Predator free Rangitahi

Rangitahi has a vision of protecting the ecological values of the land by undertaking extensive native regenerative planting and by being predator-free to help the wildlife flourish and increase the ecological connection between Karioi, Rangatahi and the rest of the Raglan region.The Rangitahi project has been working closely with the Karioi Project to help reach some of these goals. The Karioi project is a community-led conservation project, and its purpose is to restore our unique coastal forest in Raglan and its native birdlife.

They're trying to re-create Mount Karioi as a seabird mountain, where thousands of seabirds once thrived, and help Karioi become a sanctuary for forest birds, like kaka, kiwi, and little blue penguin.Rangatahi peninsula is surrounded by coastal forest and the Whāingaroa harbour, which provide habitat to both terrestrial and marine species. Forest birds like Kākā, Pekapeka (native bats), Ruru, Kererū, Tui and Pīwakawaka, are potential residents and may visit or breed on the peninsula with adequate predator control. Shorebirds may also benefit from the insects that are a food source for native birds.

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Karioi project... A little snapshot

‍The Karioi Project is a community-led volunteer-based biodiversity restoration project connecting people to nature and inspiring them to care for it through landscape-scale predator control, seabird monitoring, and environmental education. Beyond mountain to sea, the Karioi Project links two maunga, harbours, wetlands and streams to protect biodiversity on more than 20,000 ha. With thousands of hours of volunteer input and massive support from our community - landowners and backyard trappers, the Karioi Project has managed predators on Karioi for over a decade and now seabirds (Ōi / Grey Faced Petrels) and forest birds are returning to breeding status in the area. The goal is to connect people to nature and inspire them to care for it so we can create a more resilient community and environment.

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How can the Rangitahi community help the Karioi project?

‍At Rangitahi, we are working with the Karioi project by setting up traps along our walkways and throughout our bushland to help reduce the number of predators such as Mice, Rats and Possums. We also have a ban on domestic Cats on the peninsula due to the devastating damage they have on the native birdlife that we are trying to protect and grow. Through the extensive native planting Rangitahi has undertaken, we are also providing sources of food and shelter for native birds. You too, can help by choosing native trees and plants to plant in your backyard.

Individually everyone living on Rangitahi can make a difference by trapping invasive predators in their own backyard. You are helping restore biodiversity, allowing birds to breed successfully and bringing back the bird song. Karioi project can help you on this journey through their backyard hub, where they can come and visit you and offer you trapping advice, they also offer traps at subsidised prices. If you would like to be involved in the Karioi Project, you can join their group as a volunteer to help check trap lines, care for sea birds and participate on the volunteer days. We encourage you to go and check out the website, where they have a wealth of information, and you can find out ways to be a part of this amazing project. https://www.karioiproject.co.nz/

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