Photo credit: Jude Hynes
Photo credit: Jude Hynes

Ngā pūrongo o Kawau

Kawau news

Keep up with all the important news on the Kawau Island pest eradication project.

Photo credit: Jude Hynes

Introduction

The success of this programme, initially and long term, depends on the support and involvement of Kawau Island’s community. Auckland Council is committed to working with you, keeping you up to date and listening to your feedback.

This is your page to keep up with all the important news on the Kawau Island pest eradication programme and some of the environmental outcomes we hope to celebrate in the future.

Sign up for the project newsletter here.

Contact

If you have any questions, you can reach us at kawauislandproject@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

View from Kawau Island on a sunny day with a blue sky and a few clouds, with Hauturu / Little Barrier Island in the distance.
Looking out to Hauturu / Little Barrier Island from Kawau Island
Photo credit: Jude Hynes

Latest update: 22 April 2025

 

Kawau Island multi species eradication project

Working towards a pest-free Kawau Island
Restoring Native Ecosystems Through Pest Eradication

 

Auckland Council, in partnership with Ngāti Manuhiri and the Department of Conservation, is collaborating with the Pohutukawa Trust and a specialist consortium led by Island Conservation to eradicate wallabies and possums from Kawau Island. The team includes Pohutukawa Trust, Cornerstone Conservation, Qualmons, Coastal Pest Solutions, and Wildlife Contractors Ltd — bringing decades of combined experience in island eradications and strong ties to the Kawau community.

What’s happening:

Operational timeline

  • Site preparation work began in February 2025 to get Kawau Island ready for the wallaby and possum eradication.
  • This included setting up infrastructure like a temporary wallaby fence and wildlife camera network, establishing a base, organising equipment and resources and refining the operational plan as required.
  • From May 1st, weather dependent, the field team will begin hunting within Historic Mansion House Reserve. Neighbouring landowners and residents will be contacted by Island Conservation in advance of the operation commencing.
  • Our main eradication method will be hunting, with the support of trained indicator dogs and thermal drones.
  • Subject to permit approval, we anticipate targeted toxin use beginning in June 2025. Targeted toxin use following pre-feeding will be used in discrete localised areas where the monitoring network has revealed there are high numbers of wallabies present. This may include the prior use of rodenticides in bait stations at these locations to prevent interference by possums and rats.
  • Residents and landowners will be notified if, when and where toxins are used, and when uneaten baits are removed. 

Hunting is the primary approach

  • To ensure the hunting effort is as systematic as possible, the island has been divided into blocks with boundaries defined by terrain features such as gullies, roads and ridges.
  • Hunters will be assisted by a thermal drone to identify the location of individual animals within each block. Dogs specially trained to detect possums and wallabies will support the operation, identifying sites of interest, helping to detect solitary individuals and confirming absence.

What toxins will be used in areas where wallabies and possums are in high numbers?

  • The two toxins registered for use on wallabies are encapsulated cyanide (Feratox) and 1080 cereal pellets/paste or applied to carrots. Both toxins will be used during this project under a public health permit, where conditions are specified to keep people safe.
  • Fact sheets for the project are being finalised and will be shared with the community and visitors to the island through the Conservation Auckland Kawau Island project website. We will regularly update these pages over the coming weeks and keep landowners and residents informed through the project newsletters and the Community Forum.

 

Provisional Operation Timeline

Map of Kawau Island showing the hunting blocks, fence lines and gates. Block 1 includes public conservation land around Mansion House, and some nearby properties.

May 2025

Location: South of temporary wallaby fence (block 1).​

Activity: Drone surveys and canine detection teams, along with wildlife camera data, will provide information on wallaby and possum numbers. If numbers are high, pre-feeding with non-toxic pellet baits will begin, followed by hunting. If numbers are low, hunting will begin. From May 1st, weather dependent, the field team will begin hunting within the DOC Reserve. Affected landowners and residents will be contacted by Island Conservation in advance of hunting.

June to August 2025

Locations: South of temporary wallaby fence (blocks 1 – 6).​

Activity: Confirming Block 1 is free of possums and wallabies is required before moving through Blocks 2 to 6. The field team will progressively work their way north, hunting towards the fence between Emu Point and Smugglers Cove. Where numbers are high, toxins will also be used.

Methodology

  • Primary eradication method will be hunting, with the support of trained indicator dogs and thermal drones.
  • Targeted toxin use will also be used in discrete localised areas where the monitoring network has revealed there are high numbers of wallabies present. 

Kawau Island Takes on Argentine Ants: Protecting Native Wildlife from a Tiny but Mighty Threat

As part of its ongoing mission to restore Kawau Island’s ecosystems, the Kawau Island pest-free operation group is tackling one of the world’s most invasive ant species: the Argentine ant. While small in size, these ants pose an outsized threat to the island’s native plants, animals, and biodiversity.

Why Argentine Ants Are a Big Problem

Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) are aggressive, highly adaptable, and known for forming massive "super-colonies" — interconnected networks of nests that work together, allowing their populations to explode. Unlike most ant species, which compete with one another, Argentine ants cooperate across colonies, creating dense infestations that overwhelm ecosystems.

Their impacts are far-reaching:
  • Harm to native wildlife: They attack and displace native invertebrates, which are critical food sources for birds and lizards.
  • Predation on vulnerable species: They eat lizard eggs, bird hatchlings, and even newly born chicks, putting endangered populations at risk.
  • Disrupting food chains: They compete with native nectar-feeding birds (e.g., tūī, korimako/bellbirds, and silvereyes) by stealing honeydew and nectar from plants.
Kawau Island’s Fight Against the Invasion

The Kawau Island pest-free team is implementing targeted to eradication measures to suppress Argentine ant populations before they cause irreversible damage. Efforts include:

  • Baiting programs to disrupt super-colonies.
  • Monitoring high-risk areas to detect and respond to new infestations early.
  • Community engagement, encouraging residents to report ant sightings and avoid accidentally transporting them. If you want to report, look for someone from our team in the area or send us an email: kawauislandproject@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
How You Can Help

Residents and visitors can play a key role by:

  • Avoiding moving soil or plants that may carry ants.
  • Reporting ant sightings to the biosecurity team.
  • Keeping food sealed to avoid attracting them.
Kawau Island’s Argentine Ant Success

Residents already see results from the recent Argentine ant operations, with thriving gardens and veggies! Before, many struggled to grow crops like corn due to ant damage. Now, locals report bumper harvests. “We couldn’t grow corn before—now we’ve got heaps!” one resident shared. The operation’s success means healthier gardens and a boost for native species. Ongoing efforts will keep Kawau on track as a pest-free haven.

April Community Forum Meeting

Register for the next meeting

 

The next community forum meeting will be held online on Thursday, 24 April, at 7:30pm. If you would like to attend, please register in advance.

The community forum is an essential part of the project structure that ensures the community has a voice in the project and is involved in the project design. Ideally, it will ensure diverse community voices and perspectives, including businesses, charitable trusts, conservation groups, and residents/ratepayers.

The community forum meetings are held monthly online, and any member of the Kawau Island community is welcome to be a part of the community forum.

 

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