Door knocking completed
Fri 8 Aug, 2 months ago
We have been door knocking Mid South Titirangi Road, Landing Road, Grendon Road, Tinopai Road, Woontons Lane, McEldowney Road and Paturoa Road. The door knocking is a follow up after a letter drop a week ago. Our focus is the proposed rollout of our pest control work, phase 3.
Are you in one of the streets listed above? Some further info for you....
South Titirangi Urban Forest Sanctuary - Year Three
Two years ago, we embarked on an ambitious plan. TUS began intensive pest control work in an initial trial zone below Arama Ave. We consulted with experts and used best practice with carefully planned techniques. Our aim was to bring predator numbers in this area so low as to reestablish and sustain natural biodiversity. The trial proved to be very successful in all regards, with radically reduced predator numbers.
The following year we expanded into our second phase, alongside the original trial area. From the outset, we have had overwhelming support from residents who have happily reported noticeable differences in bird numbers and native bush regeneration.
Long term, our aim is to roll out this scheme across the entire South Titirangi Peninsula, creating an urban forest sanctuary. TUS is now working towards Phase 3 of our project. This extension encompasses around another 220 households.
Not all homes in your area will have bait stations or monitoring on them but all residents need to be aware of this project in your street. Residents with their own traps in place, support and amplify our work. Our team working in the area can support your trapping efforts and give you expert advice and information.
TUS bait stations are set away from houses to create easy access for our team and little nuisance to homeowners. The bait stations are locked and tamper proof and importantly totally safe around pets.
Once we have talked to all the residents in this area and canvassed their support, we will confirm Phase 3. We will be door knocking residents in the new area between 9-17th August. We hope we can meet you and talk through our plans, we can also answer any questions you might have. If we miss you, we will leave a slip under your door with our contact information.
If you support this project and are happy to have bait stations and or monitoring equipment on your property, please email us southtitiranginn@gmail.com with "YES I'D LIKE TO HELP" in the subject line.
FAQ'S
RELATING TO OUR PREDATOR CONTROL ZONE
1. What is a Predator Control Plan?
Our expert-approved Predator Control Plan for South Titirangi is designed to regenerate our forest canopy, increase native birds, including Kākā and Ōi (grey-faced petrels), and even attract Kōkako.
2. Has a project like this been successfully done before?
There are a number of successful projects in residential areas around Aotearoa New Zealand like Wellington and Waiheke Island. Waiheke and Wellington are aiming at being predator free. STNN has just led a year long trial, our aim is to suppress (rather than eliminate) pests to a level where native species can make a comeback. When suburbs surrounding South Titirangi join in the predator eradication effort we can work towards being predator free like Wellington.
3. The roll out of the Predator Control Zone follows a year long trial. Was the trial a success?
Yes, it has been a great success! We completed our trial in October 2024. 78% of residents took part, we have reduced rats to 10% and possums to 0%, using our monitoring tools. From that success, we plan to work with the community, to steadily roll-out the urban forest sanctuary in South Titirangi. We are now in year two of the project and are proposing to sustain the existing trial area and expand north. This will double the size of the area to about 41 hectares (100 acres).
4. Where was the trial project area?
The trial area was about 18HA and stretches south from Arama Avenue and Tamariki Reserve to the coastline. It includes Arapito Road and South Titirangi Road from 757 - 810. There are about 90 private properties and four public reserves in the area.
5. Who is managing this project?
Titirangi Urban Sanctuary ( formerly STNN) is a community group that was established in 2016 by South Titirangi locals to work towards a weed and pest-free South Titirangi Peninsula. Our roles include laying and maintenance of bait stations, communications with neighbours and tracking of successes.
6. Does it cost me anything to be involved?
Nothing at all, but as a charitable trust that is run mostly by volunteers, donations are always welcomed.
7. How can I be involved?
There are lots of ways to get involved, including:
● Have a trap in your backyard and share catch data on Trap NZ. We may be able to provide one for free, please email us.
● Offer your skills to doorknock, check trap and/or monitoring lines or get rid of invasive weeds.
● Subscribe to our newsletter or join us on Facebook
● Set up a regular donation.
8. What methods are being used to suppress predators?
We will keep the existing buffer line in Arama Avenue for 6 months or more and establish a new buffer on the northern end of the proposed extension (see map). A buffer line is two lines of bait stations (25m x 25m apart) to reduce the incursion of pests into the project area. The rest of the trial area will have interior bait stations (100m x 100m apart), coastal bait stations (50m apart) possum and stoat traps. We will use a ‘pulse’ method whereby bait stations are filled and serviced four times a year for one month each time. At the end of each pulse, all unused baits are removed.
This is not a poison drop; bait will be carefully placed in locked bait stations managed by TUS. Alongside the bait stations, we will encourage people to have rat traps on their property that they check weekly. We will also have monitoring lines to collect data on native birds, geckos, pests and forest canopy.
9. Are you targeting cats?
No, we are only targeting mice, rats, possums and stoats. However, we encourage people to be responsible cat owners when living in native bush. A responsible cat owner feeds their cat regularly, has their cat wear a bell and/or cat ruffle during the day to reduce wildlife kill and keeps their cat in at night.
10. How safe are bait stations and traps for pets, children and wildlife?
We use Protecta Ambush bait stations which are locked and designed to avoid non-target species and to be tamper resistant for pets and children. The bait used is Ditrac for three of the four pulses. For one of the four pulses, we use Contrac. The method we will use has been safely used in our trial and on the Miramar Peninsula in Wellington for over three years. Thousands of households, businesses and schools have had bait stations and traps without safety problems emerging for pets, children or non-target wildlife. In the very unlikely event that you think your pet may be ill, there is an effective antidote available using Vitamin K which a vet can administer.
11. Will bait stations and traps be on public or private land?
Both public and private land - where the owner agrees to it. Placement and access arrangements can be made with the owner.
12. Will 1080 be used in the project?
No - see question 10. This is not a poison drop; bait will be carefully placed in locked bait stations managed by STNN.
13. How will the spread of Kauri dieback be prevented by those servicing the bait stations?
The project area has been chosen to avoid concentrations of Kauri trees. TUS has consulted with Kauri Rescue and Auckland Council to develop a Kauri Dieback Prevention procedure. TUS has also minimised the numbers of contractors and will train those working on the lines to prevent any spread of the disease.
14. Will contractors be coming onto private land? If so, do households get advance warning?
Yes, if you agree to have a bait station on your property. We will use a ‘pulse’ method whereby stations are filled and serviced four times a year for one month each time. During that month, the bait stations are visited by the contractor 5 times. At the end of each pulse, all unused baits are removed. So a contractor will come onto your property 5x each quarter, and you will be informed of pulse dates in advance through email or text.
If you would like to volunteer or offer up your property as a site for our equipment, please get in touch. Our contact details are at the bottom of this page.