Kia ora koutou,
Ōtara Waterways and Lake Trust would like to welcome our new Pest Free Activator Nick Eacott and Pest Free Assistant Jordan Turanga.
Nick Eacott.
Nick and Jordan will be busy across the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board Area helping to create a healthier environment for our people by reducing the number of rats, possums and mustelids and pest plants in our communities, as we work toward our vision of making Ōtara-Papatoetoe a pest-free community.
Jordan Turanga.
What is a mustelid? Mustelids are a family of animals that includes weasels, stoats and ferrets. Originally brought to New Zealand to control the rabbit population they have had a devastating impact on our native wildlife particularly our birds.
Photo credit: Te Papa Atawhai | Department of Conservation.
A huge thank you for coming out to support the Papatoetoe Santa Parade – we had an amazing time seeing everyone and giving out high fives and hugs to all the tamariki and mokopuna in the crowd. Can’t wait to see you all again next year.
Pest plant of the month – Woolly Nightshade Solanum mauritianum
This pest plant grows all around the Local Board area and we want to reduce its impact on our environment. If you have this growing in your backyard please consider removing it, the fruit is very attractive to birds, which help spread it into our ngahere. See link below for how to identify and get rid of it.
Woolly nightshade • Weedbusters
Photo credit: Carolyn Lewis.
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