Soldiers helping DOC on the West Coast

Date:  12 November 2024

Soldiers from 2nd/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (2/1 RNZIR) in Burnham have contributed significant conservation work to Te Maruia Waka Huia special biodiversity area, northeast of Greymouth on the South Island’s West Coast.

From 4-8 November, the 24 army personnel worked in challenging weather conditions to upgrade a critical trapping network. The battalion built 83 trap boxes, cut and cleared nine kilometres of overgrowth on an existing trapline, carried in the new trap boxes to replace the old trap boxes, swapped the internal trap mechanisms, and carried out the old traps. 

On completion of that work, they went on to cut a new seven-kilometre trapline and moved 61 existing traps onto the new line.

Chris Hickford, Greymouth District Operations Manager says that keeping the job of protecting the many rare animal and plant species of Te Maruia is a massive effort.

“The help from 2/1 RNZIR has made a significant contribution to the protection of biodiversity in the area.”

Te Maruia Waka Huia is a stronghold for native and endemic species. Tomtit, rifleman, robin, tūi, fernbird, silvereye, grey warbler, bellbird, kaka and kākāriki are all found in good numbers in this area of forest, thanks to regular predator control operations including this intensive predator trapping network.

Warrant Officer Class Two Adrian Christie said the work they have assisted with is not only great training for soldiers but also benefits the local community.

“It assists our newest soldiers with navigation, carrying their packs, surviving and working in the close country environment. It also gives them personal satisfaction of doing a worthwhile job for the community.

“In addition it helps DOC out, which is great for us because they help provide us with some of their best training areas in the South Island.”

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