Kaitōrete

Kaitōrete operations…

Kaitōrete is the wide shingle spit (5,500 ha) that separates Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere) from Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa (the Pacific Ocean). Extending 25 km from the foot of Horomaka/Te Pātaka-a-Rākaihautū (Banks Peninsula) at Wairewa in the north to Taumutu to the south.

To achieve our gains for biodiversity, our elimination objectives to 2026 are as follows:
Kaitōrete(~5000 hectares): A multi-species elimination of hedgehogs, feral cats, mustelids (stoats, ferrets & weasels) and
possums.

This is ambitious and a first on mainland Aotearoa / New Zealand where there is no predator proof fence.On Kaitōrete the field team have set out a network of traps using a “rolling-front” approach. Two hundred and twenty-eight traps were set out in a grid of one trap per hectare. Trap technology includes remote reporting of live cage traps that provide notification online once the trap has been triggered. This enables staff to clear the trap quickly and humanely. It also allows staff to only visit the triggered traps, which creates real efficiencies. The traps are also fitted with motolures which allow for mayonnaise to be automatically dispensed twice a day.

Traps have camera monitoring to determine which traps are most effective for each of the six target species.
Once the traps stop triggering and catching target animals the trap is moved forward along Kaitorete.
In this way Kaitorete is gradually being cleared of pests.

Download the Kaitōrete Area Project Info Sheet PDF >>