Latest whio protection news

We’ve had an exciting year managing our Eastern Ruahines trap line. Not only have we fulfilled our target of checking the line every month but we’ve also added a new section of self-resetting traps down an untracked ridge, where we found evidence of kiwi. Since it was installed in March 2015, WTMC has been taking … Read more

More Parks Peak Trapping

After a long drive on Friday and the usual kebab stop in Carterton, we parked at the Road End around 11pm. Within half an hour, four of us were enjoying a bunk in Sentry Box Hut, and the three others had their ground sheets and mats laid out on the floor. We also managed to … Read more

Parks Peak Trapping

The trip got off to a great start, with an uneventful 5 hour drive north on Friday evening.  We dropped the hunters off at Masters Shelter for their own adventure and the rest of us continued another 10 minutes up the road.  On arriving at the parking place for the beginning of the short 10 … Read more

Wainuiomata Trapping Trip

Eight of us set off from Wainuiomata Golf Course, keen to learn the ins and outs of possum and rat control from maestro Mike Phethean. Our other task was to do a bit of work on the track to make the job easier for the fortnightly checks. We successfully avoided getting clouted by golf balls … Read more

Update on WTMC Trap Line: The Statistics So Far

We thought you might like a quick update on the WTMC trap line. The trap line is based at Upper Makaroro in the Ruahines and encloses a river valley that is home to Whio (Blue Duck). Members of the WTMC visit the trap line around once every month to empty the traps of predators and … Read more

Update from the WTMC Trap Line: June Visit

In late June four of us headed up to the Ruahines to tend to the WTMC trap line. The tramping club adopted the line in early 2015 and it forms a circuit, with another line, to enclose a section of the Makaroro River where Whio (Blue Duck) live. The idea is to visit the line … Read more

Another tale of stoat trapping in the Ruahines!

It’s great that the WTMC is looking after a Ruahine trap line to help protect blue duck from predators, and a visit had long been on my to-do list. I’m currently attempting to get fit for summer trips so I ambitiously signed up for Amanda’s Medium-Fit option. I emailed Amanda: “err…. I’m a wee bit … Read more

Out Damn Stoat! A tale of stoat trapping in the Ruahines

Are you a ‘peak bagger’ a ‘hut ticker offer’? Do you love going out into the bush to satisfy your personal desire to experience our beautiful natural heritage? Let’s face it; unless you are leading a trip helping others, tramping is done for our own selfish reasons of personal enjoyment and experience. And there is … Read more