Wildlife Protection Services New Zealand

With the knowledge and expertise gained in the field of predator control for over 16 years, we can guide private land owners and trusts with management plans and pest control programmes. 

We have two Interim certified predator detection dogs (authorised for the detection of rodents and wildcats) almost fully trained and another two new pups on the way. We have already been training the dogs with the support from private land owners and on neighbouring islands. In the future they will play an important part in the surveillance of these projects as well as on DOC sanctuaries. 

In the seventeen years of running Tui Nature Reserve, we have seen the land from the very beginning and worked from the bottom up. Starting with the hunting of damaging wild pigs and soon followed by strict possum control, easing the stress on the peninsula’s secondary flora regeneration. 

We do not use poison on the land, to protect birds such as Weka, Morepork, native NZ Falcon and the Harrier, but also for the impact it might have on the insect population. Instead it is our belief that on projects such as Tui Nature Reserve, or other organisations of similar size, pest control is an opportunity for volunteers or students to take part in monitoring actively. Not only does it enhance the environment for native wildlife with the absence of chemicals, but it is far easier to accurately measure the amount of pests removed and which locations have re-invasion issues. 

Soon after reducing the numbers of possums and pigs, we started to set up vast trapping schemes for the control of rodents. And as a result, in the last few years we have seen a steady increase of native bird numbers and proof of their successful breeding. 

By being persistent at finding funding and the support of local operations, we are also drawing close to the completion of many projects on the reserve including; the building of breeding-for-release facilities for native lizards, Kakariki and the Giant Weta. Also, kennel housing for the predator dogs and ponds to supply water all-year round for the native birds. In the planning for later on this year is a large, mammal-diverting fence along the peninsula neck which will protect the land from pigs, goats, and stray dogs.