Earlier this month, we held a Papa Taiao Predator Control Short Course in Rotoiti for rangatahi from across the motu. It was a fantastic couple of days of hands-on learning about new types of trapping, native species, and the amazing community-led project at Friends of Rotoiti.
We were very lucky to join the awesome Barry and Wayne to check trap lines around Lake Rotoiti and through the beautiful beech forests, where the main target species were rats, mice, possums, feral cats, and mustelids (in addition to the wasps!). This work helps protect native species such as kākā and roroa, while also creating a future haven for whio, as part of the Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project.
We would like to extend our huge thanks to Wayne and Barry at Friends of Rotoiti for sharing their time, knowledge, and mahi. What an amazing journey this team has been on to protect these areas within the National Park. We enjoyed abundant birdlife, including kea, kākā, tūī, korimako, miromiro, and kārearea. The diversity of life is a testament to the incredible work they are doing and shows the importance of sharing predator control skills with our young people as the next generation of kaitiaki.
We loved seeing ākonga connecting with both te taiao and each other, and were so impressed by everyone’s participation and collaboration. Thank you to all ākonga, kaiako, and whānau who supported these days in Rotoiti. You should all be very proud of your achievements, both in your conduct and in the NCEA credits you achieved!
We hope to see you all again next year on another short course, or our trades long courses both on the West Coast and Top of the South Island!