addition to its annual $40,000 grant, to bring trap numbers up to the required levels to satisfy biosecurity prior to releasing kiwi,” he said.

Possum numbers were relatively light and mustelid numbers well down on 2007 levels, when pest control began. Feral cats, hedgehogs and rats remain a problem, along with wild pigs. The ARC’s biosecurity teams are advising the group on how best to control and hopefully eradicate wild pigs from the peninsula.

The group was recognised with a Sustainable Environment Award earlier this year, gaining a commended in the General Communities Category.

“While we are probably a long way off the achievements of the winning groups, it was special for our little organisation to make the finals of these awards.”

The group is keen to enlist more support from the community, by signing up more members. Annual membership costs $20 per household.

Info: Wally McConnell, 422 1822.

Image: Members of the Cannell family, planting pohutakawa for Project Crimson on the Tapora Peninsula.