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The Mangatangi Maramarua Catchment has announced a series of Young Conservationist
Awards recognising youth in the community who actively participate in pest control projects that support and protect local native wildlife.
A recent pest predator survey recorded a high abundance of predator pests within the catchment.
The resulting catchment-wide, integrated pest management strategy involves farmers, residents and all community members.
Mangatangi Maramarua Catchment chair Will Murphy said core elements are pulse baiting in environmentally significant/vulnerable areas to knock down possum and rat populations.
This is followed by residents and landowners installing a bait station in every shed, shooting and trapping to continue the mop-up operation.
“The goal is to reduce pest species and allow our biodiversity to thrive. Working collectively,
everyone participates and shares in the rewards of preserving our rare and uncommon species.
“We will know when we are successful when sightings of Kereru, Morepork and Tui are
common, not just occasional.”
The Mangatangi Maramarua Catchment Young Conservationist Award will be monthly (until
December 2025) and include a $100 Hunting and Fishing voucher for the best pest control
activity that month within the vicinity of the catchment.
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.
Submissions are to be emailed and should include photographic evidence, date, GPS coordinates, and the estimated number of pests caught, along with the name and age of the entrants. 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.
Committee members Robyn Budd and Vicki Shuker with Davey Hughes at a recent event. Photo suppliedThe Mangatangi Maramarua Catchment is a voluntary community group with a vision to protect and enhance the environment by involving the whole community. Formed in response to increasing legislation from both local and national governments, and its potential to impact farming operations.
The catchment works as a local facilitator for improving water quality, biodiversity and
kaitiakitanga (guardianship), while also supporting sustainable farming and food security.
