Mamaku Point is a 172 hectare predator free reserve in Rakiura Stewart Island. It contains over 181 native species, with 26 native bird species, including kiwi and kākāriki. Since 2000 it’s been protected by a predator proof fence across the peninsula.

The reserve is open to school camps, kiwi spotting tours and other visitors. Coincidentally it is home to two PurePods (PurePods and The Cacophony Project were both started by Grant Ryan, or Bro, as I call him)

Invasions

Unfortunately animals can get past the predator proof fence at times. This can happen if trees come down on the fence, or more often, around the ends of the fence, particularly at low tide. One end of their fence terminates at the water, the other on the top of a high cliff.

Until recently they would know a cat had got into the reserve when they started to find dead birds. What follows is normally a long process of trying to find the cat, with the aid of trained dogs and trail cameras. This can take anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of months. 

When they catch a cat outside of the fence it’s full of rats. When they catch a cat inside the fence it’s full of birds.

They have a number of traps around the fence targeting cats including Steve Allen cat traps, Tims, Trapinators, Possum masters, raised leg holds and A12. For rats they have the DOC 150, and 200 and D-rat traps. Despite all of these traps often a cat will ignore them all and progress into the reserve.