Hine’s Trap-a-thon

Raglan teen trades Saturday sleep-ins for 80 traps

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.”