Kawau conservation and community groups

Pohutukawa Trust

Officially established in 1992 by Kawau Island landowners, the Pohutukawa Trust aims to rehabilitate native flora and fauna, to control introduced marsupials and other pests through humane means and, where practicable, to eliminate them from Kawau Island. Its origins date back to 1955 when Ray Weaver identified possums as the main threat to Kawau Island's Pohutukawa trees. Locals recognised that without intervention, the historic trees would be lost.

Despite this knowledge, the New Zealand Forest Service claimed in 1985 that Kawau was ecologically worthless. This prompted the community to mobilise and in 1986, to take action to protect the precious trees. They led the first large scale use of Timms traps in New Zealand, resulting in approximately 10,000 possums being removed.

This success was recognised as an official project of New Zealand's Sesquicentennial Celebrations in 1990 and led to the Trust being formally established. Focused on the conservation of indigenous species on Kawau and across New Zealand, the Trust has since gone on to achieve astounding results towards removing possums, wallaby, stoats and rats from the island. This has led to significant ecological recovery on Kawau, earning the Trust the National Green Ribbon Award in 2003 for exceptional environmental protection leadership. Following the passing of Ray Weaver the Trust has continued under the chairmanship of his brother Carl. Native seedlings now thrive, and birdsong is plentiful. In 2024 the island was confirmed to be stoat free and is now a stronghold for North Island Brown Kiwi and has the largest population of endangered North Island Weka.

If you would like to assist The Pohutukawa Trust or get further information, please contact us by email at admin@pohutukawatrust.kiwi
https://pohutukawatrust.co.nz/

Tiaki ō Kawau

Tiaki ō Kawau is an island inclusive environmental group which supports interested Kawau islanders to protect and restore the natural environment to the island’s full potential.

At its heart, tiaki is about care, guardianship, and respect. It’s the responsibility to look after something special – whether that’s land, people, or taonga (treasures) – in a way that protects its wellbeing now and for the future.

Being a tiaki is more than just a job; it’s about forming a connection. It’s understanding the stories of a place, respecting its history, and giving back to keep things in balance. On Kawau Island, this means caring for the land, its unique environment, and its spirit, so it thrives for generations to come.

Taking on this role is an honour. It’s about being part of something bigger, ensuring the mana of Kawau is upheld and its beauty and significance are preserved. It’s something to be proud of, knowing your efforts will leave a legacy for the future.

As Tiaki ō Kawau, we are everyone practising the protection and care of the natural environment of Kawau Island.

Communication is the key to support and progress. If as an individual or group on Kawau you are pulling out weeds, planting native plants, trapping rats, protecting native birds, then you are already a ‘Guardian of Kawau’. If you’d like to be part of the Tiaki ō Kawau environment communications and promotion network then please feel free to join the Tiaki ō Kawau Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/6620443944687719

Kawau Island Community Forum

Established in April 2024, the Kawau Community Forum plays a key role in the project to restore Kawau Island by starting with the removal of wallabies and possums. The forum ensures that the community has a voice in the project and is actively involved in the project design and implementation. Jon Bilger is the chair of the Community Forum and sits on the project steering group alongside Carl Weaver of the Pohutukawa Trust and Michael Wheatcroft of the Kawau Island Residents and Ratepayers Association.

Community Forum meetings are held monthly online, and all members of the Kawau Island community are welcome to participate. The forum is a great place to learn more about the project to restore Kawau and to ask any questions you may have. For more information or to get involved, please contact Jon Bilger: jonbilger@gmail.com

Weedbusters

Weedbusters is a passionate group of Kawau Islanders who are keen to remove weeds to facilitate native bush regeneration. We offer support to other landowners to identify and remove weeds, when they may not have the time and resources to do it on their own.

At present we have 48 landowners who are very active in sharing information and experience. Our goal is to get Kawau to low density weeds by 2030.

For more information or to get involved, please contact Jon Bilger: jonbilger@gmail.com