Pest Free Otaki

07/10/2026

I know we shouldn’t have favourites… but the tomtit — miromiro — is mine.

There’s just something about this tiny little bird. Curious, cheeky and full of personality, flitting through the bush as though it owns the place.

And perhaps that’s why I want to see more of them around Ōtaki.

For me, predator control isn’t just about numbers on a trap record. It’s about creating a place where little birds like the miromiro have a better chance to live, nest and raise their young.

That’s what Pest Free Ōtaki is all about , working together to give our native wildlife a future.

Come and find out more at Pestival — Silence to Song, this Sunday, 11 October, at Ōtaki Memorial Hall, 10am–2pm.

A free community event for everyone.
Come along, meet the people behind Pest Free Ōtaki, hear some fantastic speakers, discover more about our native wildlife and find out how you can help bring birdsong back to Ōtaki.

Tomtit (Petroica macrocephala marrineri) is a small, active songbir...

06/10/2026

This morning, as the day began, I sat listening to our resident magpie. And I have to admit, I actually quite like hearing them calling in the mornings.
But it got me thinking…
Wouldn’t it be something if, instead of an Australian import, the bird we woke up to was our own native kōkako?
The kōkako has one of the most distinctive and beautiful voices in the New Zealand bush, deep, melodic and almost otherworldly. Imagine waking up in Ōtaki and hearing kōkako calling from the bush.
It may sound like a dream, but what if it didn’t have to be?
If we can reduce the numbers of introduced predators enough, restore our native habitats and create safe places for our native birds, who knows what might be possible in the future. Perhaps one day, kōkako could once again be part of the Ōtaki landscape.
That’s the kind of future I’d love to see.
This Sunday, 11 October, 10am–2pm, Pest Free Ōtaki is holding our community Pestival at the Ōtaki Memorial Hall.
Come along for music, food, speakers, activities and a chance to find out what you can do to help protect and restore the native wildlife around us.
Because bringing birdsong back to Ōtaki starts with all of us.
Silence to Song — a community bringing birdsong back to Ōtaki.
Pestival | Sunday 11 October | 10am–2pm | Ōtaki Memorial Hall

The beautiful, haunting call of the rare North Island Kōkako.The ...

05/10/2026

Have you heard the Pīpīwharauroa yet?
If you’ve been out and about around Ōtaki lately, you might have heard a very distinctive sound coming from the bush.
The Pīpīwharauroa, or shining cuckoo, is back.
Every spring these little birds make the incredible journey back to Aotearoa from the Pacific Islands to our north, travelling thousands of kilometres to spend summer here. They usually arrive around September and October.
They’re much easier to hear than see. Their clear, repeated whistles are one of those sounds that make you feel like spring has arrived. Once you learn their call, you’ll start noticing it everywhere.
And they’re beautiful little birds too. Their backs have a lovely shimmering green-bronze colour, with white and dark green barring underneath. At around 16 cm long, they’re surprisingly small for a bird with such a distinctive voice.
For Māori, the arrival and call of the Pīpīwharauroa has traditionally been an important seasonal marker, signalling the changing of seasons and the arrival of spring.
There’s something pretty special about knowing that, after travelling thousands of kilometres across the Pacific, these birds return to Ōtaki each year and become part of our summer soundscape.
Silence to Song is the theme of this Sunday’s Pestival. It’s about celebrating the birds we have around us, listening to the sounds they bring to our landscape, and thinking about what we can all do to make sure those sounds continue to be heard.
Come along to the Ōtaki Memorial Hall this Sunday, 11 October, 10am–2pm.
There’ll be environmental groups, activities for the kids, live music, guest speakers, coffee, tea and cake, and lots of ways to find out how you can help make Ōtaki an even better place for our native wildlife.

Silence to Song — a community bringing birdsong back to Ōtaki.

This beautiful small cuckoo bird migrates from the Pacific during s...

04/10/2026

Pestival is THIS SUNDAY

Looking for something different to do with the kids at the end of the school holidays?

Come along to Pestival at the Ōtaki Memorial Hall this Sunday. There’ll be plenty happening for the whole family, including:

Environmental group displays — discover what’s happening around Ōtaki and how you can get involved

Fun activities for children

Live music

Amazing guest speakers

Coffee, tea and cake

Lots of ideas about protecting our native wildlife and bringing birdsong back to Ōtaki.

It’s also a great opportunity to meet other people who care about our environment, find out what’s happening locally, and discover the simple things you can do to help make Ōtaki an even stronger, healthier place for people and wildlife.

Silence to Song — A community bringing birdsong back to Ōtaki

Ōtaki Memorial Hall
Sunday 11 October
10am–2pm

Bring the whānau, bring your curiosity, grab a cuppa and come be part of the conversation.

We’d love to see you there.

Send a message to learn more

28/09/2026

We don’t trap New Zealand’s introduced predators because we like killing things. We trap because we love seeing our native wildlife thriving.

There’s an old saying that a w**d is simply a plant in the wrong place. In many ways, the same can be said of New Zealand’s introduced predators.

Rats, possums, stoats, mice and hedgehogs are not “bad” animals. They are remarkable creatures that simply don’t belong in the environment our native wildlife evolved in.

