Project WĒTĀ

Project Wētā is an umbrella for all Waihi Beach community-based conservation groups - some of which have been involved in environmental restoration since 1998.

Activities include dune planting, pest weeding, predator trapping, trap-line maintenance, administration of trap-lines, and administration of the Waihi Beach pest trap library. Volunteers also spend time working with the local kura to engage in predator trapping exercises to remove predators from areas where our taonga such as kororā and tūturiwhatu are nesting. The volunteers also provide valuable education about native flora and fauna and conservation efforts within the area.

Predator control and protecting biodiversity were high priorities for the Waihi Beach community during the development of the Waihī Beach Community Plan. This led to the adoption of the goal to become Predator Free by 2025. This may have been a little ambitious, however in June Predator Free Bowentown was started and the Community Predator Trap Library in the MenzShed was opened.

Predator Free Waihī Beach, inclusive of Bowentown and Athenree areas, recognise the ecologically diverse coastal location and its range of natural habitats. These include wetlands, estuary, coastal forest, as well as beaches bordered by natural dune systems. Local taonga species

Garston Smith gearing up to deal to the possums!

have been identified and measures are being implemented to protect these through predator control.

Predator Free Waihī Beach has great relationships with community environmental and predator trapping groups, iwi/hapū/marae and other local support/government organisations. Working together ensures a sustainable community contribution to conservation. Our only challenge is to find funding to continue our kaupapa.

We are protecting natives from loss to predation – our bird counts are significantly higher than last years, and we are seeing a marked difference in our rohē.

GET INVOLVED!

Get in touch to find out about regular working bees or one-off events that support Waihi Beach’s coastal and wetland areas.