January 26, 2025

Both of our sites, on Waiheke Island and in Kaikōura, are home to expansive tracts of native New Zealand forest. Our Waiheke site is particularly special, sitting within an ancient forest whose trees are believed to have predated the eruption of the Rangitoto volcano, around 600 years ago. This forest is an ecological treasure and has been formally designated as a ‘Site of Environmental Significance.’

As many of our guests know, we allocate a portion of the income from our zipline tours to support weed and pest eradication efforts, as well as the propagation and planting of native trees. This commitment allows us to say, with absolute certainty and honesty, that when you zip with EcoZip, you’re not just enjoying an exhilarating experience—you’re contributing to a tangible, long-lasting environmental legacy.

There’s an old saying: “Assumptions make an ass of you and me,” which cautions against jumping to conclusions. During a recent tour, a young guest asked our guides a question that, to us, seemed almost self-evident: “Why is the pest program so important?” As our guide started to explain, it was one specific statistic that left the group astonished:

Every night, 68,000 native birds are killed in New Zealand by introduced predators.

And, the primary culprits are rats, stoats, and possums.

New Zealand, like many countries, is home to a number of species that are not native to the land. Many of these species were introduced with good intentions, often to provide economic benefits or to serve as a food source for settlers. While these intentions may have been laudable at the time, the long-term outcome has been catastrophic.

So, what makes rats, stoats, and possums so dangerous?

These invasive species are responsible for the deaths of millions of native birds each year, and have driven some species to the brink of extinction. Rats, which were introduced worldwide through human activity, pose a significant threat to many of New Zealand’s native species—from invertebrates like wētā and snails, to reptiles and birds. Their opportunistic diets make them a direct danger to vulnerable wildlife. Stoats, part of the mustelid family (which also includes ferrets and weasels), were introduced to control rabbit populations, but instead, they’ve wreaked havoc on native species.

Stoats have caused the extinction of several bird species in New Zealand and remain the leading cause of population decline for many others. They are a major threat to young kiwi, and their predation has led to a skewed gender ratio in some bird populations, such as the kākā, as they prey, particularly, on chicks and nesting females.

The combined effects of these predators have led to the extinction of 52% of bird species on the North Island and 47% on the South Island, with declines continuing at an alarming rate. While we cannot reverse extinction, we can still work to protect the species that remain.

Te Korowai o Waiheke

Te Korowai o Waiheke is a local charitable trust dedicated to eradicating predators from Waiheke Island. The first stage of their project focuses on a stoat eradication program across the island. The second stage involves pilot trials to understand how to remove rats, with the ultimate goal of making Waiheke predator-free.

We believe in the importance of Te Korowai o Waiheke’s work, which is why we chose them as one of the beneficiaries of our most recent Locals Day fundraiser. On a warm summer evening in December, we were proud to host representatives from Te Korowai o Waiheke, who shared the details of their efforts with our team before we handed over a (virtual) cheque to support their important work.

This support is made possible thanks to the individuals, families, couples, schools, corporate groups, and myriad others who choose to zip with us.

So now you know – when you take flight over the forest on our ziplines, you’re not only enjoying a thrilling experience, you’re also playing an active and invaluable part in protecting New Zealand’s unique and precious wildlife.