In a very old podocarp forest behind Dannevirke, North of Wellington, is a group of keen trappers ready to learn everything they can about trapping to protect their local ngahere (bush).

"We saw many kahikatea, tōtara, rimu, matai, miro, along with other forest understory shrubs. We also found piwakawaka nest with two chicks nestled inside. It was amazing!"

- Lisa Whittle, Mauri Oho Project Lead

Te Kāuru are the Manawatu River hapu (kinship group, clan, tribe, subtribe) here and they are on a journey to protect and preserve the native flora and fauna that have made this space their home. Aiming to trap rats and stoats primarily, Te Kāuru invited Mauri Oho and our Global Conservation Manager, Darren, to lead them through a wānanga (educational seminar) on installing and maintaining their A24 traps with Chirp.

The three traps set up by Cherry Tapurau, Arapera Paewai, Marie and Adrian from AgResearch, Lisa Whittle and Darren Peters were the first of thirty A24s destined to be installed in the Makirikiri Reserve.

So why the Makirikiri Reserve and why now?

The Makirikiri Reserve is an incredibly special place with an abundance of understory forest shrubs that need protecting from pests. Precious to local Iwi, Makirikiri is a place to be adored and protected for all to enjoy.

Te Kauru have committed to checking these traps as part of an environmental study into the E.coli found in pests guts. The carcasses will be processed at the Hopkirk Research Institute to compare the E.coli from the pest species with the E.coli found in the environment.

As well as this valuable research the aim of Te Kauru is to have the river returned to its original purpose as a place of mana and pride for the region. They aim to return the Manawatu river and catchments to a healthy condition and instil a sustainable use of the river and land to build stamina in the region's natural resources.