A month at the Trust (August 2026)
Another year of predator control has come to an end as winter makes it's presence known. Over the past year our predator captures have been consistent with a partial beech mast event occurring (ie. higher rat & mice numbers), however mustelid numbers are yet to track up. Possum & pig captures are up substantially due to the dedicated methods of dealing to them introduced over the last 12 months by the Trust. Previous year stats are in brackets...
Stoats: 67 (112)
Weasels: 34 (31)
Ferrets: 0 (1)
Rats: 640 (451)
Mice: 93 (18)
Wild Cats: 8 (15)
Possums: 149 (25)
Hedgehogs: 11 (15)
Hares: 2 (0)
Pigs: 10 (0)
Our numerous dedicated volunteers have put in approx. 2034 hours over the last year over all activities.
It is without doubt that our continued efforts have made a significant difference to the well-being of our indigenous wildlife in the Parks.In the past month we have welcomed aboard 6 new volunteers... Will Lovell, Connor Wilson, Dylan McDonald, Kate Throgmorton, Merijn Hemels, and Nick Boughton. Thank you so much for wanting to give your valuable time to helping the Trust achieve its goals. The Wildlife Trust now has over 150 volunteers helping it out with its activities.
Top Image: Bealey Valley
High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) Update (August 2026)
HPAI (H5N1) has been spreading globally since late 2020. It has been spreading rapidly amongst sea birds and some sea mammals in the sub-antarctic islands southwest of Australia. It was first identified on the Australian mainland on 24 June 2026, and on 15 July 2026 - a first positive case was confirmed here in Aotearoa via a single ocean-going brown skua found on a Wellington beach.
Since that time in Australian cases have expanded to wild seabirds in Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. The total number of confirmed and suspected cases of H5N1 in Australia now stands at 33.
In New Zealand we have only two confirmed cases of HPAI (H5N1), the first being the brown skua, the second being a kāhu (swamp harrier) found near Carterton in the Wairarapa, confirmed positive on 17 July 2026.
Risk to other NZ animals
HPAI (H5N1) can move rapidly through sea birds that live in colonies. All waterfowl are at risk. Pinnipeds such as fur seals and sea lions are very susceptible to the virus. Any bird of prey (kāhu, NZ Falcon, Morepork) can also acquire the virus due to feeding on carrion or infected animals. Domestic poultry can be at high risk because of outdoor interactions with wild infected birds, and their stocking density allows for rapid spread. Livestock (dairy cattle & potentially goats) can also acquire the virus. Domestic cats and carnivores such as mustelids (ferrets, stoats, weasels) can also be infected.
The Arthur's Pass Perspective
There are vectors that could potentially bring HPAI into the Park, these include birds that hunt or visit coastal areas (Black-backed gulls, and could well include Kea that visit the West Coast seeking fat during the early winter months). Unwashed hens eggs (that the Trust uses as bait) could also carry the virus from an infected poultry farm - hence we remain vigilant to any outbreaks in domestic poultry in the South Island.
The virus can be carried in faeces and vomit, so there is potential for people (trappers) to move it about the environment particularly on footwear.
Vaccine Trail in NZ
MPI manages use of HPAI vaccines, which are not commercially available in New Zealand. MPI granted approval for DOC to use the Poulvac Flufend RG vaccine in a controlled trial to test its safety and efficacy in a select number of endangered native birds. The vaccine contains inactivated (dead) virus that cannot cause a bird flu infection. It has been shown to be safe and effective in zoos in Europe.
The trial was limited to a small number of threatened native species in specified captive facilities. It was being carried out under strictly controlled conditions by DOC.
Five native species were selected for the vaccination trial, due to their critical conservation status and reliance on captive breeding for species survival: kakī/black stilt, takahē, kākāpō, tūturuatu/shore plover and red-crowned parakeet/kākāriki (as a surrogate species for kākāriki karaka/orange-fronted parakeet).
The vaccine trial on five native bird species is now complete. This involved giving all the birds involved in the trial two doses of the vaccine one month apart, regular health assessments and blood tests of the trial birds to monitor their reactions and presence of antibodies.
None of the birds have shown any adverse reaction to the vaccine and all five species showed a strong initial antibody response to vaccination. Four of the species had a response which lasted for at least 6 months in most individuals, however in kakī the levels dropped at 3 months. Booster vaccination doses could be considered to extend the antibody levels if required.
