Wasp wipeout - can you help?
Wasps are a serious problem for people on picnics, but their effects on native insect populations are devastating. Last summer we embarked on an ambitious project to make a dent in the wasp population in the Nelson region. We fundraised and were able to lay 390km of bait lines in some of the region's most popular recreational areas, effectively making 10,000 hectares wasp free.
This summer we are delighted to announce we are expanding the programme to other parts of the country which are also affected by high wasp numbers. Vespex is laid in bait stations in late January and February when wasps change to a protein-based diet. It is of low toxicity and safe for bees. Results from last summer showed it has a 95%-99% success rate.
While a small amount of work is Government funded, we're going to raise more funds to get as many areas baited as possible, and we need your help. Go to our Popshop page to contribute to a wasp-free region
So join us in the battle. The more we raise the more areas we can cover.
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
-
52.7% Human-centred experience and communication
-
14.7% Critical thinking
-
29.8% Resilience and adaptability
-
2.7% Other - I will share below!
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
Loading…
