Rats and rodents are no longer welcome in Devonport.
That’s the message from local environmentalists, who are working with Auckland Council to tackle a prevalent pest problem along the peninsula - a stone’s throw from pest-free Rangitoto and Motutapu islands.
Ngāti Whātuā Ōrākei has kindly donated 1500 rat traps, with the aim to have one in every five Devonport households. Residents and local groups are also seizing the opportunity, with many stepping up their trapping efforts across the peninsula.
“We’re driving for a pest-free Auckland by 2050,” Ben Paris, Senior Biodiversity Advisor for the council, says. “We’re really excited about everyone working towards making Devonport pest-free, as a symbol of what can be achieved when community, iwi and council partner together.
Locals band together
"Devonport peninsula is of strategic importance to Pest-Free Auckland as it is defendable on three sides by water. We can use this opportunity to start a rolling front of trapping and weed control up from Devonport up the peninsula towards Takapuna,” Ben says.
"The Devonport-Takapuna Local Board is also working with community volunteers to help coordinate extra protection of endangered shorebird habitat along Shoal and Ngataringa Bays.”
Devonport is likely to be one of the first stopover points for birds like kaka and bellbird, travelling from pest-free islands to the mainland. Having areas of habitat, including resident’s gardens, which are safe, healthy and connected is important in creating the North-West Wildlink, connecting nature across Auckland from the Hauraki Gulf to the Waitakere Ranges.
Learn more
Visit these websites for more information on how you can get involved:
- Pest Free Auckland
- Pest Free Devonport Peninsula
- Join the Devonport Urban Rat Project
- North-West Wildlink
Ben Paris featured on TVNZ’s Seven Sharp, talking about pest-free Devonport. Watch the story.
