Our story
Formed in 2006 by a small band of conservation enthusiasts, the Paparoa Wildlife Trust has become an effective wildlife conservation organisation working with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to halt the decline of our region’s wonderfully iconic, but highly threatened native species.
Our vision is to have thriving populations of native species living in the Paparoa Range without the threat of introduced mammalian predators.
It started with whio…
An initial survey by PWT volunteers found only three adult whio/blue ducks in Moonlight Creek. This gave urgency to beginning our first wildlife recovery project. Trap lines were quickly set up in both the Moonlight and Blackball Creek catchments to reduce the number of introduced predators and their devastating effect on the once healthy whio population. Our first traps stretched along 18 kilometres of the Moonlight and Croesus tracks.
With PWT having ambitions to protect other vulnerable species, DOC took over management of the whio recovery work through Whio Operation Nest Egg. Between 2010-16, around 20 juvenile, captive-reared whio were released back into the Blackball, Roaring Meg and Moonlight creeks. With increased predator control in these catchments there is now a thriving whio population.
…and grew to include roroa.
This allowed PWT to focus more on a second project, establishing an effective recovery strategy for local roroa/great spotted kiwi. As with the whio, an Operation Nest Egg programme was set up for our kiwi work and in January 2010, we established the Atarau Sanctuary, a 12-hectare kiwi crèche safeguarded by a predator-proof fence around its 1.6 kilometre perimeter. The sanctuary, purchased and financed by a private benefactor, has become a vital facility for our work. Nearly 40 juvenile roroa have been released back into the wild from our programme.
Today, our mission is to be an effective professional conservation organisation fostering community involvement and ecological enhancement.
We are now focussed on…
running effective species recovery programmes for whio and roroa as well as recovery of their habitat through sustained and integrated predator control
protecting existing forest habitats so that birds and other native species may benefit without hands-on manipulative management
nurturing a committed team continually learning and sharing knowledge
building strong community support through active engagement and inclusion in PWT projects
To support PWT’s first two recovery projects, and to benefit local ecosystems, we manage a third project focussed on expanding our predator trapping network. We now have over 2,400 traps set along 240 kilometres of trap lines protecting over 17,000 hectares of the Paparoa Range. Primarily targeting stoats, these trap lines are set along existing roads, tracks (including the new Paparoa Track) and prominent ridges and rivers to maximise their effect.
The Trust actively fosters community engagement and education through annual open days at the Atarau Sanctuary, school visits, media and event participation, kiwi aversion training for dogs, and local volunteer and employment opportunities.
Paparoa Wildlife Trust is an independent, not-for-profit, incorporated society administered by local, volunteer trustees. We employ contractors to carry out a variety of essential conservation roles. Our success is directly attributable to the commitment of our trustees, contractors, and volunteers, as well as the support we receive from our local community and iwi, Ngāti Waewae.
Funding for the PWT's recovery projects comes from both the public and private sectors.
We appreciate all the support we receive from our funders and partners; you make this vital conservation work possible. He mihi nui – Thank you.
If you would like to support the Paparoa Wildlife Trust, please get in touch.
