Whakaupouku Landcare
Te Ara Hikoi has continued its support of the Finding Franklin’s Bats initiative, a collaboration with EcoQuest that’s uncovering the secret lives of our region’s native long-tailed bats (pekapeka-tou-roa). These tiny nocturnal taonga are notoriously elusive—but thanks to a mix of expertise, community support, and cutting-edge technology, the project is building a clearer picture of their habitat in the Franklin landscape.
In the past year, the team has confirmed four separate pekapeka colonies in the Bald Hill / Mauku area. This is an exciting discovery that signals the importance of this landscape for bat conservation. Over summer and early autumn, several bats were successfully tracked using lightweight radio transmitters, giving researchers a rare glimpse into their foraging ranges and roosting behaviour.
A standout moment was a public bat-tracking evening, which brought together locals, representatives from Franklin Local Board and Auckland Council, and project partners. Attendees had the rare opportunity to see bats being captured, fitted with tiny transmitters, and released. This experience that deepened public awareness and enthusiasm for protecting these rare species.
As this work continues, it not only enhances local understanding of biodiversity, but also informs future land management decisions to ensure these endangered species have safe places to call home.
Special thanks to Natasha Garvan and the team at EcoQuest for their leadership and collaboration.
