# Whakatāne-Ōhope Environmental Programme Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council, alongside project partners, are working to restore and enhance environmentally significant areas in the Whakatāne District. The Whakatāne-Ōhope Environmental Programme is a partnership with Regional Council, Te Runanga o Ngati Awa, Te Tapatoru ā Toi, Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Ltd, Ngāti Hokopu and Ngāti Wharepaia, the Department of Conservation, Whakatāne District Council, Whakatāne Kiwi Trust, and the Dodds family, and outlines a programme of work to tackle pest plant and animal numbers at five key sites around the district. The sites in the programme form a broken sequence of indigenous forest corridor that extends from the coast inland to Te Urewera. The sites also form the core area for the Whakatāne Kiwi Project. These sites are home to several threatened and at-risk flora and fauna, such as kārearea (New Zealand falcon), long tailed bat, dwarf mistletoe and New Zealand spurge. After years of intensive restoration and predator control, the regenerating forest and birdlife at these sites are beginning to thrive. ## Project history While the environmental programme was initially established in 2011 (the Whakatāne-Ōhope Biodiversity Management Plan 2011-2016), this built on an already established pest animal control work that was undertaken through a joint Memorandum of Understanding between Regional Council and the Department of Conservation since 2005. Over time, the programme has been further expanded. More partners have signed onto the agreement, programmes of work have been updated to be more effective, the kiwi population has been reestablished, there is evidence of forest regeneration and the work area has increased. In 2023 the project partners agreed to a five-year extension. The success of this programme and its extension signals the collective commitment of the partners to restore biodiversity in the Whakatāne District. ## Why are we doing this? The sites included in this programme is made up of public reserves, private land protected by QEII covenants and Nga Whenua Rāhui kawenata. They consist of pōhutukawa forest, broadleaved tawa dominant forest, and coastal scrub, but also contain several small wetland areas in valley floors. These sites have been identified by Regional Council and the Department of Conservation as Priority Biodiversity Sites  (non-statutory) and by Whakatāne District Council as Significant Indigenous Biodiversity   Sites (statutory). Protection of these sites is critical to ensuring we do not lose our native biodiversity. On top of the ecological significance that these sites hold, they also hold great cultural significance to Ngāti Hokopu and Ngāti Wharepaia (mana whenua) and Ngāti Awa (iwi). Ngāti Hokopū and Ngāti Wharepaia share the custodial responsibilities of kaitiakitanga in the area from Te Mānuka Tūtahi, Ōhope and to Ōhiwa Harbour. They carry this responsibility through whakapapa and through the long-standing connection to the landscapes defined within the Whakatāne and Ōhope Environmental Programme. For Ngāti Awa, land is a taonga tuku iho, a treasure handed down from generation to generation that should be nurtured. The lands over which the programme operates are the ancestral lands of Ngāti Awa and Ngāti Awa are tangata whenua and kaitiaki who hold mana whenua over all the area included in this environmental programme. ## Key activities currently underway  ### Pest control **Pest animals** threaten biodiversity values directly through predation and consumption of fruits, seeds, and leaves, and indirectly through competition for food and other resources. Pest mammals known to be present at the programme sites include possums, rodents, mustelids, ungulates, pigs, feral cats, deer, goats, rabbits and hares, hedgehogs and wasps. Work is currently underway to reduce pest animals through a number of control methods, including baiting, fencing and live trapping. **Pest plants** exclude native plants from various habitats and kill some species by overtopping and shading. Priority species for control include woolly nightshade, wild ginger, wild kiwifruit, climbing asparagus, wilding pines, lantana, and Taiwan cherry. Besides controlling priority species, it is important to prevent establishment of new pest plant species through biosecurity measures and by eradicating small infestations while it is cost effective and feasible. ### Monitoring Monitoring pest plant and animal numbers is essential to confirming whether management actions are effective at reducing threats. Both result and outcome monitoring methods are used to assess this.  