Our History

Discover the history of Ōwhango Alive and its mission to protect New Zealand’s native wildlife. 🌿🐦 Learn about our predator control efforts, habitat restoration, and community-driven conservation projects along the Whakapapa River. #ConservationHistory

Owhango Alive History

2015
November 30
2015 update

In 2015, significant progress was made in conservation efforts. On 26 January, Good Nature A24 gas-operated traps were installed during a working bee with DOC assistance, and the brochure was approved in a meeting and subsequently distributed to motels and the information centre. Around the same time, Sally and Marion attended a five-minute bird count course with DOC in Ohakune. In March, Taumarunui High School students and Geoff Marshall visited with a conservation-trained dog, promoting biodiversity protection. On 12 April,…Read More

2014
October 30
2014 update

More trap research was done by Sally and traps placed, then Mark along with other volunteers, placed additional traps around the edge of the Owhango Domain. Our first year of trap data was entered and any traps that hadn’t been successful with a catch were moved, and we purchased the first trail camera for seeing the critters. The decision was made with DOC to focus on trapping rats in the reserve utilising the existing DOC 200 stoat traps.  And also…Read More

2013
November 9
2013
2013

Sally and Tania attended a conference in Omori at Oreti which inspired them to develop their trapping program further. The group then held a conference at Brocks Farm complex with invited speaker Doctor Carolyn (Kim) King who spoke about the predators to target and their habitats, to ensure effectiveness in the trapping program.  Dan Steele from Blue Duck Lodge, Leon Stratford a well known trapper also were amongst the featured speakers, along with Project Tongariro, Jean Stanley of Pukawa Trust,…Read More

2012
October 7
2012

Traps were taken over from Taumarunui High School during the school holidays down at the boat hole track in 2012.  This was the start of the trapping down in Ohinetonga Scenic Reserve by what was to become Owhango Alive.

2011
January 25
Residents set up Ōwhango Alive
Residents set up Ōwhango Alive

Hatched in the forest near Owhango, Sally Lashmar and Tania De Witt heard little sounds of the birdlife and set out to change that, with their first meeting held with other like-minded members of the community it was the start of what was to become Owhango Alive in future years.    

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