Protecting oi!
The taiohi in Raglan are working closely with the Karioi Maunga ki te Moana project and Xtreme Zero Waste. They are establishing a predator control and monitor project. This involves predator monitoring and trapping on Mt Karioi. In recent years Oi (seabird) have attempted to breed on the coastal fringes of Mt Karioi. The taiohi are preparing safe habitat for Oi so that they can establish a mainland nesting colony in Raglan.
In a second enterprise taiohi are establishing a line of traps on a bush block donated to them from Xtreme Zero Waste. Although this is not currently a money making project, it has the potential to develop into an economically sustainable enterprise and provide taiohi with future employment. Taiohi are learning the skills and confidence to develop contracts with landowners. Over time the taiohi hope to pitch a proposal to control pests on local properties.
Although not yet started, an exciting longer term project the Raglan taiohi are investigating is whether it is possible to use recycled plastics to make trap boxes and tracking tunnels. They are getting support from members of their community who operate Xtreme Zero Waste. Papa Taiao will be putting them in touch with our Wellington taiohi who are building sustainable tracker tunnels from recycled waste.