The Maungatautari restoration project has been voted one of the top 25 restoration projects in Australasia.

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University of Waikato masters student Trevor Connolly is currently evaluating data collected during research to determine the level of pest activity along the outside of the perimeter fenceline, and the pests most likely to enter the reserve if a breach occurred. Activity around specially built cages cut into the fence to mimic a breach was filmed by infrared cameras.

This research will provide the Trust’s emergency response teams with valuable information on how best to handle breaches in the fence. The results of Trevor’s research will be placed on this page in 2009.

At almost twice the size of Kapiti Island near Wellington, Maungatautari is large enough to be home for a wide diversity of self-sustaining plant and animal species. It will be by far the largest pest-free area on mainland New Zealand and for this reason will be an ecologist’s paradise.

Among the questions they may wish to answer are...

• What can we expect in the way of plant and animal species recovery?
• What impact have pests really had on our forest ecology?
• What positive impact will increasing native species diversity and abundance have on the surrounding landscape?
• What positive impact will increasing native species diversity and abundance have on the surrounding landscape?

Scientific monitoring will undoubtedly reveal many surprises as the mountain flourishes pest-free for the first time in over 150 years.

Please note the research agenda is currently being updated. If you are interested in research work on Maungatautari please contact the Chairman of the Science and Research Committee Mr Gordon Stephenson via our Email Form

• Covering letter for Research Agenda (PDF 12KB)
• Research Agenda (PDF 30KB)
• Research Application form (PDF 46KB)