Earlier this year, passionate trappers from across Golden Bay gathered at Pōhara Hall for the 2024 Mohua Trapper Natter. Held by Project Mohua and Tasman Environmental Trust, the event brought together seasoned trappers and curious newcomers committed to protecting native wildlife.
The day kicked off with a lively morning session with key insights from the Predator Free Regional Hui held in Te Tauihu in May. Participants then dove into an activity to map out the various trapping groups in the region. It was an exciting exercise to see the extent of trapping efforts across Mohua and the communities behind them.
The afternoon included a presentation from Pest Free Onetahua with insights into the latest AI developments on pest control and Marian Milne from Friends of Cobb, shared her wisdom on the group’s resiliency and shed light on how community-based groups can thrive long term. Hands-on learning took centre stage for the later part of the day with workshops focused on pest monitoring techniques, trapping and effectively using TrapNZ – a key tool for tracking trapping data.
Participants enjoyed delicious sausages for lunch care of Pest Free Onetahua, made all the more satisfying knowing the pork came from feral pigs caught on Farewell Spit. Elaine Asquith, Nelson Tasman’s Predator Activator summed up the event’s success, saying, “There were fabulous opportunities to connect and share knowledge, with informative talks and ‘how to’ workshops. The energy in the room made it clear: the mission to protect Aotearoa’s native species in Mohua is alive and well”.
If you want to join Mohua’s trapping community please contact TET’s Predator Free Activator Elaine Asquith [email protected]
