New impetus to tackle predators at scale
The Tū Mai Taonga project is building an island-based conservation workforce that will trial new methodologies and tools to remove rats and feral cats at landscape scale on Aotea.
Ecologically, the island has a head start because it is free from possums, mustelids and Norway rats, but ship rats, kiore and feral cats are having a devastating impact on its unique fauna.
Twenty years of carefully documented work in island sanctuaries and trapping by community groups has shown how hard and how important the job is.
Indicator species such as kererū, tūī and kākā are now increasing but others like pāteke (brown teal), tākoketai (black petrels) and niho taniwha (chevron skink) among others remain vulnerable.
The Tū Mai Taonga Project is proceeding under the leadership, guiding vision and tikanga of the Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea Trust.
| Launched | June 1, 2021 |
| PF2050Ltd investment | $3m through the Jobs for Nature - Mahi mō te Taiao programme |
| Total project investment | Target $10m+ |
| Funding commitment | Four years |
| Project lead | Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea Trust |
| Māori partners | Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea |
| Collaborators | Aotea Conservation Park Advisory Committee, Aotea Great Barrier Environmental Trust, Aotea Great Barrier Island Local Board, Auckland Council, Department of Conservation through the Jobs for Nature - Mahi mō te Taiao programme, Glenfern and Kotuku Peninsula Trust, Kawa Marae, Motairehe Marae, Motu Kaikoura Trust, Okiwi Community Ecology Project, Windy Hill Sanctuary and Rosalie Bay Catchment Trust, landowners and residents around the motu. |
| Ambition | 18,000ha of northern area of Aotea Great Barrier initially. |
| Design | Anchored in the tikanga of Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea, the project has drawn on technical expertise to create a robust operations plan and pathway to the eradication of feral cats and rats from Aotea. The first field work has begun in Te Paparahi and the Broken Islands group. |