Tamahunga Trappers

20/03/2026

It is a glorious day to pop on down to the Warkworth A&P Show.
Come say hi!
Make a gold coin donation and you can have a kiwi cookie 😊

19/03/2026

It is looking like it will be a lovely sunny day this Saturday, 21st March. Just as well as I will be at the Warkworth A&P Show in the Restore Rodney East tent with a bunch of other awesome local conservation groups.

Pop on down and say hi! We can chat about what the Tamahunga Trappers are getting up to on the maunga. I can update you on the kiwi project and we can talk about the other cool things that the Trappers spot in the forest.

11/03/2026

Just a bit of cuteness to brighten up a grey day. Kiwi chick out hunting for food.

09/02/2026

Latest newsletter https://mailchi.mp/750efa7426bc/february-2026-update-6431046

16/01/2026

Upcoming Kiwi Avoidance Training for dogs is coming up in a couple of weeks.
Maybe your dog is due a refresher, maybe you haven't taken your dog yet, or maybe you have a dog and only visit at the weekends and stay with friends in the area - either way, this is a good time to book in for the training to keep kiwi safe.

📅 Sunday 25 January
⏱️ Just 10 minutes
🔗 Book your spot via the link and choose a time that suits you
[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled&fbclid=IwY2xjawPWbNRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFzc2g4S1FtcExzUFB3MjU5c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHoD3prAohaoOUkF0h0KTXY862IS4rRzadfqCurjauSj0nT3LI4Wsj7gVGVE2_aem_ae2wMYt7F-UyCo_PuWuIVA" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://outlook.office.com/book/[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled&fbclid=IwY2xjawPWbNRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFzc2g4S1FtcExzUFB3MjU5c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHoD3prAohaoOUkF0h0KTXY862IS4rRzadfqCurjauSj0nT3LI4Wsj7gVGVE2_aem_ae2wMYt7F-UyCo_PuWuIVA

Thanks to The Forest Bridge Trust and Rodney Local Board for making this happen.

22/12/2025

Merry Christmas from the Tamahunga Trappers.
We hope you have a fabulous festive season.

If you get out for a walk on Tamahunga, please do let us know if you spotted anything interesting on your walk. There are wonderful native plants and insects to see, birds to hear, and maybe even the odd kiwi footprint.

Best wishes for 2026!

16/12/2025

If you are looking for a last minute stocking stuffer, Ōmaha Shorebird Protection Trust have a special fundraising Tea Towel available.

The Ōmaha Shorebird Protection Trust collaborated with local textile artist Ali Davies to illustrate the amazing shorebirds of Ōmaha Beach and Whangateau Harbour.

Help them make Ōmaha Shorebird Sanctuary a safe place for shorebirds to nest, roost and feed.

100% of the funds support the Trust’s work in monitoring, trapping, advocacy and awareness.

A must-have for every coastal kitchen, and an excellent choice for mindful Christmas gifting, the tea towels are traditionally screen printed on 100% Organic Cotton.

How to get your tea towel, which cost $25 each.
1. Fill in the order form at https://forms.gle/oBdqbWgdAGFk5MKN7
2. Pay by bank deposit, details are on the order form.
3. Choose to have your tea towels posted ($10 extra) or pick them up.

PICK UP – Collect from Ōmaha Community Centre Sunday 21st December, from 9.30-10am

PICK UP – Collect from Ōmaha Community Centre Sunday 4th January, from 9.30-10am

03/12/2025

Rodney Local Board are supporting the SPCA Snip ‘n’ Chip campaign for all Rodney cat owners.
If you live near threatened species sites, you may be eligible for a FREE voucher to desex and microchip your cat.
Already desexed? You can still get a voucher for microchipping only.
✅ Check your eligibility via the link – vouchers are limited in each area!
https://desexing.spca.nz/
✅ Grab your voucher via the link before the 12th of December!

FREE cat desexing and microchipping – limited vouchers available.

We're supporting the Snip ‘n’ Chip campaign for cat owners in selected postcodes across our board area.

