LEARN HOW TO PROTECT AND MONITOR ENDEMIC TAONGA OF THE FOREST - KAURI AND PEKAPEKA (BATS)

Are you passionate about protecting native trees and wildlife? Do you live or work in or around kauri and are curious about how threatened forest species are monitored and cared for?

Join Te Kohuroa Rewilding and kauri and pekapeka (bat) expert Fredrik Hjelm, along with his bat detection dog Hawke, for a workshop about kauri forests and the species that depend on them. 

The workshop will take place in two parts. In the morning there will be an info session at Leigh Hall to learn about the lives of kauri and bats followed by morning tea. The afternoon will include an on-site training walk along the Kohuroa kauri track.

Event Schedule

10.00am - 11.15am - Info Session

Fredrik will present on:

• The life history of pekapeka (bats) in New Zealand – including the different species, where they live, their roosting habitat, where they feed, and threats to their survival.
• How we can monitor local bats and support healthy habitat using data gathered locally.
• What makes kauri trees so special, the threats they face, and how kauri dieback spreads.
• Practical tips and simple solutions for working safely around kauri and reducing the spread of disease. 
• There will also be time for a Q&A towards the end of the info session.

11.15am - 11.45am - Morning Tea

Enjoy tea and biscuits while networking with the community.

12.00pm - 1.00pm - Guided Walk

After morning tea, we will head outdoors for an onsite-training walk through the Kohuroa kauri track (Matheson Bay) to learn how to apply practical solutions for working safely around kauri.

This session is for those who live or work near kauri and bat habitats – including local landowners, trappers, rangers, community volunteers and nature advocates.

Please note: You will need your own transport from the hall to the walking track.

TICKETS ARE FREE! (Registration is essential).

Please select a ticket for one of the options below:

• Info Session Only - if you are not based locally.
• Info Session + Guided Walk - if you live or work near kauri and bat habitats and would like to join the walk.

Contact us at [email protected] if you have any further queries.

About the Speaker

Fredrik is the director of BioSense, leading research and restoration projects across Aotearoa. His work focuses on canopy ecology and environmental operations, with particular expertise in bat conservation. Over his career, Fredrik has supported the protection of kauri trees through various forms of treatment, surveillance and management and has contributed to habitat development for long-tailed bats. He works alongside mana whenua, council, DoC, MPI, researchers, and community groups to deliver practical, sustainable outcomes for the environment. He is also the handler of Aotearoa’s very first bat detection dog.

About Te Kohuroa Rewilding

Te Kohuroa Rewilding is a community-led initiative working to restore the marine ecosystem at Matheson Bay, Leigh (north Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland). The project was formed in 2023 and works with iwi, organisations and local groups to deliver a ground-up approach to healing the environment through a long-term programme of voluntary restoration. Learn more about our kaupapa at www.tekohuroarewilding.org.

Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Te Kohuroa Rewilding believes in a 'whole-community' approach to rewilding participation, and works to create pathways for people with diverse backgrounds and needs. If you require support to participate in this event, please contact our project team at [email protected] to discuss how we can help.