Whakaeteete mai ko Hikurangi!
A major boost for conservation in the eastern Bay of Plenty has been announced, with a $6 million investment into the Raukūmara Pae Maunga restoration project.
Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says the funding will support iwi-led pest control and forest regeneration across the Raukūmara Range, protecting endangered species like the Hochstetter’s frog, brown kiwi, and long-tailed bats.
The project is a partnership between Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, and the Department of Conservation, employing 28 local iwi staff trained in biosecurity and aerial hunting.
Since 2020, over 1000 tamariki and rangatahi have taken part in taiao learning, with 14 kura involved.
Innovative tech like DNA deer surveys and thermal detection is helping restore the ngahere, alongside last year’s massive aerial 1080 drop over 116,000 hectares.
The funding comes from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, with $2 million a year committed through to 2028.
