Tasman Environmental Trust
At the windswept edge of Te Tauihu, where the land stretches into the sea, a quiet community trapping revolution is taking place — thanks to two dedicated locals, Neville Underhill and Paddy Gillooly.
Neville, a skilled (semi-retired) mechanic, and Paddy, Manager of Farewell Spit Tours, have been working together since 2012 to trap invasive pests at the far reaches of Onetahua / Farewell Spit. Behind the scenes of the busy tourist operation, in a tucked-away corner of the workshop, is a mini-hub dedicated to pest control and conservation care.
What began with standard DOC 200 traps has evolved into something uniquely innovative. With Farewell Spit Tour’s investment in a large metal guillotine and Neville’s craftsmanship, over the last few years, they’ve designed and hand-built around 70 lightweight, collapsible aluminium traps—based on the DOC 200 design but far more transportable (you can carry ten at a time!). Neville even paints each one in camouflage and leaf patterns to blend into the environment.
The traps are ever evolving. Originally designed to be safe for Weka, Neville has cleverly adapted them further to ensure they’re also safe for kiwi, following the exciting recent discovery of kiwi in the Pūponga area.
Neville checks the traps monthly, with impressive results. Since starting, they’ve caught over 2,084 pests, including; 508 stoats, 776 rats, 660 possums and 18 weasels. Their trapping results are now regularly uploaded to Trap.NZ, supporting coordinated, transparent predator management across the region.
Farewell Spit Tours, a family-run business based in Collingwood, has deep roots in Golden Bay. Operating since 1946, the tours originally served lighthouse families as part of the weekly mail delivery service. Though the lighthouse was automated in 1984 and the families moved away, the conservation commitment remained.
Paddy and his team now use custom 4WD buses built for comfort and the Spit’s harsh conditions, ensuring visitors can safely experience this remarkable environment.