Result monitoring uses wax tags, tracking tunnels, camera traps, and plant surveys to track a reduction in the number of pests. Outcome monitoring helps us know if an objective has been met. This includes counting kiwi calls which helps us know if kiwi is thriving due to a reduction of pests. A project to protect and enhance several environmentally significant areas in the Whakatāne District has been re-confirmed for the next five years. [Read the full media release](https://www.boprc.govt.nz/your-council/news/news-and-media-releases/media-releases-2023/december-2023/environmental-programme-receives-five-year-extension/ "Environmental programme receives five-year extension"). Unowned cats, rats, stoats, dogs and other pests are a serious threat to our indigenous biodiversity. Predator control is essential to protecting our native animal and plant life. As a part of this work programme, live trapping is ongoing throughout the Whakatāne-Ōhope Environmental Programme sites. This includes the live trapping of feral cats. Unowned cats, rats, stoats, dogs and other pests are a serious threat to our indigenous biodiversity. Predator control is essential to protecting our native animal and plant life. As a part of this work programme, live trapping is ongoing throughout the Whakatāne-Ōhope Environmental Programme sites. This includes the live trapping of feral cats. We understand that this may be concerning for cat owners, so the project partners have put together some FAQs explaining the trapping programme and how to keep your cat safe. ### Is it legal to trap cats?  Yes. In New Zealand, unowned cats can legally be trapped as part of predator control programmes. - Live traps can be set within 150m of a residence with landowner permission, or beyond 150m without. These traps are checked daily. - The programmes live trapping complies with the Animal Welfare Act and is focused on unowned cats that threaten wildlife. ***Important: We do not target owned, domestic cats.*** ### What happens if my pet cat is caught in a trap?  If your cat is microchipped, we can quickly identify and return them safely to you. This is why we strongly encourage all cat owners to microchip their pets. The AI-operated AT230 traps used in the project area even scan for microchips before activating, preventing harm to registered domestic cats. ### What types of traps do project partners use? A combination of safe, targeted traps are used in reserves and bush areas: - Live traps: Humane cage traps for unowned cats. - DOC250 traps: Designed for rats and stoats, placed over 200m from homes. These can fatally injure a cat if entered. - AT230 AI traps: Automated night-time traps with microchip scanners. Domestic cats with microchips won’t trigger these traps. Project partners prioritise trap placement well away from residential areas and work with landowners when needed. ### What is the ‘Mink Police’ system?  The Mink Police is a remote notification system for our live traps. It gives a daily alert to advise of the trap status. It also alerts when a trap is triggered, so someone can respond quickly to check the trap and identify any captured animal. ### Why is microchipping my cat so important?  Microchipping ensures your pet’s safety. - If your cat is found in a trap, we can scan the chip and contact you immediately. - It prevents domestic cats from accidentally being caught in predator traps with microchip readers. - It increases the chance of being reunited if your cat goes missing. Microchipping is a simple, safe procedure offered by all local vets. ### Why should I desex my cat? Desexing prevents unwanted litters and helps reduce the population of unowned, stray cats that threaten native wildlife. It also reduces your cat’s risk of roaming, fighting, and contracting diseases such as toxoplasmosis. ### What is toxoplasmosis and why is it a concern?  Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the toxoplasma gondii parasite, spread through contact with infected cat faeces. - It poses health risks to other animals, including kiwi and humans (particularly pregnant women). - In one local case, a kiwi infected with toxoplasmosis lost the ability to move properly and was fatally struck by a car. Keeping cats healthy, vaccinated, and contained reduces this risk. ### What is a catio and why should I consider one? A catio or cat fencing is a secure outdoor enclosure for cats, giving them access to fresh air and sunshine while keeping them – and wildlife – safe. They come in many sizes and designs to suit different homes and backyards, and help prevent roaming, fighting, and hunting. ### How can I help protect wildlife while keeping my cat safe?  