Celebrating Our Trappers: Mahurangi West Pest Appreciation Event
On Saturday 15 August, Mahurangi West Pest held our annual Trappers Appreciation Event, bringing together volunteers and supporters for an evening of celebration and thanks.
Our trapping volunteers are a vital part of the conservation work happening across Mahurangi West. Week after week, they check traps, maintain equipment, respond to pest activity and help protect the native wildlife and habitats that make our area so special.
Over the past year, our community has achieved some fantastic results:
- 3,791 pest animals removed – an average of 73 every week
- 172 new pest-control tools added to our network
- 3,500 hectares protected
These numbers represent an enormous amount of community effort, and the appreciation event was a chance to recognise the people behind those results.
Learning About Bird Flu
One of the highlights of the evening was a very informative presentation from Dr Jean Gulbransen, General Manager at Animates Vetcare, who spoke to us about Avian Influenza (H5N1), commonly known as bird flu.
Jean covered what bird flu is and where it came from, how it can spread and how it has reached New Zealand. She also explained why H5N1 is a significant concern, the signs and symptoms to be aware of, possible exposure and who may be at risk, as well as practical ways to help prevent exposure.
The presentation was particularly relevant for our volunteers, who regularly work outdoors and around wildlife. It provided a valuable opportunity to improve our understanding of H5N1 and the importance of good hygiene and biosecurity when working in the environment.
Conservation in Our Local Parks
We were also pleased to have Jared Anderson, our local park ranger, join us to provide an update on conservation work happening across Mahurangi West and Te Muri Regional Parks.
Jared shared some of the exciting restoration and pest-control work underway, including ongoing planting, stream restoration, weed control and the expansion of the pest-control network.
He also highlighted some of the special wildlife being seen across the parks, including Reef herons, Australasian bittern (matuku-hūrepo), Caspian terns and other threatened species.
It was great to hear about the progress being made in our local parks and the continued efforts to protect and restore these important areas.
Recognising Our Volunteers
A special part of the evening was recognising three volunteers who have made outstanding contributions to our trapping network.
🏆Volunteer Trapper of the Year – Mike Neil
Mike was recognised for his almost six years of dedication to Mahurangi West Pest. As a Hub Coordinator and a Lead Pest Controller, he has played an important role in supporting our trapping network and helping others develop their skills.
Mike brings enormous practical knowledge to the group and is always looking for ways to improve our trapping systems. His willingness to repair, modify and develop equipment, share his knowledge and find practical solutions has made a significant contribution to our predator-control programme.
Congratulations, Mike!
🏆 Rookie Trapper Award – Keegan Tinsel
Keegan received the Rookie Trapper Award in recognition of his enthusiasm, commitment and willingness to learn.
Since joining our trapping team, Keegan has quickly developed his skills and shown a genuine interest in understanding predator control. He has particularly embraced the technical side of trapping and has become a reliable and enthusiastic member of the team.
It’s fantastic to see new people developing their skills and becoming part of the next generation of conservation volunteers.
Congratulations, Keegan!
🏆 Volunteer Rookie of the Year – Suzie Baartz
Suzie was recognised for the enthusiasm, energy and commitment she brings to her trapping work at Waha Ridge.
She has quickly become an enthusiastic member of the trapping team, showing impressive attention to detail and determination when dealing with pest activity. Her commitment to learning, her willingness to get stuck in and her enthusiasm for seeing results have made her a fantastic addition to our volunteer network.
Congratulations, Suzie!
Thank You to Our Supporters
We are incredibly grateful to the local businesses who helped make the evening possible.
Pizza Hut Warkworth generously donated pizzas for our volunteers, providing a fantastic meal for everyone to enjoy.
Puhoi Valley generously donated cheese, which we used as part of the gift bundles presented to our award recipients, as well as putting some on the table for everyone to share and enjoy.
Bunnings Silverdale generously donated a $100 voucher, which helped us purchase important safety equipment for our volunteers.
New World Orewa also generously provided a $100 voucher, which helped us purchase food and drinks for the evening.
We are very grateful for the support of local businesses that help us look after the people who are working to protect our environment.
Thank You to Our Volunteers
Most importantly, thank you to every one of our volunteers.
Whether you are checking a trap every month, maintaining a trapline, helping at a planting day, controlling pest plants, monitoring wildlife or simply lending a hand when needed, your contribution matters.
Conservation is a team effort, and the results we are seeing across Mahurangi West are only possible because so many people are willing to give their time and energy.
We are incredibly proud of what our community has achieved together, and we look forward to another year of protecting, restoring and caring for Mahurangi West.