These results show that the vaccine is effective and safe, and the vaccine could be a useful tool to protect some threatened species if HPAI arrived in New Zealand. It would need to be administered close to the time of arrival of HPAI to ensure the protection was recent and strong.
More Information
Kiwi Hui Talk :
Click HereMPI :
Click HereDOC :
Click HereTop Image: HPAI H5N1 Virus
Save the Kiwi initiative supporting our trap upgrade project (August 2026)
In an initiative being undertaken in association with
Save the Kiwi, APWT is about to embark on a 3 year project to replace 300 mustelid/rat traps that are over 20 years old, and/or are non-compliant with current trap design standards.
The Arthur's Pass Wildlife Trust is extremely grateful to have acquired funding from
Save the Kiwi for the materials required to construct these replacement kea-proof DOC150 traps.
It is envisaged we will have most materials on hand for the first build of 100+ traps around mid-October. Prior to the final trap construction day, about 3 days of timber cutting is required to create all the parts necessary for assembly. We will notify everybody closer the time.
Following the trap construction, will be trap-carries, as we move new traps in, and take old traps out of various trap-lines in our network. Old traps will be stripped of reusable materials (S/S grilles & traps).
There are actually 421 traps in the field in need of replacement, and the additional 121 will be replaced concurrently.
Top Image: Trap building kits
Selwyn Predator Free 2050 Funding (August 2026)
The APWT has been successful with its funding application to the Selwyn District Council Predator Free 2050 Fund. Thank you Selwyn for being so supportive of the mahi the Wildlife Trust does!
The funds awarded will keep the Wildlife Trust's hi-tech trapping network operational throughout the next 12 months, this includes our 50 monitored feral cat traps, 50 monitored / unmonitored possum traps, the Celium hub network (4 sites), the remotely monitored (camera + trigger) pig trap, and a remotely monitored (camera + trigger) wild cat trap.
This technology has been a game-changer in allowing the Trust to broaden its reach and efficiency in dealing with difficult predators within the Parks.
Top Image: SDC Predator Free 2050 funding our Hi-tech Trapping Network
It takes a village to save a kea... (August 2026)
Graeme (APWT) received a message from Arieta from the Arthur's Pass Store & Cafe early on Saturday 1st August. A kea, Hohoro, was motionless under one of the outdoor dining tables, and had been for almost an hour and a half.
Arieta was rightly concerned; Arieta has the dubious honour of encountering more ill, dying and dead kea on her walk to work than one would ever think possible.
With Bird Flu (H5N1) in the country dealing with ill birds has now become more complicated. Graeme messaged Nic, a bird handler at DOC, Nic deployed for the first time our new H5N1 kit, this meant double nitrile gloves, masks, and a modified container to hold any suspect animal, plus other handling protocols to protect both people & wildlife.
Unfortunately Hohoro made himself scarce on Nic's arrival, living up to its Maori name (quick, speedy, fast, swift).
At midday Hohoro appeared again, definitely ill, very watery scats, drinking profusely, vomiting - these have been in the past the symptoms of acute lead poisoning - this was unusual as there had been few cases of poisoning since the Kea Conservation Trust (KCT) funded lead removal in the village over the past two years, and Hohoro had been seen quite well 2 days prior.
Nic called Graeme, also a bird handler, to assist in the capture. His capture, although a little difficult, was not as difficult as it would have been if dealing with a kea with all its cognitive abilities functioning (outsmarting a human is second nature to them).
A couple of phone-calls revealed Renée, an advocate for KCT in the village, was going to Christchurch, and Pauline, the vet at the South Island Wildlife Hospital (SIWH) was willing to accept a sick kea.
Hohoro and Renée arrived at the SIWH in good time. An immediate blood test revealed no sign of lead poisoning. A close visual inspection of Hohoro revealed his beak appeared out of alignment, and further tests found it to be fractured. This could only be possible through the mechanism of high impact, also evidenced by the bird's concussive state. Whether this was as a result of a vehicle strike, car door slammed on its beak, or it had flown into a brick wall, we will never know.
Pauline glued the fracture (this should fuse and grow out over time). Hohoro will remain at the SIWH until his strength & cognitive trauma heals.
Thank you to all in the village that rendered assistance on the day!Top Image: Hohoro, not so well (Photo - Arieta Jackson)
APWT "Out There" Gallery
Icicle infested FM repeater trap-line (Photo - Graeme Kates)
View from FM Repeater trap-line (Photo - Graeme Kates)
