Five surprising benefits of living in a predator free suburb 

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

What do you picture when you think of the benefits of becoming Predator Free? Most people picture increasing native birdlife like iconic kiwi and kea. And they’re not wrong.  

When Predator Free Wellington eliminated rats and mustelids from the Miramar Peninsula, they saw native bird detections skyrocket 91% since the project began.  

Wellington residents have spotted over 5x more iconic pīwakawaka since the project began. They’re also seeing early signs that kākā and kākāriki may be recolonising forested habitats on the peninsula.

Beyond the birds 

But Predator Free 2050 benefits go beyond the birds. When we do our bit ‘naturing’, we see positive changes in our economy, culture, wellbeing, recreation and even some surprising areas.  

Hear from predator-free Miramar residents, volunteers, and staff what surprising (non-bird) benefits they’ve seen firsthand thanks to Predator Free Wellington:  

1. Making new friends 

Dan, Predator Free Miramar volunteer, shares that predator trapping has helped him make new friends and feel more connected to his community. 

“Before trapping and being involved with Predator Free Miramar, my community was a lot narrower.” Trapping helped him connect to his neighbours and new friends. 

“It’s funny to be talking about new friends when you’re 51; I didn’t actively set out to do it.” 

“It’s a rewarding, warm, fuzzy feeling to know that you have a circle of people who value what we’re doing, who are there at the end of the phone if you need anything, and who are always keen to share a joke.” 

2. Bonding with your mum  

Sophie, a dedicated trapper and field operator, has swapped stories with her mum about how the neighbourhood she grew up in has changed in just one generation. 

“Now that Miramar is rat-free, I’m seeing lots of posts about kārearea sightings on Facebook. At home, I’ve had one fly into the tree next door.”  

“This change is significant to me because kārearea is a bird that most people in the older generation, like my mum, didn’t grow up seeing around Wellington.”  

3. Cool new mokomoko gardens in your neighbourhood 

Preschool students and their teacher, Felicity, at Peninsula Preschool have transformed a Miramar road verge into a thriving mokomoko garden. The class were inspired by spotting skinks at a local reserve and by native wildlife bouncing back in their neighbourhood.  

Predator Free 2050 can spark ideas to take better care of local native species – like starting a mokomoko garden, creating a backyard bird sanctuary or making a critter home.

4. Growing optimism and belief that nature can bounce back 

Getting involved in predator free can be a pick-me-up when the news is feeling bleak.  

Predator Free Miramar volunteer Ross shares how he’s seen a growing sense of hope in Miramar residents since the project began. 

“When I first started, telling my neighbours and friends about my involvement in trapping was often met with scepticism. Many thought we were fighting a losing battle, and that our efforts couldn’t make a real difference.” 

“These days, people stop to say thank you and share their observations about the increasing birdlife. This project has given people a sense of purpose amidst all the challenging news about global warming and rising costs.” 

Predator Free Wellington field operator Tim has also felt this growing sense of hope. The biggest change he’s felt is a “growing belief that what we’re doing can actually be achieved. 

5. Kids learning wētā footprints  

Preschool students have been learning new nature knowledge now that native species are bouncing back with predator free.  

The class set up a tracking tunnel before they created the mokomoko garden and found absolutely no signs of wildlife. After three years, they set another tracking tunnel and discovered wētā footprints! They’ve also found a gecko in the children’s carpentry workshop.  

How can you help?

• More information on how you can get involved in Predator Free 2050 can be found here.

• Follow Predator Free Wellington’s continued journey towards Predator Free 2050 on Instagram and Facebook.

MIL OSI