Russell Landcare Trust

18/06/2026

Can you tell the difference between a stoat, a weasel and a ferrat? Check out Kiwi Coast’s how to guide!

How do you tell a ferret from a stoat or a stoat from a weasel? Been a few queries over the last couple of days - our poster below should help. If you see or catch a ferret in Northland please take a photo so it can be confirmed, and if it is north of Whangārei contact us straight away at [email protected] so we can help you get a ferret response going straight away!

18/06/2026

A great photo of a Pūriri Moth that RLT member, Lindsay, recently sent in!

Pūriri Moths are Aotearoa’s biggest native moth and are recognisable by their bright green wings.

We’re lucky to have a large population here on the peninsula, as they usually live in or near native forests and are only found in the North Island!

Thanks, Lindsay, for sending the photo in 📸

We’d love to see your photos 👉 send them to [email protected]

16/06/2026

We’re honoured to have founding member and current Trustee, Helen, share with us why she’s been involved with the Trust for over 20 years!

Want to learn more? Check out our website 👉 russelllandcare.org.nz/about-us

15/06/2026

Kia ora Russell, we’re back with our monthly update!

May is now done and dusted, and the RLT team has been heads down, thumbs up, doing the mahi. With 3,399 traps checked across last month, we’re seeing mixed results.

As of January 2024, there have still been no possums caught in Okiato/ Te Wahapu (Old Russell), that's 28 months with zero possums.

We came close, so close, to our first zero‑rat month in Kororāreka. After recording just one catch in the previous month, we were ready to celebrate. But nature had other plans. A single breeding event at a site we keep a close eye on bumped our total back up to eight.

It’s disappointing, yes, but also a reminder of how quickly things can change. The good news is that our monitoring system worked exactly as it should. By catching this early, we protected years of hard‑won progress.

The elimination zone (Tapeka, Old Russell, Orongo Bay) saw 3 rat catches, which were most likely swimmers from “overseas”. Unless the Paihia side reaches elimination, we are expecting these recurrences on an ongoing basis, and again indicating why we have to stay watchful and keep inspecting the shorelines.

You can help us by reporting any sightings of a rat, hedgehog, stoat or possum by emailing us at [email protected]

11/06/2026

Alligator W**d unfortunately exists on the Russell Peninsula, and we need your help to get rid of it!

This is because it forms dense, deep mats in waterways, wetlands and nearby land, smothering the native ecosystems. We know it’s been spotted in the stream that runs through Russell (by the Medical Centre) and in some wetlands in the Waikare Inlet. It is also out at Deep Water Cove on the Cape Brett Peninsula.

It is easily transported by water (fresh or salt), and even tiny fragments can grow into plants with deep roots. The major source is the Kawakawa/ Taumarere River upstream of the SH11 bridge.

If think you’ve seen alligator w**d in other locations, please let us know via [email protected]

Alligator W**d is one of the 11 w**ds identified as part of RLT’s “Targeted Pest Plants” as described in the Habitat Restoration Strategy.

Read the draft Habitat Restoration Strategy here 👉 https://russelllandcare.org.nz/rlt-habitat-restoration-strategy/

07/06/2026

Recently, we asked Ben why he works for Russell Landcare Trust 🌿

And this is what he said!

Curious about the mahi and want to join Ben and the rest of the team? Become a member today 👉 www.russelllandcare.org.nz

04/06/2026

A word from our chair about our wonderful volunteers!

“Volunteers are the heart of Russell Landcare. Their time, energy, and local knowledge help protect native forests, restore habitats, maintain tracks, and support predator control across the Russell Peninsula.

Every planting day, working bee, and conservation project depends on people willing to give back to the environment and community, as well as those in the background making sure we’re all fed and watered!

Without volunteers, many of the initiatives that preserve Russell’s natural beauty for future generations simply would not be possible.

This volunteer month and every month, the Russell Landcare Trust is grateful for all of our dedicated volunteers!

Kia ora rawa atu to all our volunteers!”

Russell Landcare Trust Chair, William Fuller

04/06/2026

Want to get involved but not sure how? It’s easy!

We have weekly volunteer days every Wednesday, as well as regular Nursery volunteer days (keep an eye on our socials or the Volunteer EDM for these).

Volunteering does not stop with volunteer days, though! We have many other volunteers doing work in the community, and there are other ways that you can become involved:
We have people trapping in their back gardens.
A baking brigade on a rotating schedule that bakes delicious treats for our weekly volunteers.
We have administrators and volunteer trustees, and we have people monitoring our camera traps to help detect predators.

Volunteering with Russell Landcare Trust is a chance to make a real, tangible difference to the environment and community you love, and the views are hard to beat!

⏰ Every Wednesday, 9 am - 1 pm
📍 The Depot, 43 Matauwhi Road 0202, Russell

Sign up for our volunteer newsletter to keep updated 👉 https://rlt.infoodle.com/form_process?g=99b4600e-9d2d-4a9d-a266-40d1d059f4ad

03/06/2026

Recently, we sat down with one of our incredible volunteers, Annie and asked her why she’s involved with the Trust and our mahi. Read her wonderful response below! 👇

“I had heard of Russell Landcare Trust for some time, but the name misled me into thinking it was more about keeping Russell tidy than wildlife restoration. I really became aware of it when I became involved with Predator Free Russell. I had been wanting to do some hands-on conservation for many years, but until I was based in Russell, I couldn't do much about it.

Admittedly, conservation work in New Zealand seems to be more about mass slaughter than anything else, but my encounters with reintroduced animals, particularly the Tīeke of Urupukapuka, had made me very aware of the necessity of eliminating invasive predators for native species to flourish. I enjoy that, in my own way, I'm helping wildlife beyond merely giving money to charity.

One unexpected benefit of volunteering for PFR has been spending time with some of the interesting and friendly people who also give their time, along with the staff, some of whom have become good friends. It provides an undemanding opportunity to meet and interact with people, which I truly appreciate. The volunteering has also allowed me to learn new things and appreciate the animals and plants of the motu more fully.”

Thank you, Annie, for your dedication, hard mahi and incredible monthly articles!

📸Kerry (RLT Community Coordinator) and Annie out in the field on a bird count

02/06/2026

Check out these great photos of our Volunteers across the years!

📸 Do you have photos of your time with the Trust? We’d love to see them! Send them through to [email protected]