PHOTO: 1NEWS
Eradicating the Wallaby Threat: Te Arawa Kāhui’s Night Hunts in the Bay of Plenty
The full moon casts a silver glow over the dense forest as Wayne Morgan Ranui navigates a rugged track in the Bay of Plenty. It’s a chilly October night, and Wayne, the lead shooter, has warned me that the wallabies are skittish tonight. I’m squeezed into a sturdy truck packed with hunting gear, thermal scopes, and supplies for a long night of tracking and eradication.
Wayne, along with two trainees from Te Arawa Kāhui, is on a mission to control the growing wallaby population threatening the native forests in the region. This small team is part of a larger, iwi-led initiative funded by seven iwi groups and the Ministry for Primary Industries, aiming to eradicate wallabies within the Bay of Plenty’s 260,000-hectare containment zone.
The History of Wallabies in New Zealand
Wallabies may be synonymous with Australia, but they’ve been a pest in New Zealand for over a century. The Dama wallaby, originally released near Lake Ōkāreka in 1912, has spread far beyond its initial home. Unlike the larger Bennett’s wallaby found in the South Island, the Dama wallaby is smaller and just as destructive. Recently, another species, the Parma wallaby, was discovered in the region, adding to the challenges of controlling these invasive pests.
The wallaby population has exploded, and without intervention, they could spread to cover a third of the North Island within 40 years. The damage they cause is significant, as they feed on native undergrowth, preventing forest regeneration and impacting biodiversity.
A Community-Led Approach to Eradication
At the forefront of the wallaby control efforts is Cyrus Hingston, chair of Te Arawa Kāhui and the Ngāti Tarāwhai Trust. The kāhui was established to address the lack of resources allocated to Māori landowners in the fight against wallabies.
“Lakes Okataina, Ōkāreka, Tarawera, Rotoiti, and the Whakarewarewa Forest are ground zero for the wallaby plague,” Cyrus explains. “We’re supposed to be the tourism jewel of New Zealand, yet our forests are being devastated.”
The kāhui’s efforts are focused on protecting iwi land, which remains vulnerable despite the government’s wallaby containment strategy. Their initiative is a response to the absence of adequate resources from the government to protect Māori forests and farms from these invasive species.
The Hunt Begins: A Night in the Forest
As night falls, the crew is ready for a long patrol. They’re armed with thermal scopes, rifles, and an impressive knowledge of the terrain. Their mission is simple but challenging: hunt down as many wallabies as possible before dawn.
The vehicle soon reaches a point where the road becomes impassable. From here, it’s on foot. The men move silently through the dense scrub, despite their heavy coats and boots. Every sense is heightened as they scan the area for movement.
Wayne leads the way, his thermal scope picking up heat signatures in the underbrush. A faint rustle catches his attention. He signals to his team with a low “sss” sound, alerting them to potential prey. Moments later, the crack of the rifle echoes through the forest—one more wallaby down.
The Cost of Conservation
Each wallaby taken down represents a small victory in a much larger battle. The team works on an incentive-based system, receiving a percentage of the earnings from the meat, which is often sold for pet food. While possum fur has some commercial value, wallaby fur is too short to be of use.
But for Wayne and his team, it’s not just about the money. “You get to love being out in the ngahere (forest),” Wayne says, as he begins gutting the evening’s catch. “Money’s like a second thought, eh? When you come here and do something you love.”
The Bigger Picture: Protecting New Zealand’s Forests
Wallabies are just one of many threats to New Zealand’s native ecosystems. The government’s strategy, initiated in 2018, includes building containment fences, engaging contractors for culling, and encouraging public reporting of sightings. A 12.5-kilometre fence on the outskirts of Rotorua is part of the effort to prevent the wallabies from spreading further.
However, these measures are often limited to public lands, leaving private and iwi lands at risk. Te Arawa Kāhui is filling this gap by using a combination of traditional hunting methods and modern technology. They are trialling various techniques to control the wallaby population, but the shy and cautious nature of these pests makes them difficult to trap.
Willy holds one of the wallabies killed during the hunt Photo: RNZ/Sally Round
The Future of Wallaby Eradication in Aotearoa
There are high hopes for a wallaby-free Aotearoa. The government has scaled up its plans over the past four years, with the immediate focus on containment and long-term eradication. However, the success of this program depends on collaboration between local communities, iwi, and government agencies.
Te Arawa Kāhui’s proactive approach sets an example of how indigenous knowledge and community-led initiatives can play a critical role in pest management. Their efforts are not just about protecting the land; they are about preserving a way of life, culture, and the natural heritage of New Zealand.
Join the Fight Against Wallabies
As the night draws to a close, Wayne and his team prepare to head back, hoping for better luck on the next hunt. Their record stands at 42 wallabies in a single night, but tonight’s haul is smaller. Yet, every wallaby taken down is one less threat to the precious ngahere.
If you spot a wallaby in your area, report it to the Ministry for Primary Industries. Together, we can protect New Zealand’s unique ecosystems from the threat of invasive species.
Follow the Te Arawa Kāhui’s journey and learn more about their conservation efforts by tuning into the latest episode of Country Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.
SOURCE: RNZ