Hine’s Trap-a-thon
Raglan teen trades Saturday sleep-ins for 80 traps
We are super excited to announce that Hinepehia has completed her Trap-a-thon challenge! Here’s the latest update!
Keep reading below for more background about this mission if this is the first you’ve heard of it. :)
15 June 2026 (update)
Hine not only checked 80 traps as planned, but went well over that - checking and resetting 97 traps over 8 hours straight.
A huge thank you to all the community members, colleagues, family, and friends who got behind Hinepehia and sponsored her challenge. With over 60 sponsors, she has raised an incredible $3,750 towards her upcoming Outward Bound journey.
The Karioi Project has been blown away by the support shown for both Hinepehia and the conservation work happening here at Karioi. This challenge has reminded us of the power of community and the desire to help the next generation become kaitiaki of our environment.
Ka rawe, Hinepehia! He kaha tōu ngākau, tōu manawanui hoki. Your determination and commitment are inspiring!
Hine’s Trap-a-thon
By the time most teenagers are finishing breakfast on a Saturday morning, 17-year-old Hinepehia Lee-Hohaia will already be deep in the Karioi bush, checking traplines high on the maunga.
The Ruapuke local is taking on a “Karioi Trap-A-Thon”, aiming to check 80 traps across the Karioi landscape in a single day — clearing possums, rats, mustelids, and the occasional feral cat, before resetting and rebaiting each trap by hand.
Hinepehia’s dad, Terence Hohaia, a biodiversity ranger with the Te Whakaoranga o Karioi Project, is helping map out the route.
“It’s going to be fairly challenging mahi,” says Terence. “Hinepehia will be heading towards the top of Karioi Maunga. I’d be pretty impressed if she can check 80 traps in a day.”
Hinepehia decided to take on the Trap-A-Thon both to raise awareness about the threat introduced predators pose to New Zealand’s native wildlife, and to help fundraise for her upcoming 21-day Outward Bound New Zealand course beginning on 29 July 2026. The course forms part of the residential component of her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Kākariki Award.
“As part of going to Outward Bound, we’re asked to fundraise ourselves, so I thought trapping would be a good way to show the community how we can look after our maunga, while setting myself a bit of a challenge at the same time,” says Hinepehia.
While she admits feeling nervous about being away from home for 21 days — especially the solo component of the course — she is also looking forward to meeting new people and growing in confidence, leadership, and outdoor skills.
Hinepehia has been volunteering with the Karioi Project since February 2026, contributing more than 300 hours of conservation work this year alone.
Three days a week, she works alongside the team checking traps, controlling pest plants, clearing tracks, and supporting after-school environmental education programmes that connect local tamariki with the bush and wildlife on their doorstep.
“I really enjoy being outdoors and helping with conservation work,” says Hinepehia. “I also love helping with the after-school programme and teaching younger kids about the bush and the environment.
“I hope Outward Bound will help me grow in confidence, leadership, and outdoor skills, so I can keep making a positive difference in my community.”
1 June 2026 Update
A huge thank you to everyone who has sponsored Hinepehia so far. She is incredibly grateful for all the support and the many encouraging messages she has received along the way.
Hinepehia has already received 50 sponsors for her trap-a-thon - and has almost reached her target to get to Outward Bound. It has been amazing to see so many people from the Raglan community get behind this kaupapa and support both conservation and rangatahi leadership.
A special thank you to Trapinator for donating traps to Hinepehia for the Karioi Project, and to the Raglan Lions Club for their generous donation.
We are stoked to see such awesome messages to Hinepehia from her sponsors; here are just a few:
“What a wonderful effort you have already put into conservation. All the very best with your fundraising.”
“Good on you Hine! What great challenges you have set yourself - Outward Bound and your trapping target. Kia kaha koe!”
“Kia kaha my beautiful niece. You make our whānau so proud. Arohanui from Uncle Tony xx”
“Outward Bound is an awesome experience. Seize the day with both hands. I did it in 1996 and it changed my life. I hope it does the same for you.”
8 June 2026 Update
Curious about how Hinepehia checks a trap and what she might catch?
Check out the video Hinepehia made during one of her internship trapping days, where she takes you behind the scenes of predator trapping on Karioi!
11 June 2026 Update
Hine’s Trap-a-thon route has been set! Check it out - close to 100 traps will get checked!
