“Now you are taking another step…. Taking those astonishing techniques, those brave techniques, and adapting them to what none of us dreamed could happen, to a mainland circumstance. What New Zealand conservationists have done is to demonstrate that you have to be active, you have to be imaginative, decisive – you have to do something.”
The Friends of Rotoiti -
Nelson Lakes National Park.
In 2001 the Friends of Rotoiti was formed as a partnership between a motivated group of locals and the Department of Conservation. The goal was to benefit the newly created Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project (RNRP), a mainland island restoration project started in 1997.
This co-operative approach extends the pest control of introduced predators such as rats, stoats, possums and wasps. These introduced pests have had a devastating effect on many unique habitats in New Zealand, with many native birds, such as kaka and robin, struggling to maintain healthy breeding populations.
A network of rat trapping commenced in December 2001 around St Arnaud village, closely followed by stoat trapping along Rainbow Road (on the eastern side of the St Arnaud Range). In the years that followed, more traps were laid out and possum trapping was added. Wasp control has been done by the 'Wasp Busters' around St Arnaud village, and with wasp bait within the national park in more recent years.
2021 saw the launch of Te Whakarauora Whio, a FOR-led project, aimed at supporting the growth of the iconic whio or blue duck population in the Nelson Lakes and further protecting the area around the Rotoiti Nature Recovery project. Rātā Foundation has formed a strategic partnership with the Friends of Rotoiti through a $208,822 grant to establish one of the largest trap-lines in the country – over 52 kilometres.
The Great Spotted Kiwi , Roroa, population will be further strengthened with the introduction of more birds to improve the genetic resiliance. This will happen from 2021 to 2023.
Learn more about the volunteer pest control done by Friends of Rotoiti, become a valued supporter or see what's happening in the Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project.
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