Photo Gallery
our work
Our Rohe
Connecting our landscape from the Kaipara Harbour to the Pacific Coast
Our Rodney Landscape
A typical view across our coastal, bush and farming area.
Atuanui Mount Auckland
Atuanui Mount Auckland, which has spectacular views of the Kaipara Harbour and the Hoteo River estuary from the summit.
Native Bush within Farm Pasture
Native bush within farm pasture, offering precious habitat for wildlife and birds to connect across the landscape.
Hoteo River from Eves Road
Hoteo River from Eves Road.
Tractor
Mulching the kikuyu paddocks to promote good new grass growth.
Native Forest with Hoteo River (1)
Native forest surrounding a section of the Hoteo River.
Cattle and Dog
Cruze, a Huntaway dog, doing his job on a dairy farm.
Native Forest with Hoteo River (2)
A diverse native forest remnant protecting steep hillslopes adjacent to the Hoteo River.
Native Forest with Hoteo River (3)
Native forest remnants buffering the Hoteo River.
All Terrain Vehicle
A side-by-side ATV, the farmers “workhorse”, can be the only way to get around large farming areas.
Native Forest with Hoteo River (4)
Steep hillslopes, pasture and native forest buffering the Hoteo River.
Rural Stream (1)
Stream margins prone to slumping.
Rural Stream (2)
Scattered trees along the margins of a rural stream.
Wetland area at Steve Dill’s farm, before TFBT fencing
A large wetland at the base of surrounding hills.
Dairy Cattle Grazing
Friesian dairy cows on the Kaipara.
Farm View Through Manuka
Farm view through Manuka and native bush.
NZ Flora and Fauna
Enhancing our biodiversity.
Spotless Crake
Pūweto (Spotless Crake) are very secretive so we know very little about their numbers and ecology. What we do know is that they are more abundant on predator-free islands. Cats, dogs, mustelids and rats are all predators contributing to the ongoing decline of the species.
Shining Cuckoo Chick
A lovely Shining Cuckoo chick waiting for it’s “mother”. Check out a video (https://www.theforestbridgetrust.org.nz/video-gallery/) to see what happens next. Credit: Phillippa Beagley
Kiwi Feather
Kiwi feathers are soft and fluffy. Unlike in other birds of New Zealand, kiwi feathers lack “barbs” which are the tiny hook structures that make feathers smooth and flat (and fun to play with). Kiwi feathers feel more like hair, are a bit messier, and very soft!
Kiwi Probe Hole
Kiwi probe holes are made by kiwi when searching for underground food (such as earthworms and invertebrate larvae) and is a sure sign of happy kiwi roaming around. Their long bills even have a special bill-tip organ that can detect the small seismic waves made by their prey, how clever is that?
North Island Brown Kiwi
An adult North Island Brown Kiwi [photo by Roger Colbourne]
Forest Canopy
New Zealand native forest is rich and unique. Unfortunately, most of it has been intensively cleared and degraded by humans. We must protect what is left if we want our native species to thrive.
Matuku
The matuku, (Australasian bittern) are a native wetland bird species ranked as Nationally Critical (the same threat ranking as kakapo). Predator control and fencing wetlands are two of the most important measures to help protect this species.
Kereru
New Zealand’s only native pigeon- and one of the largest pigeons in the world. This enables the kereru to swallow large fruit, and so it is an important seed disperser for native trees.
Hochstetter’s Frog
Hochstetter’s frog is one of New Zealand’s four native frog species and the only species found in TFBT rohe. The frogs are small, nocturnal and well camouflaged but need protection via predator control to boost numbers.
Juvenile Snapper
A juvenile snapper. It is estimated that 98% of all snapper off the west coast of the North Island come from nurseries in the Kaipara Harbour.
White Fronted Terns
The NZ population of white-fronted terns is declining and is currently regarded as “at risk”. Nesting in riverbeds and estuaries prone to flood they have little protection against mammalian predators.
Godwits
The godwits long bill allows them to probe deeply in the sand along the shoreline for aquatic worms and molluscs.
Kaipara Birds
Kaipara Harbour is a migratory bird habitat of international significance with a wide diversity of species and large numbers of birds known to use the harbour for feeding during summer.
Herons
White-faced herons who nest near the water trough, a regular farm sight.
Kauri Greenhood Orchid
Kauri greenhood orchids are usually found in leaf litter growing close to the trunks of large kauri trees.
Native Bush Canopy
A mature native forest canopy featuring tree fern, nikau and broadleaved tree species including taraire.
Native Forest Remnant
Forest remnants such as this provide important habitat and food sources for a diverse range of native fauna as well as stepping stones for native birds moving across the landscape.
