2023 TOTY Awards

Anticipation was running high at the annual awards dinner. The awards were the culmination of another highly successful year of community-led conservation work in the Piroa Brynderwyns High Value Area (HVA), bounded by Waipu, Brynderwyn, Bream Tail and Mangawhai. Northland Regional Council provides annual funding to the local steering group to assist with pest animal and plant work.

At 23,500 hectares this block is now the second largest HVA in Northland: over 20 volunteer groups are involved in trapping, 10 groups are involved in creating healthy plant habitats, and local schools are running education programmes. The growing number of people involved and traps deployed are seeing exciting results as many landowners report increases in native birds such as tui, bellbirds and kereru in their gardens. Reports of regular kiwi calls and presence are now being confirmed at Bream Tail, above Langs Beach and towards Waipu West.

Winners were announced in the categories of trapping and weed action, and trophies were presented by Northland Regional Councillor, Rick Stolwerk.
This year’s award winners were:
Trapper of the Year (TOTY): 
Rookie Trapper of the Year (ROTY):
Weed Warriors of the Year (WOTY): 

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Trapper of the Year (TOTY): Kathryn Clark
Rookie Trapper of the Year (ROTY): Ian Burke
Weed Warriors of the Year (WOTY): Dawn accepting on behalf of Waiarahi Trackies

Congratulations and thanks to all award winners and volunteers.

Last year’s Rookie Trapper of the Year, Kathryn Clark, took out the supreme award this year, with her dedication to trapping at Waiarahi/Langs Beach Reserve. Kathryn has amassed an impressive catch record of 298 pest animals including 208 rats, 62 possums, 5 stoats and 3 weasels over this 35 hectare reserve. One of her highlights of the year was observing a ruru nest in a ponga trunk within the reserve. Two chicks fledged in spite of a possum that visited the nest but was subsequently caught. After accepting her award, Kathryn recounted the trapping demonstration she did for the surf club rookies at Waipu last year, where she pulled out a possum from the freezer - to the shrieks of her audience!

Ian Burke has earned his rookie trapper stripes as he strode out in all weather with Trapping Coordinator Graeme Giles into challenging terrain in the Bream Tail area assisting in the deployment of hundreds of traps and bait stations on private and public land. Ian’s contribution has been outstanding and will play a big part in accelerating our efforts in the ranges.

And to our Weed Warriors: congratulations again to the Waiarahi Trackies for receiving the Highly Commended prize at the Northland Regional Council Whakamānawa ā Taiao - Environmental Awards, on the 27th of June. Keep up the great work in the Langs Beach Scenic Reserve and surrounding area.
Ian Burke has earnt his rookie trapper stripes as he strode out in all weather with Trapping Coordinator Graeme Giles into challenging terrain in the Bream Tail area assisting the deployment of hundreds of traps and bait stations on private and public land. Ian’s contribution has been outstanding and will play a big part if accelerating our efforts in the ranges.

And to our Weed Warriors, congrats again to the Waiarahi Trackies for receiving your Highly Commended prize at the Northland Regional Council Whakamānawa ā Taiao - Environmental Awards, on the 27th of June. Keep up the great work on the Langs Beach Scenic Reserve and surrounding area.  

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