Great question – here’s how: - Desex your cats. - Microchip them and register your companion animal with the NZ Animal Register [www.animalregister.co.nz](https://www.animalregister.co.nz/ "animal register") - Vaccinate against common feline diseases. - Keep cats indoors at night. - Build a catio or use secure fencing to keep them on your property. - Support local predator control efforts. Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council, in conjunction with the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust, Whakatāne District Council, Department of Conservation, Te Runanga o Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Ltd, Ngāti Hokopū and Ngāti Wharepaia, Te Tapatoru ā Toi, and Pasadena Farms will be controlling rats in reserves around Whakatāne-Ōhope over the next 3 years. Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council, in conjunction with the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust, Whakatāne District Council, Department of Conservation, Te Runanga o Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Ltd, Ngāti Hokopū and Ngāti Wharepaia, Te Tapatoru ā Toi, and Pasadena Farms will be controlling rats in reserves around Whakatāne-Ōhope over the next 3 years. ### **What’s happening?** During September 2025-2027 and March 2026-2028, pindone baits will be placed into bait stations throughout Ōhope Scenic Reserve, Kōhī Point Scenic Reserve and Mokorua Bush Scenic Reserve to control rats. Pindone will also be placed in bait stations within the Dodds QE2 Covenant, the Ngāti Awa Kawenata (both adjoining Ōhope Scenic Reserve), the Vi Briffault, Whitehorse Drive, and Melville Drive reserves (see map below). ### **Why are we using this method?** Pindone is a medium-sized blue/green cereal pellet that is proven to be effective against rats. Using pindone in bait stations twice a year helps reduce rat levels through the breeding season of birds and allows for more effective ecosystem recovery. Other pests such as possums and stoats are being targeted with ongoing trapping. Any pest control methods used are part of the agreed Environmental Programme and are refined annually, based on the success of the previous year’s operations and the positive changes in biodiversity measured through monitoring. ### **When is this happening?** Pest control is planned for September and March each year in all treatment areas through to 2028. We plan to start using pindone bait in these areas from Monday 8 September 2025. Please note, warning signs will be placed immediately prior to the operation starting and will remain up during the operation. ### **How might you be impacted?** Poisoning can occur through eating baits, or possums, rats and pigs that have eaten the bodies of poisoned rats or possums. The risk to dogs and wild pigs from the pesticide will remain until carcasses have rotted away. This may take several months. The presence of warning signs indicates that pesticide residues may still be present in baits or animals. Please report suspected vandalism or unauthorised removal of signs to info@boprc.govt.nz During the operation, please: - DO NOT touch any bait or carcasses - WATCH CHILDREN at all times - DO NOT EAT animals from this area - DO NOT EAT pigs or deer from within the ‘buffer zone’ of 2 km outside of the operational area boundaries. - Poison baits or carcasses are DEADLY TO DOGS Veterinary advice should be sought for any suspected poisoning of companion animals. ### **If you suspect poisoning, please contact your:** - Local doctor or hospital - National Poisons Centre 0800 POISON (0800 764 766) for urgent calls, or 03 479 7227 for non-urgent calls or general enquiries - Dial 111 ### **Why are we controlling rats?** Rats prey on eggs, chicks, a variety of insects and other small invertebrates, and compete with birds for berries, fruits and flowers. The presence of rats also encourages other predators, such as stoats, weasels and ferrets, who prey on a variety of native invertebrates and birds, including kiwi chicks. By controlling rats, we can help improve the habitat for populations of threatened and keystone native species in the project area – particularly the North Island brown kiwi, North Island robin, kererū, tūī, bellbird and tomtit. This work also supports the development of a more representative New Zealand coastal pōhutukawa forest. ### **Additional information** *This pest control operation has been planned in consultation with and support from project partners.* *We have applied to the Department of Conservation to use this toxic and as part of this process, have notified neighbouring residents.*