Predator Free Pauanui

20/09/2026

And the 2026 New Zealand Bird of the Year is...

15/09/2026

Voting for 2026 Bird of the Year closes this Sunday 20 September at 5pm. Which birds will you vote for??

Forest & Bird’s Bird of the Year recognises our unique birds and with each vote you give them a voice.

04/09/2026

Voting is now open for Bird of the Year 2026!! 🐦🕊🦉 Voting closes on Sunday 20 September.

Forest & Bird’s Bird of the Year recognises our unique birds and with each vote you give them a voice.

01/09/2026

Such wonderful news about our kākāpō!

Perfect news for the start of spring! The official population of the critically endangered kākāpō has reached a recovery-era high of 325 birds.
Ninety chicks from the 2026 breeding season were officially added to the population today after the youngest surviving chick seen here reached 150 days of age, the milestone at which young kākāpō have fledged and are considered independent enough to join the official tally.

28/08/2026

Looking for something to do on a rainy weekend? Try this bird brain quiz and go in the draw to win a poster!

Check out this design designed by Allison Hess.

17/08/2026

Avian Bird Flu (H5N1 Avian Influenza) has arrived in New Zealand and whilst the risk to human health is low, here’s what you can do on the trapline or in your backyard to minimise the risk of spreading the disease:

1. Look out for sick birds: If you see three or more sick or dead
birds, report this immediately to 0800 80 99 66, or online
at https://report.mpi.govt.nz/pest/ with as much detail as possible, including precise location and bird species. Leave the birds where
they are; don’t handle or move the birds, even with gloves on.
2. Wash bird feeders daily.
3. Phase out eggs and raw poultry as lures in your traps.
4. Keep cats safe and happy at home: Cats seem to be very susceptible to severe illness from H5N1 and could contract it from exposure to wild birds.
5. Keep dogs on lead: Off-lead dogs could come into contact with
infected wildlife, putting them at risk.

MPI has more information about bird flu and is the official source
for up-to-date information. https://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity/pest-and-disease-threats-to-new-zealand/animal-disease-threats-to-new-zealand/bird-flu

H5 bird flu (H5N1 avian influenza clade 2.3.4.4b) is a highly contagious viral disease of birds that has been spreading around the world. It has been detected in wild birds in New Zealand.

07/08/2026

It has been over two years since Predator Free Pauanui rolled out the Backyard Trapping project, with funds for traps provided by the Predator Free New Zealand Trust. Many non-permanent residents have organised for a volunteer from our team to check their traps when they are away, so that the trap can be in use more of the time. If you have a trap which you are no longer using, would you like to return it to us, or arrange to get one of our team to set and check it for you? Please get in contact if this applies to you, as we would like to have as many as possible in place catching rats and mice! Contact us by commenting below or by email to [email protected]

21/07/2026

Five things to do now that bird flu is here:
- Look out for sick birds
- Wash bird feeders daily
- Phase out eggs and raw poultry as lures in your traps
- Keep cats safe and happy at home
- Keep dogs on lead

Read below for more information

Avian influenza has arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand. The risk to human health is low, but here’s what you can do on the trapline or in your backyard to minimise the risk of spreading the disease.

14/07/2026

A big thank you to everyone who took part in the 2026 New Zealand Garden Bird Survey - more than 4,000 surveys have been submitted with 148,000 birds of 123 species counted!

The latest New Zealand Garden Bird Survey results have been released. More than 400 survey sites contribute data across the Waikato, with long-term trend information also available for the Coromandel.
For the Coromandel, 10-year trends for native bird species show:
• Tūī – slow increase
• Silvereye – slow increase
• Pīwakawaka (Fantail) – slow increase
• Kererū – slow increase
• Bellbird – slow decline
Interestingly, while the 10-year trend for kererū shows a slow increase, the five-year trend indicates a slow decline, highlighting the importance of continued monitoring. Overall, these results provide another positive indication of the impact that sustained
conservation efforts are having across the Coromandel. Information courtesy Predator Free Hauraki Coromandel Community Trust

03/07/2026

The Predator Free Pāuanui website is now live! Check it out at www.pfpauanui.co.nz. We are very grateful to Jack Daun from JD IT www.jdit.nz, who generously created the website for us free of charge.