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Hikaroroa Mt Watkin Conservation Group
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The Hikaroroa Conservation Group works to maintain low possum densities to protect biodiversity, while supporting community engagement through workshops, trips, and local conservation opportunities.
The Hikaroroa Conservation Group is a community group made up of six farms and their families, working across properties surrounding Mt Watkin Scenic Reserve. Their focus is on protecting and supporting local biodiversity in an area of high ecological value. This includes one of only two remaining unlogged podocarp forests in Coastal Otago, as well as a boulderstream recognised as a naturally rare area.
The group also aims to protect and restore the mauri (life force) of this culturally important landscape, supporting mana whenua aspirations for kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and the protection of mahika kai and taoka species and habitats.
Jamie standing on a hill on 4 Rivers Farm touching base with volunteers over the radio to organise pick-up locations after finishing trapping for the day. Southern face of Hikaroroa Mt Watkin on the horizon.
Jamie (left) teaches Paul how to connect to the wifi of the possum trap to record trap catch data.
Martin servicing an AT220 possum trap overlooking Hikaroroa / Mt Watkin and the north branch of the Waikouaiti River.
Martin 'blazing' (cinnamon and icing sugar lure) the ramp of an automatic possum trap.
Martin for Aroha Kaikorai Valley servicing an AT220 automatic possum trap.
Jamie and Paul (Chair of Aroha Kaikorai Valley Trust) working together to refill the lure bag of an automatic possum trap.
Landowner David talks with members of the trapping team (Blake — volunteer, Ana — MCU, Thomas — MCU Director).
Splitting up gear at the volunteer depot on 4 Rivers Farm before the community trapping trip.
Thomas, Paul, and Jamie looking over the site map to discuss the day two workplan.
The ECO Fund was the first large funding the Hikaroroa Conservation Group, received and kickstarting our work. The group received $48,900, which was mostly used to set up and maintain an automatic network of possum traps across public and private land and remnant bush surrounding the reserve.
The project objective has been achieved, with a maintenance suppression network established across a 4,571.36ha animal pest control area.
This network intercepts possums and maintains low densities, preventing population recovery and protecting ecological values within the Scenic Reserve and Areas of Significant Biodiversity Value (ASBV) in the project area.
A total of 146 devices were installed and 1,002 possums were removed.
We will seed additional funding, including through the DOC Community Fund for community-led conservation to support projects protecting at-risk species and protected sites.
This funding will be used to continue work over the next three years, including possum and stoat trapping, expanding biodiversity and pest monitoring, and ongoing education and community involvement.
If you'd like to learn more, or support the Hikaroroa Conservation Group, get in touch with
Jamie Hickling hmwconservationgroup@gmail.com
