3258 - Okahukura Baiting

3258 - Pureora Baiting

Come walk with us in the most beautiful native forest of our region and help look after it at the same time. The Pirongia Restoration Society manages a pest control operation in the Okahukura Valley of North Pureora forest, primarily to protect a growing kokako population – but with great side effects for the other flora and fauna. Kiwi have been snapped on camera in the general area too so a night-time walk around the Waipapa loop track should be on your agenda also.

The Society covers the cost of the accommodation which has 5 bunkrooms, oodles of space for campervans, caravans and tents, a large dining room, well-appointed kitchen, shared shower facilities with hot & cold water, a drying room, and proper toilets. For the lodge you need to bring a sleeping bag & pillow, toilet gear, torch for that night-time walk, waterbottle, all the food you wish to eat but tea, coffee, milk and sugar will be supplied. For the field work you will need a weekend pack, parka, sturdy boots, and optional gardening gloves. A small pair of pliers can be useful when working at the bait stations.

Pack liners, Hi-vis vests, first aid kits, maps, and a PLB/team will also be supplied, along with the bait you will be carrying.

We meet on Friday evening at the Pureora Lions Lodge in time for the safety briefing at 7.45pm when you will be advised which lines you are to visit, and who your teammate will be. Newcomers are matched up with someone who has done this work before so no need to be scared. A bag of bait is placed in each baitstation along your designated lines. Most teams get 2 lines to do on Saturday and if you finish these early you may be asked to do more if you think you could manage this.

Finish time is set at 3.30-4pm by which time you should either be back at the base (which is 40 minutes drive away from the accommodation) or at least on the roads leading to the base. The ‘carrot’ to get you there will be fruit juice, fruit, sweets, and home baking on offer. If you wish to contribute to this feast, please do.

Whatever lines we don’t get to on Saturday will be visited on Sunday morning. The more people we have present on Saturday means the less likely we are to need to return to the field on Sunday.

The weekends’ activity is weather dependent of course but to date we have not had to cancel or postpone it. Please be good so the weather gods are kind to us too.

The same process will take place over the weekend of October 9-11^th but your pack will be much lighter.