Pest Free Tairua

30/09/2026

Great news! We have a Grey Faced Petrel nesting on Paku, and there are very few places on mainland New Zealand that this happens, so it's very exciting.
Sadly our camera also picked up a cat visiting the burrow, this is the hazard of nesting in an urban environment. No harm was done and we are continuing to monitor this site. Our request is if you could keep your cats indoors at night, know where you dog is at all times and keep outside lights to a minimum as Petrel return to their burrows after dusk and can be disorientated. These chicks take a long time to fledge but if we all do our bit maybe we can get the colony to grow. How amazing that would be for Tairua!

27/09/2026

HELP!!! W**DBUSTERS W**D OF THE MONTH! Taiwan Cherry or Formosan Cherry Prunus Campanulata
Tairua's silent pest invasion, changing the visual appearance of our native bush and overwhelming the native plants.
From the cemetery in the South to Sailors Grave in the North, growing on the side of the roads, Council and DOC reserves and in private back yards.
This plant is included on some Council pest lists, but in other areas it is still sold in nurseries. It flowers very early in Spring, with bright pink bell shaped flowers. Unfortunately, it is loved by our nectar feeding native birds and brings on an artificial start to their breeding season. Chicks are born too early when their natural food is not yet available and the weather is cooler. The cherry that forms is loved by the Kereru and blackbirds and spread throughout our natural areas. After flowering comes the distinctive bright green serrated leaves and in Autum it turns red which makes it easy to find.
It can only be killed by pulling out the saplings or cutting off and instantly pasting the stalk / stump with a herbicide gel. Please help us try to eliminate this from our town and surrounding areas. Check your neighbours, tell your friends and if you feel sad to take out a large tree that brings birds to your garden, replace it with a native like Kowhai and the birds will love it just as much.

23/09/2026

Thanks to all those that voted in the manu (bird) of the year competition for 2026. And the winner is....... the Karure (the Chatham Islands black robin). So cute!!

11/09/2026

It's party time! The polls are open and it's time to vote in Te Manu Rongonui o te Tau - Bird of the Year. Forest and Bird are running their "manu~festo" for 6 different bird parties. You get to choose 5 of your favourite birds. So get voting - voting closes on 20th September. Go online and vote - link here: https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/

08/09/2026

The Paku project. Last year the invasive predator toll was 209 rats, 15 possums & one weasel. To date this year, 433 rats, 14 possums & no mustelids. The increase in traps & the introduction of the AT220 auto traps has made a huge difference.
Credit to Stephen Parsons for having the foresight to start the project & to all our volunteers who keep it going.

06/09/2026

Massive shout out to Turner Builders Tairua for donated plywood for our trap making. Donations greatly help our cause. Thanks! 🫶

31/08/2026

341 invasive pests removed fron the local gene pool.

31/08/2026

RAT TRAP SALE!!!
Pest Free Tairua still has these strong traps available to put into our community. ONLY $25 EACH!! Spring is coming so rats and mice will be around. Please email: [email protected] to get yours now.

07/08/2026

From two AT220 autotraps to almost 80 in a few years. We must again thank all the locals who have generously donated the $500 to allow us to purchase more of the traps. The most recent being Lee & Alan Tanner. 💚

01/08/2026