Release of Whitebait at Maungatautari

In April 2007 local Kaumatua of the Maungatautari region were able to release three species of endangered whitebait into the inland ecological island thanks to the aid of WCEET and Waikato whitebait farmers Jan and Charles Mitchell.

The Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust seeks to recreate, as much as possible, the ecosystem that once existed on Maungatautari and the release of Kokopu is an important step to achieving this within the stream system of the inland island.

The Kokopu were previously extinct on Maungatautari due to a combination of dams, pollution, predation by introduced predators and loss of the native forest.

In addition to assisting with the release, WCEET is funding the ongoing monitoring of the progress the Kokopu make in their new home.

Maungatautari is located in the Waikato basin, between Cambridge, Te Awamutu and Putaruru.

For more information about Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust visit their website at http://www.maungatrust.org/home/index.asp