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Forest & Bird’s Pest Free Hibiscus Coast (PFHC) project is taking an important step forward by exploring what it would take for Whangaparāoa Peninsula to become predator free, thanks to investment from the Department of Conservation (DOC) via the Predator Free 2050 programme.
“Peninsula residents could one day have native birds like kākāriki red-crowned parakeet flocking into their backyards, just as Wellingtonians and Waiheke Islanders enjoy kākā today,” PFHC Project Manager at Forest & Bird, Jenny Hanwell says.
“After years of steady progress, this is an important next stage that could pave the way towards turning that vision into reality.”
The Forest & Bird-led community project, working in partnership with Auckland Council, has been selected to receive support from Predator Free 2050 to complete a Pest Elimination Operations Plan by the end of August 2026, focusing on the complete removal of rats, possums, stoats, and weasels from the peninsula.
“An operations plan might not sound exciting to everyone, but it’s a huge milestone for us. I’d like to thank all the volunteers and partners for helping us get this far,” Hanwell says.
“We know from Predator Free Wellington’s experience that when predators are monitored and removed in a way that keeps the community actively engaged, our unique wildlife has a real chance to thrive in urban landscapes.”
As part of the plan, Forest & Bird will ask residents in the local community to host pest animal monitoring devices, which will collect the necessary baseline data.
“We’ll approach some property owners to seek permission to install trail cameras in backyards and visit larger sites across the peninsula to gather vital information for planning future operations,” Hanwell says.
Baseline monitoring will assess predator presence across the area extending from the boundary of Shakespear Regional Park to Tindalls Bay. The proximity of Shakespear Open Sanctuary and Tiritiri Matangi Island, along with the peninsula’s geography, makes Whangaparāoa an ideal mainland location for community-based predator elimination.
A 2023 feasibility study found that eliminating some of the key predator species from the peninsula was achievable, Hanwell says. Since then, possum numbers have dropped significantly, and new predator control tools, alongside lessons from other Predator Free 2050 projects and advancements in technology have further strengthened the potential for the elimination of target species and the recovery of native wildlife.
The Pest Free Hibiscus Coast project has been operating for 13 years and has grown rapidly thanks to strong community support, dedicated volunteers, and ongoing investment from Forest & Bird and its partners. Funding support has been provided through the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board and Auckland Council’s Natural Environment Targeted Rate.
