Trust Horizon energizes local efforts to protect native wildlife

Separate grants from Trust Horizon have strengthened two local conservation-focused organisations in their mission to protect native wildlife and control predators.

Combined grants totalling over $95,000 for both Ōhiwa Headland Sanctuary Trust and Whakatāne Kiwi Trust will support these community-led organisations to deploy innovative self-resetting trapping equipment, which is manufactured in Whakatāne, and new technologies to increase the effectiveness of predator control efforts as well as better utilise volunteers’ time.

Ōhiwa Headland Sanctuary Trust, who are committed to protecting precious biodiversity within the Ōhiwa Headland has received a grant for $13,000 to deploy 25 AT220 NZ AutoTraps across difficult-to-access public land. As a community-led organisation, locals actively work to restore the character of the Headland including; Pataua Island Scientific Reserve, Ōhiwa Scenic Reserve, Oscar Reeves Scenic Reserve, and Ōpōtiki District Council Reserves. Andrew Glaser, Chairperson of the Ōhiwa Headland Sanctuary Trust shared that there are currently 165 residents on either side of the Headland, and another 140 properties within the buffer, who are supportive of the programme with many assisting as volunteers undertaking restoration activities such as predator control (including maintaining their backyard traps), weed control, planting and further conservation support.

This funding secured through Trust Horizon ensures that predator control on public land can continue across these challenging landscapes including steep terrain, tidal wetlands and mangrove residing areas. Andrew emphasises the positive impact this will have through a reduction in volunteer time required and associated emissions from traveling to each site, explaining that, “we’re seeing real benefit from the use of technology and the AT220 traps”. This trapping program is the largest community-led environmental restoration project in the Ōpōtiki District, supported by partnerships with local care groups and stakeholders, enabling the community to get behind and see the benefits of conservation throughout the region.

Whakatāne Kiwi Trust is leading kiwi predator efforts in the Whakatāne area and with the support of Trust Horizon’s grant is able to enhance conservation and protection efforts across 237-hectacres of reserve land. Following the success of the 20 automated traps funded by Trust Horizon in 2023 the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust applied and was granted funding for over a hundred AT220 and advanced AT230 NZ AutoTraps, along with a number of Mink Police trap sensors, and TR8 Kiwi Scanning Receivers. 

Whakatāne Kiwi Trust takes an evidence-based approach to trapping, actively monitoring and reviewing statistics around kiwi numbers and predator reduction. “Using more automatic traps allows us to efficiently use the hours our volunteer trappers spend in the reserves and also means we can effectively trap in more remote or difficult to reach areas” says Sherrie Thompson, the Trust’s Marketing and Funding Coordinator.

Sherrie, and the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust look forward to the added predator trapping capability that this funding will enable, including trialing a new range of traps with added AI capability, a nationwide leading technology, designed right here in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.  Whakatāne Kiwi Trust appreciates Trust Horizon's support of its vision to see kiwi thrive and prosper in the Whakatāne district through public support and landowner co-operation.

David Glover, Trust Horizon Chair, says these two conversation initiatives also align closely with Trust Horizon’s mission to provide transformational investing in our community. “The innovative use of local technology, combined with protecting the region’s native ecosystem, made the project a great fit,” says Glover. “We’re very fortunate to have these two community-driven conservation organisations doing such great work so that generations to come can enjoy our local native forests and wildlife.”

If you want to apply for funding from Trust Horizon, look at our funding page here for more information.