Whaka Ora Pest Project, Supporting Native Biodiversity in Lyttleton Harbour

Whaka Ora Pest Project

At dawn above Whakaraupō Lyttleton Harbour, the calls of native tūī and korimako echo through regenerating bush—a constant reminder of why this work matters. Yet predators such as possums, rats and mustelids, remain a relentless threat, leaving habitats vulnerable and native birds, reptiles, and invertebrates under constant pressure.

The Whaka Ora Pest Project (WOPP) is changing that. Born from a successful three-year partnership between Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke, Living Springs, and Conservation Volunteers New Zealand, WOPP now brings together local volunteers and landowners to reclaim the harbour for native species. WOPP is aligned with the kaupapa (purpose) of the Whaka Ora Healthy Harbour Management Plan.

We currently have 110 trained and active volunteers across the harbour. Over the next year, these volunteers will maintain 34 traplines and 900 traps while expanding into new areas across public and private land. They'll conduct regular trap checks, monitor biodiversity, and run biosecurity monitoring—building on the 6,300+ predators already removed. Community workshops will teach and sharpen skills in trapping, bird counts, and maintenance, growing the skills and passion of the local communities.

WOPP plays an important role in a wider predator control network across Whakaraupō. The project acts as a buffer between Christchurch and Banks Peninsula, helping reduce predator movement between these landscapes. WOPP is creating buffers around regional parks and areas of ecological significance.

A key part of WOPP’s approach is working with private landowners — something few other programmes in the area are doing. By managing traplines on both private and public land, WOPP helps link up areas of predator control into connected corridors.

More than habitat restoration, WOPP is building a community of people who care deeply about protecting Whakaraupō for generations to come.