Our latest newsletter is out!

Sun 22 Jun, 4 months ago

Titirangi Urban Sanctuary June 2025 Newsletter
(formerly South Titirangi Neighbourhood Network)

Beach Clean Ups

During June and July TUS volunteers have been busy cleaning up local beaches. So far we have worked on French Bay, Wood Bay, Davies Bay and Titirangi Beach. Jenkins Bay is our final area, scheduled for 5th July 12- 2pm. Come join us! It makes for a very satisfying couple of hours!

Volunteers!

New hi vis vests are coming your way! Branded with our new logo, our new vests will make sure you stand out while working away on the Sanctuary. Trapline volunteers will be first to be issued vests, you will receive these before the end of June.

Positive News - Grants approvals and generous donations

We are thrilled to announce ongoing funding has been approved to support the work of our Part time community coordinator, Kate. TUS is run almost entirely by volunteers, but coordinating this effort takes a great deal of organisation and coordination. With large scale projects underway, we need Kate’s strategic thinking, organisational skills and patience! Many thanks to Auckland City Regional Environment and Natural Heritage (RENH) Grant Programme.

In other funding news, more funding has come in to support the Predator Control Project. This funding will pay for bait, traps, our contractor and monitoring equipment, in other words - the essentials! Sincere thanks to the Lotteries Environment and Heritage Fund 2025.

This month we have also received a couple of sizeable private donations. These are always very special and very much appreciated. Keen to support our work with a donation? Contact us at admin@tus.nz

Future Fundraiser - Titirangi Garden Tour

As part of our ongoing fundraising efforts we are in the early stages of planning a Garden Tour of private gardens in Titirangi. The tour is planned for late summer 2026. If you have a garden you’d like to share with other garden enthusiasts, let us know, we’d love to have you involved!

Backyard trappers, volunteers & local supporters, please go to the website and register CLICK HERE

Residents living near the Zig Zag track will have noted lots of activity over the last few weeks as work is undertaken to get this much loved trail reopened again after devastating slips almost three years ago. At this stage the Auckland Council website states that the park will be open again by August 2025. Word on the grapevine is that it may be earlier! We think this is great news! Big shout out to our Trapline volunteers who have continued working in Atkinson Park on the upper and lower sections of the Zig Zag track throughout this period. They have been doing trapping work moving around the slips. This has been challenging work!

Pulse Results

This pulse has been interesting to say the least! Firstly we noted that large amounts of bait had been taken. Low rat numbers in the monitoring tunnels post pulse indicate that rat numbers are relatively low and steady. Mice numbers, however have increased. We have consulted with our Predator Control expert Dr Biz Bell and she has indicated that mice numbers have most likely increased due to the decline in rat numbers. Rats apparently predate on mice! A change in strategy is required to contain this sharp increase in mice numbers. Work is underway. See the map below for a graphic representation of post pulse monitoring results.

*When the pulse is on, the effect can be amplified by backyard trappers and baiters setting and checking their traps simultaneously. If you would like to be part of the next synchronised pulse,txt Jo ‘Pulse Reminder Pls’ 021 1355368.