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Our Vision:

To remove all mammalian pests and predators forever from Kotuku Peninsula and return the wildlife that has become extinct on Great Barrier Island.

The Method:

An Xcluder predator proof fence will be built across the peninsula on the boundary between Department of Conservation and Glenfern Sanctuary in the east and through the Orama Christian Trust in the west. This fence will exclude al the pests we have to deal with viz cats, rats, mice, rabbits and pigs. Luckily possums and mustelids have never made it to the island and goats have been eliminated.

Why Kotuku Peninsula:

Glenfern Sanctuary has been engaged in trapping cats and controlling rats with a grid of bait stations across the peninsula since 2000 which led to the re-introduction of North Island robins in Kotuku Peninsula in 2005. This method of control is labour intensive and not sustainable in the long term. Rats cannot be controlled indefinitely with poisoning as they will adapt to become resistant or averse over time. This coupled with the increasing difficulty of trapping cats and the damage to plantings from an ever increasing pig population has led to the search for a permanent solution. A peninsula is an ideal application as a short length of fence (2km) protects a significant area of land (230ha). 85% of the peninsula is clothed in regenerating and mature native forest where Glenfern Sanctuary has been propagating and planting a wide range of endemic species (10,000) since 1995. It will help protect the eventual pest free status of Kaikoura Island and is accessible by road.

Why a Fence:

It is the only proven method of permanently excluding pests from juvenile mice to deer. New Zealand is leading the world in this technology and many have been built around the country the longest of which encloses Mt Maungatautari in the Waikato with 47km. Before we can introduce sensitive species like kokako, kiwi, saddleback, tuatara or giant weta we must have a pest free area not just a pest controlled.

Kotuku Peninsula

Jutting our between Port Abercrombie and Port FitzRoy, Kotuku Peninsula is separated by a narrow stretch of water from Kaikoura Island. Comprised of private property and the Kotuku Scenic Reserve 140ha of the 230ha peninsula is in QE II covenant or Scenic Reserve status.

Kotuku Peninsula Project Aims & Objectives

To continue to reforest the peninsula with a wide range of plants endemic to the island.

Support the Kotuku Peninsula Restoration Project

It required $600,000 to build the fence which was completed by July 2008 reaching across the peninsula from Karaka Bay to Port FitzRoy. The cost of eradicating the pests within will cost a further $250,000 which includes monitoring every month for 6 months. If no survivors are found or incursions occur by then the monitoring will be cut back to 3 monthly for 2 years. After that period the peninsula will be certified as pest free and we can look to introducing endangered species that have become extinct on the island. There will still be the work of maintaining the buffer zones at the fence ends and along the coast within 500 m of rat infested Great Barrier and checking for rats swimming ashore off boats anchored in Port FitzRoy or Karaka Bay.

We Need Your Help

Sponsor 100 metres of fence

A donation of $2,500 will pay for 10 metres of pest proof fence. Sponsors will have a plaque with their name placed on an honour board at the entry gate to Glenfern Sanctuary. (All contributions are deductible from assessed income for tax)

Make a donation

A donation of $250 will pay for a metre of pest proof fence or contribute to the running cost of maintenance.

Proposed Work Plan 2009 - 2010