Environmental News

Hi there Waiataruans

You may have noticed in last month’s newsletter, I’ve taken on the environmental committee role for the WRRA. My wife and I have been locals since 2021, and I thought, why not make an effort to create change that I can look back on with a smile. I don’t have a background in environmental studies or a history of volunteering, but I do have many years in the IT industry, where I’ve honed my skills in identifying areas for improvement and implementing efficient and effective solutions.

With the help of Rita, Cathie, Naomi, Lyn, Michelle from PWFRA, and Mel from Ecomatters, I’ve learned that our environmental role, supported by locals and organizations, involves protecting native flora, fauna, and wildlife while controlling invasive pests, whether they be mammals or plants. Our area is something that every other Aucklander should be envious of. It’s hard not to feel a connection with nature and as you may know, nature has its ways of dealing with mammalian pests, but introduced species with no predators to keep them in check is when we, locals, decide to leave it be or to put our hands up.

I’m talking about possums, rats, and mice. I haven’t forgotten about mustelids and hedgehogs (they’re cute) which I will cover in a later edition. I recently reached out to Envirotools, a family-owned, New Zealand business based in Petone, about helping us – and Henrik, from Envirotools has stepped up to the occasion to strike a deal with a 15% discount on all pest traps sold. Their story of creating traps by locals, for locals, resonated as a community-focused, effective pest control measure. I shared with Henrik how Waiataruans have a strong community spirit and that with the right tools, we can start a uniformed effort to protect our Totara, Rata and Pohutukawa trees to name a few and to ensure that lovely birdsong continues.

Check out Envirotools https://envirotools.co.nz. 

They offer user friendly possum, rat, and mouse traps for all ages. Use the following coupon WAIA1124 before you complete the purchase to receive the discount. It is only valid for November. Do your bit if you haven’t already. So, now that we have identified the pests and have a control plan, we also need a means to record our effectiveness. This comes in the form of a website https://trap.nz and an app called Trap nz. It’s a national software system encouraging public participation in predator and pest control. Create a free account and join the “Waiatarua Pest Trapping” group.

Once you have been added to the group, use the app on your phone to create a trap on the map, state its purpose, and note any catches. Fingers crossed there are a few. The help page is excellent if you need assistance. https://help.trap.nz.

Watch out for my future posts.

Mark Thomassen,

 Environment