Mātai Kōkako Conservation Project Established 2022
OBSERVATIONS AND TRENDS
The table below is a summary of the tracking tunnel observations from 5th and 6th December 2025. This measures rodent activity across the 70-hectare block.
Trap catch numbers provide a very direct way of understanding the pest numbers on site. This is logged by the Trap NZ software that is used for the project. Note that these are not the full 'kill numbers' as the bait also impacts on rodents and possum numbers. The use of bait is the primary form of rodent control and a secondary form of possum control, the latter after the use of possum traps.
Trap kill records are captured in the TrapNZ software that the project uses.
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Trapping numbers as at 16 December 2025
The reduction in pest numbers can be observed indirectly whilst moving around the property, through the following observations.
Spotlighting. This mainly occurs on the most commonly used tracks nearest to the house. The sightings of possums in trees has previously been significant. Now, around the house, this has reduced to 1 to 2 sightings per year. A recent late night spotlight covering the tracks showed no possums (January 2024) . There were also no rats visible moving in the trees, as we used to see.
Bait and lure uptake. At intense times of the year, when pests are moving around, it is possible to indirectly understand their numbers from the amount of bait being removed from the bait stations, and the amount of lure being removed from the traps. Whilst this is not assessed mathematically, one is able to get a sense of pest numbers that aligns with the kill rates at the time.
New species present. As different species and numbers of species become obvious, especially birds as these are more easily seen, this will be indirect proof of the success of the programme.
Note that the Auckland Council annually runs pest baiting and trapping programmes in adjacent bushland. This is targeted at rodents and possum control.This usefully lessens the load on the Mātai Kōkako project. However, it makes the results for the Mātai Kōkako project seem low.