Pekapeka-tou-roa
Our Pekapeka tou-roa kaupapa supports communities, hapuu, and environmental groups to protect the spaces these taonga need to survive.
About
Pekapeka tou-roa, is the long-tailed bat indigenous to Aotearoa and is one of our most precious yet threatened native species. These small, fast, night-flying mammals are still found across parts of the Waikato, particularly along forest edges, river corridors, and remnant ngahere.
We work with community groups, landowners, schools, and hapuu to grow awareness of where pekapeka live and what they need. The kaupapa includes education, acoustic monitoring, habitat protection, predator control, and support for local projects. It is guided by maatauranga Maaori and local knowledge about the species and the ngahere they depend on.
Pekapeka are more than wildlife. They are part of our whakapapa, part of the story of this place, and deserve the same care and attention as our better-known forest birds.
Why it matters
Pekapeka tou‑roa are nationally critical and face an immediate risk of extinction. Threats include habitat loss, predators, light pollution, disturbance of roost trees, and climate impacts.
Protecting pekapeka supports wider ecosystem health. Their presence signals functioning forests that store carbon, protect soils, and support biodiversity. Caring for pekapeka also strengthens cultural relationships with te taiao.
What you can do
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Join a local bat monitoring group
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Protect old trees and potential roost sites
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Reduce outdoor lighting at night
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Support predator control near forests and waterways
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Plant native species that strengthen forest edges
Together, we can make the Waikato a place where pekapeka tou-roa are not just surviving, but thriving - darting through dusk skies, feeding on insects, and reminding us that the health of our ecosystems is in our hands.