Pohutukawa Flower
The vibrantly coloured pohutukawa flower provides valuable nectar for insects, lizards and birds. Pohutukawa are an important part of coastal forest ecosystems in northern New Zealand. They are resilient in the harsh coastal environment and the extensive root systems help prevent coastal erosion.
Tree Fern
A crown of fronds surrounding the top of a tree fern trunk. Tree ferns are common in regenerating forest. They play an important role in the forest ecosystem by recycling nutrients and providing shade for seedings to establish. The fibrous trunks also provide a perch for seeds of native plants to germinate and grow above ground level.
Kaipara Stilts
A large black-and-white shorebird with long straight, needle-like bill, and very long pink legs, found living in small groups or in immense flocks close to water.
Kaka
Native forest dwelling parrot. Happily, a recovering species but still an uncommon sighting of this noisy and playful native bird.
Fencing
Protecting our environment.
Fencing Contractor 1
Fencing Contractors heading to site
Fencing Contractor 2
Fencing Contractors on the job
Riparian Fence 1-1
Farm where stock have access to the river before fencing
Riparian Fence 1-2
A newly built fence completely excludes stock from the river
Riparian Fence 1-3
Riverbank with pugging before fencing
Riparian Fence 1-4
Riverbank now fenced off from stock and ready for planting!
Riparian Fence 1-5
New fence protecting the riparian zone and ready for planting
Hōteo River Fence 1
Farm with the Hōteo river accessible to stock before fencing
Hōteo River Fence 2
Hōteo river bank before fencing
Hōteo River Fence 3
Newly built riparian fence on the Hōteo river
Hōteo River Fence 4
The Hōteo riverbank and whitebait spawning zone are now protected with this new fence
Hill country fencing of Hōteo drainage catchment 1
Finished fence enclosing the steep valley head with the Hōteo river in the background
Hill country fencing of Hōteo drainage catchment 2
GPSing the finished fence with Hōteo river visible at the bottom of the valley
Predator Control
Threats to our native species.
Ferret caught by Carol and Colin Beddow (2)
Carol and Colin Beddow caught a Ferret at their place. As they have a copy of the poster, their grandkids are chasing their bounty 😊
Ferret caught by Carol and Colin Beddow (1)
Carol and Colin Beddow caught a Ferret at their place. As they have a copy of the poster, their grandkids are chasing their bounty 😊
Ferret catch
At LEIGH ROAD, part of the Matakana East Trapping network and the bush block between Tawharanui and Tamahunga. Photo credit: Eliane Lagnaz
Cat
Feral cat.
DOC200 Traps (1)
DOC200 traps ready to go out into the community.
DOC200 Traps (2)
Kaipara Kiwi DOC 200 traps ready to be put to use.
Ferret in Live Capture Cage
A ferret responsible for the deaths of 2 kiwi. Photo credit: Gill Adshead.
Hedgehog and Egg
Hedgehogs predate on eggs and chicks of ground nesting birds as well as native insects and lizards.
Placing a Trap
Virginia setting up a Timm’s trap.
Possum Traps
Possum traps ready to go out into the community.
Possum
Possum!
Rat in Compost Heap
Rat in a trap. Photo credit: Liz Maire.
SA2 Cat Trap
A cat trap located in a mature forest remnant.
Stoat
Stoat!
Timms Trap Caught a Possum
A possum caught in a Timms trap on Takatu Peninsula.
TFBT Events
Connecting people and communities with the resources they need.
Fight for the Wild movie night Mar 2023
Fight for the Wild Eps 3 & 4 screening at Matakana Cinema
TFBT Whānau Day – 23 Jan 2023
Botanical Screen-Printing Team building Day – 21 Nov 2022
TFBT staff members participated in a botanical printing workshop at Sawmill Brewery.
Community Events November 2022
Fight for the Wild Screeing in Matakana 8th Sept 2022 (3)
Michelle with one of our pests on sticks!
Fight for the Wild Screeing in Matakana 8th Sept 2022 (2)
From left: Elena (Volunteer Coordinator), Michelle (Operations), Helen (Community Liaison) and Tim (Planting & Fencing).
Fight for the Wild Screeing in Matakana 8th Sept 2022 (1)
Helen introduces Kevin and Gill Adshead with Peter Young.
Winners of Greeting Card Competition July 2022
Back Row: Craig Presland, Roger Wiliams, Anne Ginders
Front Row: Beau McKay-Sutherland, Siara Karuna, Michelle Worth
Kiwi #2
By Roger Wiliams. Overall Winner of the Greeting Card Competition 2022.
