Kaitake Ranges Conservation Trust 

Sarah Campbell and other volunteers relocating kiwi to their new home on the Kaitake Ranges

Growing a Community of Conservation Champions

Since the Trust’s launch in 2018, volunteers have checked more than 75,000 traps and removed over 11,000 pests. These numbers reflect countless hours of dedication—and a shared passion for protecting one of Aotearoa’s most treasured landscapes. 

What began as a small initiative has grown into a thriving community effort. Today, the Trust is powered by around 70 dedicated volunteers, all working together to protect the precious taonga species of the Kaitake Ranges. Their efforts span everything from checking traps to monitoring the wellbeing of kiwi released into the area. 

Over the years, volunteers have helped build and maintain an impressive network of more than 850 traps—mostly DOC 200s and 250s, with a handful of others mixed in. These traps are arranged in a grid that now covers the entire range, creating a powerful line of defence against predators. Volunteers head out at least every three weeks to rebait and clear the traps, ensuring the system stays effective and active. 

A small, committed team of volunteers has taken on the important task of monitoring released kiwi, checking in regularly to see how they’re adapting. Their hard work has uncovered valuable insights into kiwi breeding success and overall survival. The results have been encouraging—thanks to extensive predator control, kiwi in the Kaitake Ranges are not just surviving, but thriving. 

Volunteer, Kelvin, getting this kiwi ready for release into the bush

Volunteers are also contributing to an exciting trial aimed at completely eradicating rats from a test plot within the ranges. If successful, this project could pave the way for the return of more native species. 

The Trust’s achievements wouldn’t be possible without strong collaboration with partners such as DOC, the Taranaki Mounga Project, and the Taranaki Kiwi Trust. Together, these organizations and volunteers are creating meaningful, lasting change for the region’s natural environment. 

Susan Eagar checking one of the hundreds of traps on the Kaitake Ranges