Fence and increased trapping proposed for predator-free Farewell Spit

Thursday, 9 June 2022

A map of the eradication zone proposed on Farewell Spit at the top of the South Island, with the pig fence, stoat and rat suppression area outlined.

A fence will be erected at the entrance to Farewell Spit in an attempt to keep out predators, with the Golden Bay community invited to attend sessions in a few days to discuss.

Pest Free Onetahua plans to erect a “modified stock fence” at the border of Onetahua Farewell Spit, in order to protect endangered sea and shore birds such as the banded dotteral and white-fronted and Caspian terns from possums, rats, stoats, and wild pigs.

The project aims to completely remove all pests in the area and prevent their return, allowing birds to nest and breed in the area safely. Pest Free Onetahua received $3 million in funding from Predator Free 2050 last year.

Tasman Environmental Trust's Sky Davies and Chris Wheatley and Peter Butler of Onetahua Restoration Project at the Te Whare Whakatū HealthPost Nature Trust Field Station.

The proposed pest eradication plan would see a fence erected along the border of the eradication zone and Pakawau forest. Intensive trapping, thermal hunting, detection dogs, motion cameras, and pesticides would also be used to remove predators from the Spit eradication zone.

A number of birds, including the variable oystercatchers, call Farewell Spit home.

**READ MORE:

Blue carbon monitoring in seagrass at Farewell Spit as part of the 'Core and Restore' pilot study. First published May 2022.

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A suppression zone would be established in Pakawau forest and private land in the Whanganui Inlet through moderately intensive trapping, and a barrier of traps would be erected at Farewell Spit’s border, before the proposed fence.

Previously, community feedback had showed support for the eradication of pests in the area. Farewell-Spit Wharariki was internationally recognised under the Ramsar Convention for its ecosystem for shorebirds.

The Golden Bay community and interested locals were invited to attend two drop-in sessions, at the Collingwood Tavern, 1pm-3pm, June 10, and the Old School Cafe in Pakawau, 10am-12pm, June 11.