Future Protection of Ahuahu

Pest Free Island

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Māori Arrival in Aotearoa

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The future goal for Ahuahu Great Mercury Island is to provide a sanctuary for native species and have an island that is better for everyone to appreciate and enjoy. We can all help keep the island free from pests.

You can help

Everyone travelling by boat to Great Mercury Island needs to make sure they’re not carrying any stowaways including mice, rats, Argentine ants, rainbow skinks, and cats.

Tips to help keep boats free of pests:

Keep your boat tidy and clean.
Don't leave rubbish or fish scraps on board.
Before departure, inspect your boat for signs of rats and mice, for example chewed wiring or holes in gear or bags, and for insects (especially ants).
Maintain pest control on board larger vessels. Use glue boards for insects, and traps or bait stations for rodents.
All food should be packed in sealed containers. Don't just use open shopping bags or cardboard boxes as pests can sometimes hide in these.
Do your loading in daylight hours. Most pests are active at night and will come aboard then.
Vessels should stay anchored offshore except for embarking and disembarking passengers.

These steps will help keep the Mercury Islands pest-free and could also save you from pest damage on board your boat.

The threat of Argentine ants is a video showing how this invasive species can impact wildlife on Ahuahu Great Mercury Island.

Audio Māori keywords:

Contributing to conservation: Restoration planting, weed management and fencing have been ongoing since 1979. Read this account from a DOC volunteer on Ahuahu Great Mercury Island. Also, Volunteer Jo Fern describes her experience looking for Argentine ants on Great Mercury Island.

People visiting Ahuahu Great Mercury Islands are asked to make sure their boats and gear are pest-free. Image: Waterline.

People visiting Ahuahu Great Mercury Islands are asked to make sure their boats and gear are pest-free. Image: Waterline.

Vessels should stay anchored offshore except for embarking and disembarking passengers. Image: Monique Taylor.

Vessels should stay anchored offshore except for embarking and disembarking passengers. Image: Monique Taylor.

A network of trap stations are a way to protect the island against unwanted 'hitchhikers'. Image: Andy Hopping.

A network of trap stations are a way to protect the island against unwanted 'hitchhikers'. Image: Andy Hopping.

This is a typical trap Station. The large box shows a Doc200 for rats and stoats. The middle box has a tracking card in the tunnel to monitor foot prints of trap shy rodents and to gather data on insects etc. The small box shows a mouse trap as these rodents are too light to set off the larger trap. Image: Andy Hopping.

This is a typical trap Station. The large box shows a Doc200 for rats and stoats. The middle box has a tracking card in the tunnel to monitor foot prints of trap shy rodents and to gather data on insects etc. The small box shows a mouse trap as these rodents are too light to set off the larger trap. Image: Andy Hopping.

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