South Head Community Mapsthe Future for Conservation
On 11 August, around 30 people gathered at the Helensville War Memorial Hall for the South Head Gap Analysis workshop, hosted by The Forest Bridge Trust.
The event brought together a wide range of voices — from local conservation groups and champions to iwi, Auckland Council, DOC, and species experts with specialist knowledge of pāteke (brown teal), tara iti (New Zealand fairy tern), and the elusive Matuku hūrepo (Australasian bittern).
Sharing Knowledge, Finding Gaps
The purpose of the day was to share wisdom about existing predator control and conservation activity on the South Head peninsula, including sightings of taonga species. The aim was clear: to understand where great work is already happening and where the ‘gaps’ are, so that The Forest Bridge Trust can support the community and build on existing efforts rather than reinventing the wheel.
Large maps of the South Head area were rolled out, and attendees placed stickers and notes showing where trapping networks are established, where predator control could be extended, and where key species have been seen. This collective knowledge is now being collated by our data specialist Pablo into layered GIS maps, helping to paint a detailed picture of the peninsula’s conservation landscape.
Outcomes and Next Steps
One of the most important outcomes of the day was agreement that The Forest Bridge Trust will use this community knowledge to create a strategic plan. This plan will be shared back with the community through South Head’s new TFBT Community Liaison, Heather Steadman, ensuring local people remain at the heart of the project.
This work forms part of a two-year DOC-funded project, with the long-term goal of creating a structure that will endure beyond the life of the project — a scaffolding for future conservation success that the South Head community can continue to build upon.
A Community Rich in Knowledge
Feedback from the day was consistently positive, with many commenting on how exciting it was to experience the enthusiasm and knowledge within the South Head community. The peninsula is home to some of Aotearoa’s rarest native flora and fauna, and this gathering demonstrated just how much local people care about protecting it.
We’re excited to walk alongside South Head’s community as they move toward their conservation goals and look forward to seeing the impact this collaboration will have for kiwi and other taonga species.