Celebrating Community Conservation
The Mangawhai estuary is world renowned for its diversity of shorebirds.
The Mangawhai estuary is world renowned for its diversity of shorebirds, seabirds and wetland species, acting as a critical stronghold for iconic native wildlife like tara iti (NZ fairy tern), Matuku-hūrepo (Australasian bittern) and tūturiwhatu (Northern NZ dotterel). It’s a key part of what makes Mangawhai so special – that and our amazing community. This is a celebration of where those two come together; a community looking after its wildlife, ensuring Mangawhai remains magical for generations to come.
In 2022, the Shorebirds Trust established a predator control trapline around the estuary to help protect native birds while they feed, flock and breed. Thanks to funding from Northland Regional Council traps were installed along the coast from Mangawhai Heads all the way to the Village. The network was then expanded in 2023 through the Mangawhai Community Park and Mangawhai Domain.
The real success story though, comes from incredible members of our community who have adopted sections of the trapline to maintain. Residents, bach owners, and even local students all generously giving their time clearing and resetting traps to help ensure our native wildlife thrives!
Together, they have removed over 485 rats, 29 stoats, 24 hedgehogs and 6 weasels, creating a safer environment for our native birds.
Mel Tito looks after traps in the Mangawhai Community Park – where she has singlehandedly removed over 100 rats! Rewardingly tomtits have recently been seen in the bush, where rats were once a major threat.
Jo and Murray Joiner are just one of the couples helping to keep pests at bay.
Along the coast, Jo and Murray Joiner have had great success trialling different baits and discovering they catch more rats in winter when food is scarce. They were thrilled to catch their first weasel – a key predator of Mangawhai’s coastal species.
At Moir Point, Mike and Jacky Toepfer have teamed up with Joel Cayford, Keven Hassall and Stephen Cole – encouraged by their success there’s already talk of extending efforts right up through the Mangawhai Heads peninsula!
Raymond Goodger maintains traps through the precious saltmarsh of Back Bay - home to the at-risk banded rail. He reports seeing and hearing these beautiful wetland birds more and more frequently. While around the Pearson Street esplanade, diligently maintained by Jonny Davis, a juvenile bittern was recorded this year – a promising sign of successful breeding for this critically endangered species.
Students from Mangawhai Beach School even maintain a stretch of the estuary trapline alongside their school. The MBS Enviro Group students have removed 64 rats and 5 hedgehogs, while learning firsthand how they can play a role in restoring the environment.
Finally, at the Mangawhai Domain, high school teacher Jess Baker has removed 38 rats, 3 hedgehogs and 7 stoats. Anyone who regularly walks the Domain will enjoy the rewards of Jess’s good work, with fernbird, bittern, and kākā regularly heard, especially around sunset.
This level of protection simply would not be possible without such dedicated members of our community giving their time and energy to such a worthy cause.
On behalf of the Shorebirds Trust, and the native wildlife of Mangawhai - a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed! Your efforts are making a genuine difference.