Piroa Conservation Trust

14/06/2026

THIS ROYAL SPOONBILL wasted little time getting familiar with the new wetland at the Lynch & Longman farms on South Road, Waipu. It’s just the kind of visitor we hope to see more of once the wetland’s done.

We’ve still got a bit more planting to do, so if you’ve an hour or two to spare on Sunday 21 June, come along to 435 South Road from 10 am -12 pm. Don’t forget your gumboots!

09/06/2026

COULD BELLBIRDS BE COMING TO YOUR GARDEN?
Native planting kits are now available for Waipu village residents — $30 each, with your choice of native trees and shrubs selected to attract bellbirds and other native birds.
Each kit includes: 🌳 One native tree — choose from kōwhai, rewarewa, tītoki, five finger, or pūriri 🌿 Four native shrubs — mix and match from dwarf flax, NZ blueberry, kōromiko or miniature toetoe.
Kits available to Waipu village residents only. Limited numbers — register now: 👉 https://forms.office.com/r/vc5miXsyKr

Planting natives in your garden is just one way we can bring the bellbirds back to Waipu. Be part of our backyard trapping network so that we can make the village safe for the bellbird and other native species.
For your free trapping kit contact: [email protected]

07/06/2026

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!
…Our second Community Planting session is happening at the Lynch/Longman wetland in South Road, Sunday 21 June.

We had a great turn out last time, with local landowners, residents and farmers, and our friends at Forest & Bird Northern all pitching in. With a few thousand more native plants to get in the ground, we’re ready to go again!

Wetlands are so important for our wildlife, our water and to reduce flooding risk. This particular area will form part of a wildlife corridor from the hills to Waipu, providing food and habitat for native species like the bellbird to come to Waipu village.

So come along on Sunday 21st & help make a wetland!

For more information: [email protected]

05/06/2026

SOMETHING SPECIAL IS TAKING SHAPE… Hapū , landowners, community conservation groups and partners gathered in Mangawhai on Thursday to explore a bold shared vision — scaling up predator control and conservation efforts across around 2,000 hectares, from Bream Tail to Marunui.

The mahi already underway across this area is extraordinary. And when we work together — recognising that nature doesn't stop at fencelines — the potential is extraordinary too.

At Marunui alone, bellbird, fernbird, kākāriki, miromiro, tūī, kaka, and long-tailed bats are among the native species already calling this place home. Imagine what becomes possible when predator control scales up across the wider landscape and these taonga species have room to spread and thrive?

Conversations ranged widely — habitat restoration, native species recovery, community engagement, and the essential role of mana whenua in shaping the future of this land. A real highlight of the day was hearing how the 3 kiwi released at Te Waiorahi in March were getting on.

More than anything, Thursday’s Open Sanctuary hui showed what happens when people who care deeply about a place come together. Relationships strengthened. Perspectives shared. A greater sense of what's already happening — and what's possible next. Watch this space!

Photo credits: Environs Te Uri o Hau
Environs Te Uri o Hau Kiwi Coast Shorebirds Trust Department of Conservation www.nrc.govt.nz

05/06/2026

IT’S A SIGN….that Project Bellbird is taking flight: 133 households and counting!

If you've been through the centre of Waipu recently, you may have spotted the new Project Bellbird sign outside the Waipu Veterinary Centre.

The sign is a reminder of the community effort underway to bring bellbirds (korimako) back to Waipu. Our current focus is backyard trapping, but the project also encompasses native planting, and habitat restoration. Bellbirds are a great indicator of a healthy environment, and their return would be a strong sign that local conservation efforts are making a difference.

A huge thank you to the team at The Vet Centre Waipu for allowing us to place the sign on their property to raise awareness of the project.

Want to get involved? Help us reach our target of one trap in three Waipu households! if you live in the village and you'd like a free trap, email us: [email protected] or call 0226818909

03/06/2026

🚶‍♀️🚴‍♂️ Love walking or cycling the Waipu Cycleway? We're looking for some help to restore part of the track above Cove Road (near Flagstaff Tce) where the pine trees were removed.

Our team meets at 8.30am every second Monday morning to w**d and plant the area. Any time you can spare – even an hour – would be really appreciated! Bring stout shoes and gloves. Please contact Coralie Roberts on 0274320293 for details.

Let’s make Waipu (more) beautiful!

01/06/2026

A big thank you to our amazing PCT trapping groups who were part of this impressive effort!

Shout out to all the hard working Northlanders who have removed a staggering 1,108,835 animal pests over the last 13 years!
Each year, Kiwi Coast collates the pest control data from its network of landowners, farmers, community groups, hapū-led projects, organisations and schools across the region to highlight the significant work being undertaken to clear out pests and help Northland’s native wildlife thrive.

The 13-year tally includes 502,313 possums, 431,239 rodents and 17,532 stoats.In 2025 alone, 142,096 pests were removed, giving an average trap catch of 2,732 pests per week. As this is predominantly trap catch data, the true numbers of pests removed is understood to be far higher as many more pests will have been removed with toxins.

The results were announced at our annual Regional Pest Control Workshop held in Kerikeri on May 24th. Featuring a range of pest control researchers, trap makers, local projects and product suppliers, the workshop aimed to keep all the good work going through the continued sharing of info, innovations and tips for success.
Read all about it here: https://kiwicoast.org.nz/community/1-million-pests-gone/

31/05/2026

REMINDER: THIS TUESDAY!

Our wonderful Conservation Coordinator Katie Gibb will share how farmers, local communities, conservation groups, researchers, and government have come together to support the recovery of the Eurasian curlew in the Irish uplands.

Tuesday 2 June from 6.00 pm, at the Mangawhai Golf Club,
221 Molesworth Drive, Mangawhai

It’s FREE but do RSVP as places are limited: email [email protected]
Food & drinks are available to buy at the venue.

27/05/2026

What makes a great party? Snacks, decorations, a good venue and a welcoming host. The same goes for catching possums! PFNZ says the most effective possum control is actually 80% pre-feeding and visual luring to get them interested, then 20% active trapping.

Possums are visual, social and promiscuous creatures. Throwing a party and catching possums have more in common than you might think.

26/05/2026

RANGIORA IS ON THE MOVE!
One of the three Northland brown kiwi released at Te Waiorahi in March has been busy exploring the Brynderwyn–Mangawhai landscape.

Rangiora is fitted with a transmitter, allowing the team to monitor his movements, and over the last few days he’s moved off the hill and into the wider Eco Valley/King Road area. At one point, we tracked him right into someone’s backyard in the valley, much to the surprise of the homeowners, who’d never seen a kiwi there in the 15 years they’d lived on the property.

Young kiwi often spend time exploring as they settle into a new landscape, so seeing him confidently moving through the area and beyond the release site is a really encouraging sign that he’s adapting well and he’s behaving exactly as he should.

As kiwi begin spreading more widely across the landscape, we all have a role in helping keep them safe.
• Please keep dogs secured at night and on leads around kiwi habitat. Even friendly dogs can unintentionally injure or kill kiwi.
• If you see a roaming dog in the area, contact Animal Control on 0800 362 468.
• Please take extra care driving around King Road and Eco Valley, especially after dark.

This is what kiwi recovery looks like - kiwi beginning to reclaim the wider landscape!