With its dramatic cliffs, wild surf, and lush native bush, Piha is one of Auckland’s most loved coastal treasures.
Behind the beauty, a passionate community is working tirelessly to protect the place they love. Since 2018, Pest free Piha has brought neighbours and local organisations together with a shared goal of restoring the area’s natural environment by tackling predators and invasive weeds.
‘We have wide community support, with an ever-growing mailing list and a popular Facebook page,’ says Operations Manager Peter Hosking. ‘People here really care about their environment and want to see native wildlife flourish.’ That enthusiasm is paying off. Rodent and possum traps now line local baiting routes, and many residents have their own backyard stations.
A wasp control programme has seen 476 bait stations installed across Piha, helping reduce a major threat to native species. Next on the agenda is a possum blitz to eliminate this destructive pest in a trial area. Despite its isolation, possums have even gained a foothold on Lion Rock and traps there have already caught three possums.
However, the group’s focus goes beyond animal pests. Weed control is also a top priority. Volunteers have hand-pulled more than 8,500 lupins from the sand dunes to protect this fragile coastal habitat. And on five local roads, coordinators are leading working bees to clear roadside weeds and plant natives from Pest free Piha’s eco-sourced nursery.
Collaboration is at the heart of Pest free Piha’s success. The group works closely with the Pest Free Waitākere Ranges Alliance, local surf lifesaving clubs, the Piha Bowling Club, and many more. A strong partnership with mana whenua has also been developed, with predator control underway on Taitomo Island, the iwi’s only remaining land in Piha, to protect nesting sites of the grey-faced petrel.
Peter oversees it all, recruiting volunteers, supporting street coordinators, and ensuring the projects run smoothly. Funding is always a challenge, but the Your West Support Fund has provided $20,000 towards his role and the group’s ongoing work. ‘Every trap set and every weed pulled is a step towards a restored Piha,’ Peter says.
‘The energy and enthusiasm of local people show what’s possible when a community comes together.’ With that shared purpose, the dream of a pest free Piha is steadily becoming a reality.
