DOC Community Fund successful applications 2025

Northern North Island

Bream Head (Te Whara) Conservation Trust

Bream Head Scenic Reserve - Next level part 2

$242,640

Predator and weed control to restore the ecological integrity of the Bream Head Scenic Reserve and protect nationally critical plant species including kōheriki and Northland horopito, and a nationally critical land snail found only at Bream Head.

Northern North Island

Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust

Northland mudfish survey and management

$406,164

Restore and protect freshwater habitat of the nationally vulnerable Northland mudfish through the management of several wetlands in partnership with Ngāti Rangi, DOC and the Northland Regional Council.

Northern North Island

Te Roroa Iwi

Te Toa Whenua

$470,698

Predator and weed control in Waipoua Forest, Te Roroa Whenua Waipoua, Maunganui Bluff, and Arai te Uru, Hokianga Harbour. This work will protect vulnerable coastal ecosystems, the nationally critical roimata o tohe, and other threatened species including kōkako.

Auckland

The Forest Bridge Trust

Protecting the taonga of Te Korowai-o-te-Tonga

$955,229

Landscape scale predator control to protect the nationally critical tara iti and matuku-hūrepo, and critically endangered coastal ecosystems. This area is one of only four tara iti breeding sites in New Zealand.

Hauraki-Waikato-Taranaki

A Rocha (Karioi Project)

Te Whakaoranga O Karioi (‘Karioi Project’)

$438,690

Landscape-scale predator control between Whāingaroa and Aotea harbours to restore connectivity and protect threatened coastal cliff ecosystems, a regionally significant wetland (Toreparu), and the nationally critical matuku-hūrepo and pekapeka tou roa.

Hauraki-Waikato-Taranaki

MFESI (Mahakirau Forest Estate Society Incorporated)

Mahakirau Forest Sanctuary

$383,188

Predator control across public and private land on the Coromandel Peninsula between Coromandel and Whitianga. Work within the Mahakirau Forest Estate will support the nationally vulnerable northern striped gecko and podocarp/broadleaf habitat.

Hauraki-Waikato-Taranaki

Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust

Rotokare Scenic Reserve: Community-led Enhancement

$420,700

Remove willow trees at Lake Rotokare, New Zealand’s largest lake and wetland within a mainland fenced sanctuary. This will improve habitat for a range of threatened species including hihi, tīeke, pāteke, and plants including Gratiola concinna and Dactylanthus taylorii.

Eastern North Island

Ōhiwa Headland Sanctuary Trust

Eastern Ōhiwa and Waiotahe Catchment Restoration

$313,950

Expand predator control on Ōhiwa headland and extend into the Waiotahe River catchment area. This will protect threatened coastal ecosystems and important seabird habitat and provide benefits for threatened species including matuku-hūrepo, whio, kārearea, Northern New Zealand dotterel, and reef heron.

Eastern North Island

Te Mana o Ngāti Rangitihi Trust

Lake Tarawera Whenua Rāhui Wilding Conifer Control

$610,000

Restore vulnerable volcanic ecosystems in the Lake Tarawera Whenua Rāhui area through the removal of wilding conifers and other invasive plants. These ecosystems support unique biodiversity.

Lower North Island

Chatham Islands Taiko Trust

Sea to Canopy - Threatened species protection

$202,230

Predator control over private and public land to protect breeding habitats for the nationally critical Chatham Island tāiko. Habitat protection will also benefit other threatened species including the nationally vulnerable Chatham Island parea/wood pigeon.

Lower North Island

Manaaki Ruahine Trust

Mauri Tū - Ruahine Predator Control

$1,243,301

Predator control over 40,000 hectares in Ngā Pae Maunga o Ruahine to support the recovery of nationally vulnerable whio and other threatened species. Expansion of the trapping network to Whatumā wetland to improve wetland habitat for the nationally critical matuku-hūrepo.

Lower North Island

Pukaha Mount Bruce

Conservation Breeding for Tuturuatu, Whio, Pateke

$259,631

Support the captive breeding programme for the nationally critical tuturuatu/shore plover to produce over 30 juveniles for release per year. This project will also support captive breeding for two nationally vulnerable species, whio and pāteke.

Northern South Island

Brook Waimarama Sanctuary

Securing the national kākāriki karaka stronghold

$351,232

Improve biosecurity to ensure the nationally critical kākāriki karaka is protected in a predator free environment, allowing the population to increase. There will be benefits for other threatened species within the Sanctuary including starred gecko, large land snail (Powelliphanta hochstetteri), Fisher's egg fungus and kārearea.

Eastern South Island

Craigmore Station Ltd

Moa Valley Ecological Restoration (o Wahi Moa)

$298,687

Restore the karst limestone ecosystem in Moa (Ō Wāhi Moa) Valley to protect several threatened plant species, including the only known location of the nationally critical Gentianella calcis subsp. taiko.

Western South Island

The Paparoa Wildlife Trust

Paparoa Eco Restoration - Tiakina Taiao

$498,474

Landscape scale predator control across 17,000 hectares of the Paparoa Range to increase populations of the nationally vulnerable roroa and whio. Other threatened species will also benefit from this predator control.

Southern South Island

Hikaroroa / Mt. Watkin Conservation Group

The Hikaroroa / Mt. Watkin Conservation Project

$412,820

Landscape-scale pest control across more than 6,000 hectares of both private and public land, working with the community. This will protect volcanic boulder fields and podocarp forest ecosystems and support several threatened species including kārearea and looper moth.

Southern South Island

Hokonui Runanga

Te Hokinga Mai a Kanakana

$190,000

Build on the unique methods Hokonui Rūnanga have developed for reproduction of the nationally vulnerable kanakana/lamprey by identifying waterway rehabilitation challenges. This will enable kanakana to be successfully reintroduced and restored, preserving this important cultural resource.

Southern South Island

Hollyford Conservation Trust

Whakatipu Waitai Ecosystem Restoration

$336,000

Support a range of threatened species across 13,000 hectares in the Lower Hollyford, Fiordland through intensive predator control. This work will also create an opportunity for the reintroduction of tokoeka.

Southern South Island

Southern Lakes Sanctuary

Biodiversity Protection in the Makarora Catchment

$591,745

Collaborative landscape-scale predator control over 27,000 hectares in Mt Aspiring National Park and improving the trap network by installing self-resetting traps. This will protect braided riverbed habitat and threatened species such as whio, kea and pekapeka tou roa in the Makarora Catchment.

Nationwide

HCCT

Hihi Heroes - helping people help hihi

$579,614

Protect and enhance the populations of nationally vulnerable hihi at six sites across New Zealand by training and supporting community groups in management and monitoring following translocations. There will be flow-on benefits for other species through transferable training in threatened species management.