Damage to bait stations in King Country forest endangers lives

Monday, 5 June 2017

Vandalism to bait stations in a King Country forest is endangering the volunteers who service them.

The Waikato Conservation Board discussed Pureora Forest Park's vandalism at a meeting in Hamilton last week.

Over two years, about 25 bait stations and pink-tagging tape have been removed from the native stand of bush just south of Te Kuiti, board chair Mark Brough said.

'The tape is designed to assist volunteers in refilling their bait lines and to help inexperienced workers remain aware of their location in the dense native forest,' Brough said.

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Brough wasn't sure what poison was in the bait stations, but confirmed there was no 1080 connection.

'The poison was in the bait stations to target rats and possums that prey on the eggs and chicks in kokako nests.

'I'm not sure why someone would want to vandalise the good work the volunteers are doing.'

The continuous damage to bait stations and trap line markers is occurring in the 1000-hectare Okahukura Block, which is being managed for pest control by volunteers from the Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration Society.

The vandalism could result in volunteer workers becoming lost or injured in the remote bush, Brough said.

'In many cases the bait stations have been removed and rediscovered later, hidden or thrown some distance from the track.

'Bundles of marker tape have been found stuffed into trees and other hiding places, much to the dismay of voluntary workers.'

The pest control work being done at Okahukura is helping protect the endangered North Island kokako, which is becoming re-established in North Island podocarp forests thanks to groups such as the Pirongia Society.

'All this work is very time-consuming for our volunteers, who travel considerable distances to undertake their work.

'The thoughtless actions of a few intent on impeding their efforts results in a great waste of precious resources.'

Okahukura is part of the popular North Pureora destination for deer and pig hunters, as well as trampers and mountain bikers, Brough said.