Levonne Scott
Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland Office
Level 19, Te Wharau o Tamaki/Auckland House
fyi-request-30998-
135 Albert Street, Auckland 1010
[email address]
Private Bag 68908, Wellesley Street, Auckland 1141
fyi-request-30999-
[email address]
[email address]
Ref: OIAD-5233 and OIAD-5250
11 June 2025
Tēnā koe Levonne
Thank you for your two requests, one addressed and one transferred to the Department of
Conservation (DOC), received on 17 May 2025 and 22 May 2025 respectively.
In the first of your two requests (Request One), you asked for the following:
“i would like a map showing where you are trapping cats in bethells Te Henga area in the
waitakeres.
We would also like to request what traps are used?
What is done with the cats that are trapped if trapped alive?”
You sought the following by way of the second of your two requests (Request Two):
“i would like to request the drone footage of the te henga Ariel drone spraying 2025 by
phylogeny Ltd David Hall for matuku link trust 111 bethells road te henga.
Is there a recording of the footage taken by the drone while spraying over the wetlands?
Please provide GPS coordinates of the exact areas that were sprayed in the wetland.
The flight path of the drone and when it was actively spraying… how many litres of the product
was used.”
We have considered both of your requests under the Of icial Information Act 1982 (OIA).
I have decided to respond to both requests in this one response.
Before responding to your requests, I would first like to provide some background context.
Area administered and managed by DOC
DOC directly administers a narrow marginal strip that runs along the southern bank of the
Waitākere River within Te Henga wetland, and Te Henga Recreation Reserve that stretches from
the Waitākere River near the lagoon northwards to O’Neil Bay.
As we do not have extensive areas of public conservation land (PCL) within Te Henga wetland or
its catchment, we do not undertake any ‘on the ground’ pest or weed management activities. Most
of our management activity in the area is related to Te Henga Recreation Reserve.
DOC is supportive of the work of conservation groups, such as Matuku Link (also known as
Matuku Reserve Trust), as DOC can achieve much more for conservation by working
collaboratively with others.
Request One
Map/Locations
DOC does not undertake any targeted trapping of feral cats in Te Henga, nor in the wider
Waitākere Ranges area. Several community groups have been authorised to undertake
pest control operations on PCL in the area, including in Te Henga Recreation Reserve and
Goldie Bush Scenic Reserve. These pest control operations target a range of mammalian pests
and do not specifically target only feral cats.
DOC does not hold information about the specific locations these community groups have
deployed these traps. Further, DOC is not aware of any map or maps of the type requested.
Consequently, I refuse to provide this information per section 18(e) of the OIA, as it does not exist.
Traps/Trapping
DOC also does not hold information about what specific types of traps these community groups
use, or what happens to any feral cats (or other mammalian pests) that are trapped alive. This part
of your request is refused per section 18(g) of the OIA, as DOC does not hold this information
and is not aware of any other agency subject to the OIA that may hold it.
We do note however that all community groups undertaking pest control operations on PCL are
required to use traps which comply with the National Animal Welfare Advisory Commit ee
(NAWAC) requirements, including any live capture traps targeting feral cats.
More information on NAWAC approved traps can be found on the Ministry for Primary Industries
website:
Traps and devices used to manage pests | NZ Government.
Request Two
Matuku Link successfully applied for a grant from the DOC Community Fund in 2023. This funding
has enabled and continues to enable them to undertake a range of conservation activities in
Te Henga area, including the control of the pest plant crack wil ow.
It is not a requirement of their funding agreement to provide to DOC with details of drone flight
paths, areas sprayed, and litres of product used for this project. As well, DOC does not know
whether any drone used by Matuku Link has recorded footage while spraying.
Accordingly, provision of this information is refused per section 18(g) of the OIA, as DOC does
not hold any of the information you have requested and is not aware of any other agency subject
to the OIA that may hold it.
You are entitled to seek an investigation and review of my decisions by writing to an Ombudsman
as provided by section 28(3) of the OIA.
Please note that this letter (with your personal details removed) may be published on DOC’s
website.
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If you would like to discuss this response with us, please contact Rebecca Rush, Operations
Manager, Tāmaki Makaurau, by email to
[email address].
Nāku noa, nā
Alex Rogers
Director - Regional Operations
Department of Conservation |
Te Papa Atawhai
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