Kia ora koutou,

We’re excited for another year ahead and hope it proves just as inspiring and rewarding as the last. We’re looking forward to reconnecting with many of you, hearing your updates, and learning about the projects you’ve been working on, or dreaming up across the region. If you need any help with anything please reach out to us.

In our newsletters you will find:

🧭 Inspiring stories from the field

🛠️ Practical resources to support your mahi

📅 Upcoming events to get involved in

💰 Funding opportunities currently open for applications

Most importantly, this newsletter is about you. If you have a story, a tip, or a trick to share, we’d love to hear from you. Your contributions help strengthen connections and spark inspiration for others committed to conservation across the region.

Sian, Tyler, Martin & Christina

P.S Our next edition will be in May 2026. If you have something you want to share, send an email no later than Monday 5 May 2026.

FEATURE STORIES

Community Action Driving Rapid Progress Toward a Pest-Free Coastline

The Kai Iwi Mowhanau trapping community has achieved remarkable progress in just one year, demonstrating the power of community-led conservation when people come together with a shared purpose: to protect native flora, fauna, and the wellbeing of the environment.

Since the project began on January 14th, 2025, the trapping network has expanded dramatically. What started with only ten traps has grown into a comprehensive predator-control system consisting of 86 traps and 20 monitoring tracking tunnels installed throughout the Kai Iwi–Mowhanau coastline. With support from Horizons funding, the group has extended its traplines deeper into the 31.7-hectare project area, strengthening protection for native birdlife, young native trees, and regenerating dune vegetation.

Each week, volunteers follow a coordinated email-based roster, ensuring traps are checked, reset, and rebaited regularly. The level of community involvement has been outstanding with around 80% of households now maintaining a trap on their own properties, each doing their part to reduce pest pressure and restore the natural environment.

The results of this collective effort are already clear. Since the project’s launch, volunteers have removed over 400 rats and mice, 200 possums, and 20 stoats from the area. Many residents have commented that they are seeing more native birdlife than in previous years, an early and inspiring sign that the environment is beginning to recover.

A key contributor to this success has been the guidance of Antz Manning, who provides hands-on support by teaching volunteers how to set up traps correctly and where to place them for maximum effectiveness. His professional approach ensures that every trap is used to its full potential, building community confidence and supporting long-term pest control success.

While the original vision for Pest-Free Kai Iwi was a ten-year goal, the combination of Horizons’ two-year support, strong volunteer participation, and the rapid progress already made suggests a much faster trajectory. Antz believes the area could achieve pest-free status in five years or less if current momentum continues.

Beyond the ecological gains, the project is strengthening community health and wellbeing. Regular trap checking, walking the lines, and working around the Kai Iwi area provides residents with physical activity, time in nature, and a sense of purpose. For many, the mahi is spiritually grounding, an expression of kaitiakitanga, caring for the land so that future generations can enjoy a thriving natural environment.

The Kai Iwi Mowhanau community’s dedication shows what can be achieved when local people, shared values, and environmental support come together. Their work is building a healthier, more resilient coastline—one trap, one volunteer, and one week at a time. We also encourage other people to help volunteer and remove pests to do their part not just for the community but for their own purpose in helping the environment and native wildlife.

A Practical Guide for Planting Projects

With our community grants opening for applications again soon, this is a good moment to share some broad guidance on planning your planting budget. These notes won’t tell you which species to choose for your site, but they will help you understand the kinds of costs you might encounter and the equipment you may, or may not need.

Every planting season is different. A dry summer or a harsh frost can reduce survival one year, while the next year may be far more forgiving. The key is to keep planting and maintaining your site over time. Each location also has its own quirks, often with several microclimates that suit different species. Starting with small-scale trials can save time and money in the long run.

Your trial might explore:

• Plants from multiple nurseries to see which stock performs best in your conditions.

• Different plant sizes. Smaller plants often establish more easily, but larger, hardier plants may cope better with challenging sites.

• Various supplementary products for example, testing fertiliser, water-retention crystals, or weed mats to see whether the added cost provides real benefit.

• Different investment strategies, such as planting a large number of cheaper plants and accepting some losses, versus purchasing fewer but more robust plants or using additional products.

High-quality plants are the most important factor in successful restoration. While there are many products designed to support planting, each one adds cost, so consider carefully whether they are necessary for your site. The table below outlines several options to help you plan; use the notes to decide which items are worth including.

For more detailed planning advice, you can request the Restoration Management Plan for Community Groups Guide by emailing us here.

Note: Prices exclude GST, and larger quantities often are cheaper per unit.

Community Pest Animal Trap Library Programmes 

What is a Trap Library?

A pest animal trap library is a shared community resource that allows residents to borrow a range of appropriate, humane pest control traps for a set period. Participants deploy the traps on their property and return them at the end of the loan so they can be circulated to other sites.  

These programmes are designed to increase confidence in local pest control, while offering an opportunity to get familiar with the equipment and trapping techniques before making a financial commitment to buy unfamiliar traps. 

What are the benefits of a Trap Library? 

The greatest benefits of a community trap library are education and confidence building. Rather than simply reducing pest numbers for a few weeks, it allows people to gain hands-on experience with a range of traps, learn how to deploy them safely, and provides the opportunity to establish what works for their site. 

It is important to recognise that trap libraries do not provide long-term biodiversity benefits on their own. While they can be effective at reducing pest numbers in the short term, pest populations can rebound quickly once traps are removed and moved to another area. Without sustained trapping pressure, reinvasion from surrounding areas is likely. For this reason, once familiar and confident, members are encouraged to purchase their own traps and install them permanently. Permanent, well maintained trap networks are what deliver tangible and lasting biodiversity benefits. 

