DOC gets kids involved in Toyota Kiwi Guardians adventure

DOC Ranger Laurence Sullivan leads a group of children on the first Toyota Kiwi Guardians adventure site in Northland, at Smugglers Bay on the weekend.

Kiwi and smugglers are not usually the best words to put together but kiwi near Smugglers Bay were perfectly safe when a group of children helped launch a new kids' conservation campaign.

The Toyota Kiwi Guardians is described as an activity programme for youngsters to learn about nature, earn cool rewards and go on epic family adventures.

Its Whangarei launch was at Smugglers Bay, where children followed adventure maps and looked out for local plants, wildlife and sites on the walk there, and also celebrated Conservation Week.

Bella and Sophia (both 7) setting off on their Toyota Kiwi Guardians adventure.

The Toyota Kiwi Guardians scheme has been rolled out in many parts of New Zealand to tie in with the Conservation Week theme this week of people exploring and taking action in their surroundings.

The Guardians put their digital toys aside, get outside and attend local events, earning Kiwi Guardian medals along the way.

Weta house.

They can also complete a range of Kiwi Guardian activities to earn a medal in their own backyard - for attracting lizards to the garden, being a warrior in the War on Weeds, becoming a Pest Detective, building a weta motel, tracking the cat and encouraging friends to get interested in nature.

As for weta motels, these uniquely New Zealand insects usually set up home in holes in wood, under stones and in other shady hidden places, but weta are also a very tasty treat for introduced predators such as rats, stoats, cats and hedgehogs.

Toby, 5, and Bella, 7, study their Kiwi Guardians maps.

With fewer predator-free weta habitat in urban areas, a homemade motel does the job nicely while providing a living nature lesson. They can be placed in a tree, under one or in a fence post.

Start with a small log, although not fresh pine, saw it in half, chisel out a weta room and drill an entrance tunnel. Nail or bind the two halves together and nail on a roof to stop rain or nasties getting in.

Entrance tunnel holes should be between 18mm and 12mm to stop mice moving in, and sloping from the top or the side, not vertical.

To be able to watch the weta reality show, make a much deeper room to give some privacy and fix a window from perspex or plastic bottle over it.