Waiuku hosted the Southern Pestival this month with guest speakers from across the Auckland region. Some inspiring stories came from the likes of the Waiheke the project where their aim is to be free of rats, possums and mustelids. They are very well funded and organised with a mixture of contractor and private land owner involvement.
Perhaps the best story was that of the Hunua Kokako re-establishment, the release of 20 breeding pairs and almost losing them all. With 15 years of learning and intense predator control a recent bird count resulted in over 300 pairs counted in one quarter of the protected area !
Not to be outdone though, the Otaua Rat Rangers were on display along with our efforts at Whiriwhiri.