Coromandel Backyard Trapping

Moehau Environment Group is bringing the fight for nature home

Kapanga/Coromandel Town is surrounded by some of New Zealand's most important wildlife habitat — and the battle to protect it doesn't stop at the bush edge. Rats, stoats, and possums move freely through our streets, gardens, and waterways, threatening the native birds that make this place special.

The Pāteke Hot Spot Project, set up in 2023 in collaboration with the Coromandel Area School and Predator Free NZ (with thanks also to sponsor Slab Racks), was a backyard trapping project established to protect breeding populations of pāteke (brown teal) at the Coromandel Town oxidation ponds. The success of this project shows the community is ready to expand — a connected system linking the hills, streets, and backyards of Coromandel providing  stronger protection for wildlife and making predator control part of everyday  That's where the Coromandel Backyard Trapping programme comes in with help from our caring community and partners Driving Creek Conservation Park

How the Programme Works

Getting involved is simple. MEG handles the hard parts — you just need a backyard and a willingness to help.

  1. Sign up Contact MEG to register your interest. We'll have a chat about your property and where a trap might work best.
  2. Receive your trap MEG will provide you with a trap — typically a rat trap housed in a wooden tunnel. Traps are designed to be safe for pets, children, and non-target animals.
  3. Check and record A volunteer will check your  trap regularly and log any catches. MEG uses this data to track predator activity across the network and identify pressure points.
  4. Ongoing support MEG provides guidance on baiting, resetting, and any questions that come up. If something needs replacing or you need a hand, we're here.

Get Involved

If you live in Coromandel Town and would like to join the backyard trapping network, we'd love to hear from you.

Contact MEG at info@meg.org.nz 

Together, we can make our towns a safer place for the wildlife that makes it home.

Coromandel Backyard Trapping is supported by Predator Free NZ Trust and Driving Creek Conservation Park

Thanks to Anna Sephton for her backyard bird images!

Check out the Project Flipbook to see how the project began