New Growth
By Siara Karuna. Intermediate Winner of the Greeting Card Competition 2022.
The Forest of Palms
By Beau-McKay-Sutherland. Junior Winner of the Greeting Card Competition 2022.
Greeting Card
Designed by Ruby Watson.
TFBT Mid Winter Dinner – 25 Jul 2022
TFBT Staff and Trustees Who Braved the Severe Weather For Our Mid-Winter Dinner.
MP Scott Simpson and a DOC200 Trap
Scott Simpson MP and TFBT’s Cam Rathe, working with the Point Wells Trappers Group to retrieve a weasel from a trap.
National Kiwi Hui 2021 (1)
Forest Bridge Trust staff attended the National Kiwi Hui, held at Toteau and Uiraroa marae in Te Teko, Bay of Plenty in mid-July. Presentations included updates on available tech and its pros and cons, developments in monitoring network technology, kiwi genetics, information on iwi-led conservation projects and much more!
National Kiwi Hui 2021 (2)
The Forest Bridge Trust team would like to thank Kiwis for Kiwi and DOC/Te Papa Atawhai for organising and facilitating the National Kiwi hui, as well as the people of Toteau and Uiroroa marae, our extremely generous hosts for the three-day event.
TFBT Predator Control Workshop
A TFBT predator control workshop.
TFBT Predator Control Workshop at Primary School (3)
Lois Clayton, Pest Detection Dog Trainer/Handler, talking to primary school children about conservation dogs.
TFBT Predator Control Workshop at Primary School (2)
Lois Clayton, Pest Detection Dog Trainer/Handler, educating primary school children about possums.
TFBT Predator Control Workshop at Primary School (1)
Lois Clayton, Pest Detection Dog Trainer/Handler, talking to primary school children about conservation dogs.
TFBT Community Workshop 2020 (2)
A TFBT community workshop presentation.
TFBT Community Workshop 2020 (1)
A TFBT community workshop presentation.
TFBT Community Event 2019 (3)
Marguerite presenting at a TFBT community workshop in Cowan Bay.
TFBT Community Event 2019 (2)
Liz Maire presenting at a TFBT community workshop in 2019.
TFBT Community Event 2019 (1)
A TFBT community event in 2019.
TFBT Botanical Workshop
Botanist Maureen Young showing how to differentiate fern species.
South Head Forest Bridge Defenders schools programme Workshop 2020
A hands on demonstration of how to set a DOC 200 trap.
Public Open Day (2)
The TFBT display set up and ready to go at a public open day.
Public Open Day (1)
Setting up TFBT display at a public open day.
Predator Control Workshop Waiwera 2019
Cam Rathe presenting at an animal predator control workshop in Waiwera.
Predator Control Workshop Feb 2019 (2)
A TFBT community meeting in 2019.
Predator Control Workshop Feb 2019 (1)
Cam Rathe presenting on animal predator control at a TFBT community meeting.
Community Walk
A guided community walk through a forest remnant.
CatchIT Workshop Wainui 2017
Traps ready to be distributed at a Wainui community animal predator control workshop.
Forest Bridge Defenders schools programme at Snells Beach 2018
A Forest Bridge Defenders schools programme display at Snells Beach School.
Workshop at Tauhoa School 2015
Liz Maire discussing the differences between New Zealand’s three rat species at Tauhoa School as part of the Forest Bridge Defenders schools programme.
Totara Predator Catch Tally Nov 2019
Tally of predators caught by Waioneke School students.
Primary Student Project
Primary school students Cate and Zoe’s project on stoats.
Pakiri Children with Masks
Pakiri School children with their animal predator masks.
Kaipara Flats School Possum Picnic 2018
Kaipara Flats School possum picnic 2018.
Forest Bridge Defenders schools programme at Kaipara Flats School – 2018 Term 2
An action shot of Kaipara Flats School pupils involved in the Forest Bridge Defenders schools programme.
Forest Bridge Defenders schools programme (3)
Liz Maire introducing primary school children to Timm’s traps as part of the Liz Maire discussing the differences between New Zealand’s three rat species at Tauhoa School as part of the Forest Bridge Defenders schools programme.
Forest Bridge Defenders schools programme (2)
Liz Maire presenting the Forest Bridge Defenders schools programme to local primary school children.
Forest Bridge Defenders schools programme (1)
The Forest Bridge Defenders schools programme encourages children to become hands-on trappers and to experiment with different trap locations, baits etc. to guide future decision-making. The programme has reached over 1000 children.
Ahuroa Students Working with Interactive App
Ahuroa School pupils working with the Forest Bridge Defenders schools programme interactive online data system.