‘Friends of Kaipupu’ is the underlying support group for the Kaipupu Point Sounds Wildlife Sanctuary project, creating a treasure which will endure for future generations!

The Friends group meets to share in all sorts of tasks that need to be done as the sanctuary develops. Volunteers who offer their skills in a hands-on capacity are part of the Friends group.

Many different skills will be tapped into as the project progresses. 

Tasks that we need help for range from the delivery of brochures and newsletters, manning informational stalls at public events, talking with schools about Kaipupu, physical work out on the headland, taking photos, raising native seedlings, just to name a few.

The skills and resources needed will change as Kaipupu is developed and public access is available.

When the sanctuary is open, then people for on-site interpretation of what Kaipupu is all about, and its importance in the Marlborough Sounds will be needed.

Interpretive displays are planned within the sanctuary  – including topics such as the effect of introduced pest species on New Zealand’s indigenous flora and fauna, the concept of mainland islands, local Maori history, and the history of the Sounds.

Friends will be invaluable to make all these goals a reality!

Periodic meetings organized by the ‘Friends of Kaipupu’ are a chance for people who have an interest in finding out about conservation projects to get together, hear from guest speakers about exciting conservation programmes around the region, and hear about how all kinds of different communities have worked together and moved mountains in order to achieve their goals.

For more information about  ‘Friends of Kaipupu’, contact us at:

 info@kaipupupoint.co.nz

or become a member by visiting our Membership page and sending your form in to

Kaipupu Point Mainland island Society, P.O. Box 186, Picton.

REMEMBER…

There are lots of ways you can help, which are rewarding, highly valued and FUN!

And What’s been Happening Lately?

Pest work is always ongoing on Kaipupu. Stoat and rat traps are all over Kaipupu and Paul Leeds and Mike Underwood lead our pest eradication team.

 

Existing traps weigh around 6 kg, and are cumbersome in dimensions – which makes it pretty awkward for our volunteers to drag around the hills. Presently these traps have to be cleared and re-set on a regular basis.

This is all about to change, with the purchase of new revolutionary NZ-designed rat and stoat traps.

The new trap is called a “Henry”, is tree mounted, and uses a carbon dioxide powered piston to re-set automatically, so it can kill up to 12 stoats or rats before the gas cannister needs replacing. Also, the Henry is compact in size and weighs only 4 kg, so is much easier to handle in steep or bushy terrain. These traps should improve out predator kill rates, and free up our valuable volunteer manpower to move on with other activities.

 

On Track

There is always track work being done out at Kaipupu. A series of access tracks built by our volunteers enables physical management through trapping, weed pest clearance and so on. A number of ridge tracks connect through a link track right around the whole headland. Without these tracks, pest management would be impossible.

There is always room for more, so all volunteers are encouraged to contact Kaipupu through the website, and make plans to come out, join us,  and get started!

 

 

 

Act now on your New Years resolution to get fit and make a difference in your community –   contact us at info@kaipupupoint.co.nz