Mātai Kōkako Conservation Project
EST 2022
Matai Kokako Conservation Project
EST 2022
PROTECTING OUR LEGACY
We, the Maddock family, purchased our first block of native bush-covered land in Kawakawa Bay in 2008, followed by a second, adjoining, block in 2020, totalling 70 hectares (180 acres).
We have called the project Mātai Kōkako Conservation Project. The land is on the south-western quadrant of the mountain called Mātai Kōkako (350m high).
We are blessed to have a wide range of native trees on our land, ranging from one mighty Kauri that takes 7 people to encircle its trunk through to the nursery growth of ferns and manuka.
Tree species include; Kauri, Tānekaha, Rimu, Mātai, Tawhai (Beech), Tōtara, Kānuka, Pūriri, Taraire, Horoeka (Lancewood) and even a few Kahikatea and Pōhutukawa. Many of these are common.
Common ferns and palms include; Nīkau, Ponga, Ti Kōuka (Cabbage tree) and an array of ground ferns.
Current trapping and pest control stats - as at 16 December 2025
Several species of bird call this land home, including Kākā, Tūī, Kererū, Kōtare (Kingfisher) and the Pīwakawaka (Fantail – Rebekah’s favourite). There are many smaller and less visible species that we are yet to learn to name – some can just be heard, like the Pīpīwharauroa (Shining Cuckoo).
In 2022, and after several Covid-related delays, we set up our trapping and baiting programme with the help of WilderNZ, in order to protect and grow these flora and fauna. The network involves a range of bait stations and traps at an ever-increasing number of locations around the property – currently in excess of 120 locations. Each location has up to 4 different types of control tool – from a solitary bait station through to 3 kill traps and a bait station. (See the Pest Management Network details page.) There is a wide range of target species:• Rodents• Possums• Mustelids – stoats, weasels and ferrets• Feral cats Large pest mammals (pigs, goats and the occasional deer) are present on the site in low numbers. These are managed currently by intermittent hunting. The long-term plan is to fence the entire property with a mammal-proof structure.Our objective is simply to enable native flora and fauna to flourish on our land. The hope is that the birds that can live safely in this area are able to move through to other areas of bush in the region.