Trap lines are closed until further notice.

The Karioi Project has ceased work in most areas during lockdown, but we are keeping momentum where we can. While our trap line volunteers have been asked to stay at home, we fortunately have over 700 traps in our Backyard Hub programme that can continue to be checked in backyards around Whaingaroa.

Usually at this time of year, we monitor Oi/Grey Faced Petrels as they come back to land to breed. This year, the first of the returning Oi will be unobserved, as our camera monitoring will be on hold. It's a loss, especially as the vital predator control that protects them will also cease. We just hope that everything that has been done to date will be enough to keep them safe as they find their life long mate and breed. The Oi won't return until June/July to lay their eggs. Let’s hope the Karioi team will be back doing the work that is needed to see chicks hatch!

With the closure of schools, our educational work is also on hold, both after school and in-school programs. We hope to offer the Manaaki Ao / Earthcare program at Raglan Area School through online delivery in Term 2.

Students from this year’s Manaaki Ao programme were able to do an overnight camp on the mountain at the beginning of term one. We hope to work with these students online while restrictions are in place.

As a result of the suspension of all educational and field activities, we have been working hard to support our team of 15 staff members. This includes using the government wage subsidy and prioritising work loads to the employees that can work from home on specific tasks.

However disappointing and challenging this has been , we realise this is also a chance to take time to prepare, reflect and re-assess. There is much we hope to achieve with our small team, and our goals are ambitious. We invite you to be a part of this journey. Please keep encouraging each other as we work to restore and care for this amazing world we live in!