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More than 25 pest traps have been stolen from Okura Bush. The theft was discovered last month on the walkway, between the sandspit and Karepiro Beach.
The traps are fundraised for, owned and maintained by the environmental charity Friends of Okura Bush (FOOB), and their volunteers are devastated.
Predator Control coordinator and FOOB volunteer, Jo Crawford, says it is especially concerning as it is peak trapping season and this was an important line, near the spit where dotterels and other birds nest.
The stolen traps, valued at around $2400, included a number of DOC200 and DOC250 traps, as well as KaMate and Flipping Timmy possum traps. Most were bolted to trees or bases and have been ripped off.
The DOC series traps had ‘FoOB’ stencilled in black on the top, along with a Caution Pest Trap sign. The KaMate trap boxes were wooden, with black corflute tops.
These are heavy, bulky traps and it would have taken a group of people (or one person over several days) to remove them.
It is suspected the thieves came in at low tide or by boat – the walkway is closed to the public because of slips and kauri dieback.
In December 2022, six DOC traps were taken from the same area.
Okura Bush is Department of Conservation land and DOC describes the theft as “gut wrenching”.
Police want to speak with anyone who has information about the theft. Phone 105 or 105.police.govt.nz citing case file number: 240222/8706