If you live near threatened species sites, you may be eligible for a FREE voucher to desex and microchip your cat.

Already desexed? You can still get a voucher for microchipping only.

✅ Check your eligibility via the link – vouchers are limited in each area!
https://desexing.spca.nz/

29/09/2025

Big thank you to The Forest Bridge Trust and Rodney Local Board for putting on another FREE Kiwi Aversion Training session - Saturday 11th October, Morris & James Pottery, Matakana.

It is so important that we continue to have local dogs trained to stay away from the kiwi that are slowly spreading out through our backyards.

Saturday 11 October – Kiwi Avoidance Training
📍 Morris & James Pottery
🐾 Supported by Rodney Local Board
Free 10-minute training sessions for local dog owners – open to family pets, working dogs, and hunting dogs. Our experienced trainer uses a light E-collar correction to teach dogs to avoid the scent of kiwi, helping keep our native species safe.

[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://outlook.office.com/book/[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled

23/09/2025

🌿 Te Araroa Trust is running a working bee on Tamahunga this weekend 🌿
This is nothing to do with the Tamahunga Trappers, but any work on the maunga keeping the tracks open helps us out. And after the rain, the ground will be soft and you may spot kiwi footprints in the mud.

🛠️ Tamahunga – Sat 27 September
Meet at 9am at the western end of Rodney Rd (off Pakiri Rd, near Leigh)
Bring: Gloves, eye protection, folding saws, loppers/shears

💬 All welcome – no experience needed! Just bring your gear, good vibes, and trail spirit. Each working bee could take at least 2-3 hours, so bring a few snacks, plenty of water, & sun protection 😎

🌿 Te Araroa Working Bees – September 2025 🌿
Help keep our beautiful trail in top shape! Join us for one (or all!) of these upcoming working bees – a great way to give back, meet fellow walkers, and spend time for a good cause outdoors.

🛠️ Puhoi – Sat 13 September
Meet at 9am at the intersection of Ahuroa Road and Remiger Road, near the old swingbridge site
Bring: Gloves, grubbers/spades, loppers/shears

🛠️ Mercer – Sun 21 September
Meet at 9am, Mercer Landing Café
Bring: Gloves, eye protection, folding saws, loppers/shears
Optional: Scrub bars, hammers for track markers

🛠️ Tamahunga – Sat 27 September
Meet at 9am at the western end of Rodney Rd (off Pakiri Rd, near Leigh)
Bring: Gloves, eye protection, folding saws, loppers/shears

💬 All welcome – no experience needed! Just bring your gear, good vibes, and trail spirit. Each working bee could take at least 2-3 hours, so bring a few snacks, plenty of water, & sun protection 😎

04/09/2025

An update of the kiwi. It is breeding season.

We had 3 of the transmittered kiwi males sitting on eggs. But on Wednesday, one of the telemetry team got a signal that shows that one of the males egg/s has hatched!

We only have a few of the males with transmitters, so if we extrapolate those numbers to all the male kiwi released onto Tamahunga there could be 12 - 15 lads incubating, and up to 30 eggs being sat on!
North Island Brown kiwi females can lay 2 eggs in a clutch (the others kiwi species tend to lay 1 egg per clutch).

While it is exciting to dream big for the number of kiwi breeding each year, we won't know for sure how things are going for another year or so as we start to build up more data from the annual kiwi call counts. As each year passes we will (hopefully) hear more kiwi calling. According to Save the Kiwi, 50-60% of chicks survive in areas where predators are being controlled. However, only about 50% of eggs laid actually hatch. So, of those 30 eggs, maybe 15 will successfully hatch, adding maybe 7 new chicks that will hopefully make it to adulthood and start calling. In areas where predators aren't being controlled, less than 5% of chicks reach adulthood.
The biggest threats to the chicks are stoats and feral cats.

This is why it is so important that everyone around kiwi populations also do trapping on their own properties. It provides extra protection so that more chicks will reach adulthood.

The telemetry team are still heading out twice a week to monitor the kiwi. They, and the trappers, are looking forward to spotting tiny kiwi prints as the breeding season progresses.