Our native birds evolved without mammalian predators. Many have no natural defences against them, making predator control an important part of protecting the birds and other wildlife we love.

And because these are living creatures, humane trapping matters. Pest Free Ōtaki only uses NAWAC-approved traps, meaning they have met defined welfare standards for the species and purpose they are approved for.

We are not about animal cruelty. We are about creating a thriving, safe community where our native wildlife can flourish.

And ultimately, our measure of success isn't how many predators we catch — it's hearing more birdsong.

Do you have a trap in your backyard?
Come and see us at the upcoming Community Pestival to talk about your trap needs
Pestival details: Ōtaki Memorial Hall, Sunday, October 11, 10 am-2 pm

Send a message to learn more

21/09/2026

A rat is a rat is a rat… or is it?

Did you know that New Zealand has three species of rat, but only two are found locally?

Ship rats are excellent climbers and spend much of their time up in trees, where they can find plenty of food.

Norway rats are much more likely to be found around waterways, drains and on the ground.

One of the interesting things Predator Free Wellington discovered while clearing Miramar was that some ship rats rarely, if ever, came down to the ground because they could find everything they needed up in the trees.

That doesn’t mean they won’t come down if there’s an easy food source waiting for them.

And here’s the really interesting part: how you attract and trap these two types of rats can be quite different.

In this clip, Cam Speedy, wildlife biologist, trapper extraordinaire and one of our upcoming Pestival guest speakers, explains the differences between ship rats and Norway rats — and why knowing which rat you’re dealing with matters.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/2082981159026048

Pestival 2026 – Silence to Song
Ōtaki Memorial Hall
11 October 2026 | 10am–2pm

Come along and learn more about the predators we’re working together to control, and the native birds we’re hoping to hear more of!

09/09/2026

The countdown to Pestival is on!

We’re getting closer to the Pest Free Ōtaki Pestival, a family-friendly community day celebrating the people, groups and organisations working to create a healthier natural environment for Ōtaki.

Come along and meet local groups, find out what’s happening in our community, learn about the work being done to protect our whenua and wildlife, and discover how you can get involved.

There’ll be activities for all ages, displays, demonstrations, and guest speakers from around Aotearoa sharing their knowledge, experience and ideas about what a healthier future could look like.

Our theme for the day is “Silence to Song”, imagining an Ōtaki where the return of native wildlife brings back the sounds of birdsong to our forests, waterways and backyards.

Sunday 11 October 2026
10am–2pm

Bring the family, come and have a look around, meet some great people, and be part of the conversation about creating a healthier, more connected Ōtaki.

Send a message to learn more

30/08/2026

Pest Free Otaki is holding a "Pestival" to celebrate and bring awareness to the environment projects around Otaki. This is a family friendly community event with stands and activities for all ages.
Where : Otaki Memorial Hall
When: Sunday October 11th 10 am - 2 pm
Cost: free (but as we are funded entirely from grants we will happily accept donations)

17/08/2026

How quickly can rats multiply?

A female rat can start breeding at just 4–5 weeks old.

Pregnancy lasts about 3 weeks.

A litter can have around 5–10 pups, and a female can have several litters in a year.

So the numbers can climb very quickly.

Under favourable conditions, modelling suggests that just two rats and their offspring could potentially lead to around 1,250 rats in a year.

That doesn't mean this happens every time. In the real world, rats die from predators, disease, lack of food and other causes.

But it shows why every rat caught matters.

One rat removed is one less rat breeding.

And when lots of Ōtaki households trap, check and record their catches, those small actions add up.

Want to start trapping?

Pest Free Ōtaki has subsidised rat traps for just $10, normally $39.80.

$10 while stocks last.

Contact Pest Free Ōtaki to get yours and help protect our native birds and wildlife. [email protected]

One trap. One catch. One less predator.

Send a message to learn more

26/07/2026

I feel incredibly fortunate I live surrounded by native bush. Most days I see tomtits, grey warblers, tūī, pīwakawaka (fantails), kererū, korimako (bellbirds), kōtare (kingfishers), and every now and then we're lucky enough to spot a kārearea (New Zealand falcon). At nights I hear ruru calling through the darkness, and as summer arrives, the shining cuckoos announce the changing season.

As I write this, I'm listening to one of our resident bellbirds. Some people describe their song as beautifully melodic, but to me there's always a little "squeaky gate" sound mixed in. Whatever you call it, it made me stop and appreciate just how lucky we are to live where we do.

Recently, I completed a five-minute bird count in town. The difference was striking. There were plenty of house sparrows and blackbirds, and just one fantail. It was a reminder that many of our native birds struggle to thrive where introduced mammal predators are present.

It doesn't have to stay that way.

One of the simplest ways we can help bring native birds back into our neighbourhoods is by reducing the predators that prey on them. Every backyard trap makes a difference. Every rat, stoat, weasel or possum removed gives our manu a better chance to survive and return.

Join Pest Free Ōtaki's Backyard Trapping Programme.

Whether you can place one trap or several, you'll be making a real contribution to protecting our native wildlife and helping restore the sounds of Aotearoa to our community.

Together, we can help make sure future generations wake up to tūī, bellbirds and fantails, not just sparrows.

Send a message to learn more