Pest controllers and weed warriors celebrate

In the 90s they were rugby team mates for Otamatea and Northland. They teamed up again in 2001 for the New Zealand squash nationals. Now they are part of an even larger team that isn't trying to beat other people but is instead trying to conquer pests.

Chris ‘Worzel’ Sellars and Innes ‘Inny’ Anderson were spotted at the Piroa–Brynderwyns Landcare Trapper of the Year (TOTY) awards dinner which was held at the Waipu Boat & Fishing Club on Saturday July 11.

Over 50 land owners, trappers, shooters, and weed warriors joined to celebrate the continuing successful reintroduction of North Island brown kiwi into the Piroa–Brynderwyn bushlands.

Reintroduced in 2013–2015, numbers have steadily grown in proportion to the pests being removed. Now over a hundred kiwi are happily making this area their home. With successful breeding there is now a generation of kiwi chicks indigenous to the region.

And it’s not just kiwi that have benefited. Thanks to the project there has been a noticeable increase in many native bird species.

A joint effort between the Department of Conservation, Northland Regional Council (NRC) and numerous volunteers, the continued success of the project depends largely on the enthusiasm and commitment of locals.

Pests eradicated in the past year include 1474 rodents, 93 weasels,148 Stoats, 42 feral cats, 125 hedgehogs, hundreds of pest birds, and many thousands of possum.

Countless hours have also been spent by weed warriors (or should that be weed worriers?) removing noxious plants like wild ginger and moth plant.

Coastal South councillor Rick Stolwerk represented the NRC. However, no DOC representative attended. Co-ordinator Graham Giles, with support from Kiwi Coast's southern region co-ordinator Amy Kirk, took care of the official duties on the night.

In the noxious weed section, the prize went to the Wairahi Tracks Trust. Two individuals were also mentioned – Belinda Vernon for her weed work at the Cheviot St reserve, and Bruce Copeland for single-handedly eliminating wild ginger from Ding Bay.

Jim Leslie was named rooky trapper of the year. The pest bird elimination award went to Chris Niell with a tally of 42.

Runners up for the supreme award were Bruce Matheson and Jon Climino, and the prestigious Trapper of the Year award went to Simon and Adele Walker of Bream Bay Farms who, with the help of the latest technology that notified them when a trap had been activated, were the leading scourge to rats, stoats and weasels.

The project enjoys generous sponsorship from local businesses Northpine, ITM and Hammer Hardware, along with organisations Kiwi Coast and the Waipu Men’s Shed.

This highly successful project is very much a local affair and illustrates just how much real success comes not from centralised control but from the 'hands on' participation of local people working literally at grass roots level.

Chris Sellars (left) and Innes Anderson are part of the team protecting brown kiwi in the Brynderwyn ranges. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Land owners, trappers, shooters, and weed warriors joined to celebrate the reintroduction of North Island brown kiwi into the Piroa–Brynderwyn bushlands. PHOTO/FACEBOOK