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The first Mangatangi Maramarua Catchment Young Conservationist Award has been presented to three young men.
The catchment committee said Fletcher Grant, Lockie Grant, and Ashton Williamson have built a deep understanding and first-hand knowledge of the damage invasive pest species inflict on the environment.
Their interest in conservation started in 2020 when still at primary school. Since that time, they have dispatched over 2000 possums.
“Our biggest night was 100 but we are struggling to find that many now on land we have regular access to,” Fletcher Grant said.
Living close to the Firth of Thames, Hunua Ranges, and Maramarua Forest provides proximity to large areas of significant bush blocks and waterways.
“Welcomed on a number of local farms, they focus on controlling possums, hares and turkeys. Such is their success that local landowners are hoping to secure access to more land so other areas can benefit,” the committee wrote.
“The easiest way to kill possums is to shoot them at night using thermal imaging,” Fletcher said.
The awards are designed to encourage the next generation’s stewardship of the land and build awareness of the vital role pest management plays in saving New Zealand’s critically endangered native wildlife.
The Mangatangi Maramarua Catchment Young Conservationist Award is monthly (until December 2025) and includes a $100 Hunting and Fishing voucher for pest control activity within the vicinity of the catchment.
The pest control activity must have taken place within approximately 20km of Mangatangi Maramarua or Western Firth Catchments and can include any pest species.
For all enquiries and submissions, email mmcatchment@gmail.com.
