Pekapeka on our whenua! The night shift begins at Whāngārā Farms

At Whāngārā Farms, much of our focus sits on the day-to-day work of farming: stock, pasture, people, weather. But through He Rau Ake Ake, our  100-Year Whenua Optimisation Plan, we also hold a much longer view that looks at things like what our whenua should look like in 10 years, 50 years, and 100 years’ time. Productive, resilient, and alive for whānau and generations to come. 

That long horizon is why we commissioned a  Rapid Biodiversity Assessment (BioRAP) with Tonkin & Taylor across five of our blocks along the Tairāwhiti coastline including  Rototahe, Puatai, Pakarae, Whāngārā B5, and Tapuwae Whitiwhiti. The purpose was simple and important: to understand what biodiversity is present today, where the strongest natural areas sit, and what restoration work will make the greatest difference over time. It gives us a clear starting point so our decisions are grounded in evidence, not assumption. 

One of the most encouraging findings from this work was the detection of  pekapeka (native long-tailed bats) on parts of our whenua. 

If bats aren’t something you’ve thought much about before, you’re not alone. Pekapeka are small, native night-fliers that live quietly alongside us. They emerge after dark to feed and use bush edges, gullies, and waterways as natural “flight paths” across the landscape. Their presence can be a sign that there is still enough life in the land (shelter, insects, and connected habitat) for native species to move through. 

To understand whether pekapeka were using our farms, ecologists placed small listening devices, called  Acoustic Bat Monitors, in carefully chosen locations, near mature trees, bush remnants, and wetland areas where bats are most likely to travel and feed. These monitors ran for several weeks and confirmed bat activity in parts of  Rototahe, Puatai, and Whāngārā B5. 

In plain terms, pekapeka are visiting and moving through sections of our whenua, particularly where there is a mix of vegetation and water. 

Just as importantly, the report also shows us where the challenges remain. It is unlikely bats are currently roosting or breeding in these areas. That reflects the realities of working farm landscapes, limited mature habitat in places, and the ongoing impacts of browsing pressure and pest predators. We don’t see this as discouraging. We see it as clarity. It tells us exactly where to focus our effort so the conditions for biodiversity can strengthen over time. 

This is the heart of He Rau Ake Ake. Our plan is not about quick wins or one-off planting days. It is about steady, intergenerational change. The BioRAP points to practical actions that align directly with our long-term direction: protecting and expanding native bush remnants, strengthening connections between pockets of ngahere, fencing sensitive areas, restoring wetlands and stream margins, and continuing pest control so native species can survive and return in greater numbers. 

For our whānau, this is something to feel proud of. It reminds us that our whenua still holds taonga, and that the choices we make now will shape what flourishes here in the future. For our partners, funders, and government agencies, it demonstrates how a farm can take a disciplined, evidence-led approach to biodiversity: establish a baseline, identify priority areas, and invest in actions that build resilience across both ecological and economic systems. 

We also want to acknowledge  Roger MacGibbon, our biodiversity expert, who is overseeing biodiversity activity across our farms and guiding this work with both technical rigour and a deep understanding of what it takes to make restoration real on working land. His leadership helps ensure He Rau Ake Ake remains grounded, measurable, and focused on outcomes that will stand the test of time. 

Seeing pekapeka in the monitoring results is a small line in a technical report, but a powerful signal in practice. It tells us the night sky above our farms is not empty. It tells us that even in landscapes shaped by generations of farming, there is still room for native life to move, feed, and return. 

With consistent, long-term care, the gullies, wetlands, and bush pockets across Whāngārā Farms can keep growing in strength and connection. And in doing so, they can support not only pekapeka, but a wider web of life, alongside thriving whānau and a resilient, productive farming future.