What Should a Trap Library Project Involve? 

To have the greatest impact, a trap library should offer more than just physical traps. The equipment needs to be supported by clear information and practical guidance to ensure safe and effective use. 

A typical programme includes: 

• Short-term trap loans (usually two to three months; long enough to catch a few pests). 

• Access to written instructions and safety guidelines for each trap type. 

• Advice on choosing suitable trap locations. 

• Guidance on safe checking, maintenance and resetting of traps. 

• An outline of the time commitment required for effective pest control. 

• An introduction to Trap.NZ, the free national trap record keeping platform, which provides a comprehensive catalogue of trapping resources, an open discussion forum, and connections to wider predator control initiatives both locally and nationally. 

Selecting the right trap in New Zealand depends on:

• Target species
• Location (urban backyard vs bush block vs farm)
• Risk to pets/non-target wildlife
• Animal Welfare Act requirements (especially for live-capture traps)
• Whether the trap has been NAWAC-tested for humane performance

If you’re interested in setting up a trapping library in your community and would like some guidance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and below is a guideline of prices you can expect to pay for different traps. 

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

This is a selection of funding that is currently open for applications. You will need to read through each one to understand the application process & criteria and make sure to answer the questions with the specific information they request.

The EIF Large Grant is Now Open

Organisations can apply for up to $15,000 through the Large Grant by 15 March.

Your community project must support at least one of these focus areas:

• Improving food resilience, security, and sovereignty
• Protecting biodiversity and freshwater quality
• Reducing waste and supporting a circular economy
• Taking action on climate change

Projects must be within the Manawatū River catchment, including Tararua, Palmerston North, Manawatū, and Horowhenua.

Kanorau Koiora Taketake - Indigenous Biodiversity Community Grant 

Opens Monday 23 March till Friday 1 May 2026.

This grant is for community groups who are caring for the whenua and helping local ecosystems flourish. Funding and practical support are available for projects that protect, restore, and celebrate the unique biodiversity of our region.

The Pūtea Hapori Urupare Āhuarangi – Community Climate Response Fund will also be open during the same dates, supporting community-led climate action across the region.

You can learn more and apply for both these grants on our website.

Image: Planting at the Tocker Farm in 2025

ALL YEAR FUNDERS

This is a selection of funding that is available to apply for all year round, you will need to to read through each one to understand the application process & criteria and make sure to answer the questions with the specific information they request.

Mātauranga Kura Taiao Fund - For whānau, hapū and iwi to preserve traditional Māori knowledge and its practical use in the management of indigenous biodiversity.

Ngā Whenua Rāhui - For protection of the natural integrity of Māori land and preserve mātauranga Māori.

ENM Environmental Initiatives Fund - For small grants less than $1000 For Palmerston North city only for biodiversity protection and enhancement

Whanganui Community Foundation

Four Regions Trust - For Whanganui, Rangitieki and Ruapehu only no specific fund categories

Pub Charity - For providing some enduring or demonstrable community benefit

The Lion Foundation 

RESOURCES 

This section is where you can share some great web links to information, consumables or equipment that may be useful for others to read about or ask a question. Send us an email with any of this information and we can share it here.

Environment Network Manawatū Calendar 

Predator Free New Zealand 

Manawatū Estuary Trust  and the Manawatū Estuary Dune Garden is an easily accessed ephemeral dune wetland area within the Ramsar site, with rare and endangered plant and invertebrate species.

Arnim Littek is a regular visitor with many observations of activity at this site.  If you would like to know more or receive his regular updates email him here.

Wildlife Foxton Trust is open Monday through Thursdays 9am to noon for environmental education and supports the work protecting the Papangaio Te Wharangi Manawatū Estuary work through a number of programmes, including newsletter production, native plant nursery and plantings as well as a growing predator trapping programme. Volunteers always welcome. They also act as a point of contact for weekly pest plant removal on Wednesday mornings. 207 Seabury Avenue Foxton Beach (in the Senior Citizens Hall).

Interested in upskilling? 

The Department of Conservation offers free online training courses. Check them out here and expand your knowledge.

NZ Management Academy (NZMA) has an online 30 week programme in Rural Pest Control that includes both animal and plant control.

If you are using agrichemicals you can check out GrowSafe for courses on safe, responsible and effective use of chemicals for pest control. They offer two courses: 

• Growsafe Basic courses are suitable for those who are new to agrichemicals and those who are working under supervision. You do not need any prior experience in agrichemical use to attend this course. 
• Growsafe Standard courses are suitable for agrichemical users who are working independently with responsibility for a single site/property and may have responsibility for managing or supervising others. You must have prior experience in agrichemical use to attend this course. 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED 

JOIN THE TRIBE | Tōtara Reserve Indigenous Biodiversity Enhancement

The second Tuesday of every month between 10am -2pm at the reserve.

We will meet you at the Kererū Campground office block for a 10am start for the health and safety briefing, and then you can participate for as long as you can up to 2pm

We will be doing a variety of different tasks during the year so keep an eye on our events tab for full details and any updates to meeting locations.

All essential equipment required will be supplied, including gloves and Hi-vis vests, so you just need to dress appropriately to keep warm, dry and protected from the sun and bring some sunscreen, water and lunch.

If you have any questions please about volunteering at Tōtara Reserve please email us on here

Need help with something??

email us on BiodiversityCommunityTeam@horizons.govt.nz