Aerial operations take off for deer and goat cull

Our aerial operations, focused on deer and goat control, aim to address the challenges posed by these ungulates, which cause significant damage to our ngahere. To manage these populations and ensure a balanced ecosystem and restore the mauri of our Raukūmara our team of professionals undergo ongoing and comprehensive training to ensure the utmost care and precision in their work. The most important part of this mahi is that our kaimahi come home safely to their whānau.

In June our kaimahi Benny and Caleb set off into Te Raukūmara from Ōmaio in the early morning and returned safely in the afternoon.

Countless hours of concentrated planning, training and preparing paved the way for our Raukūmara Kiwi to take flight in mid-June . An intimate karakia at the Mauri stones to ensure the safe passage of our crew signalled the commencement of operational mahi for some of the most skilled, expertly trained aerial control specialists Aotearoa has to offer.

Among the incredible team is our very own home grown "straight out of Whareponga" Maraea Paiti (nee Ngarimu), who is the first and only wahine Māori Aerial culler on the project.