Volunteers’ efforts celebrated

The Pest Free Hibiscus Coast project recently held its annual Volunteer Celebration and Awards event at Gulf Harbour Yacht Club to celebrate the efforts of more than 160 conservation volunteers during 2025. 

Speaking at the event, Auckland Council’s Northern Natural Environment team manager Andrew Nelson reflected on how far the project had come over the past 12 years since it was established by Pauline Smith, who he acknowledged for her vision and for inspiring the community to become predator free. 

Project manager Jenny Hanwell then shared highlights from the year, followed by a talk about birds by Charlie Thomas and top tips for possum trapping by Luke Wafer. A barbeque lunch was served.   

Over 20 volunteers were recognised at the awards presentations, including Bev Smith of Army Bay as Volunteer of the Year for her work on the Shakespear Virtual Fence project, Kevin Dobson of Gulf Harbour as Trapper of the Year, and Julian Fripp as Mr Fix it. Jim Bettridge was thanked for being instrumental in the installation of several new trap lines, and Derek Kelsey, who also leads the Whangaparāoa Dotterel Minders group, was recognised for his all-round contribution to conservation. 

Melanie Wilcock received Newcomer of the Year and Alan Wilkinson and Roger Canton were thanked for always being there to lend a helping hand. “Mr Weasely Identified” went to Trevor Sanderson for catching the most weasels this year, they are a serious predator of native lizards. Liz Maire, Debbie Thompson and Anne Thatcher were also recognised for their roles as Neighbourhood Reps in the backyard trapping programme.

Awards were donated by Forest & Bird’s corporate partners and local supporters, including local businesses Morart and Forty Thieves. 

Pest Free Hibiscus Coast volunteers are fully trained and were supported by volunteer coordinator Rhiannon Thomas to complete over 36,000 trap and bait station services in the past year between them. This has resulted in thousands of rats being removed from our environment. 

Forest & Bird are looking for more volunteers, Info: pfhc@forestandbird.org.nz.