Tiaki Pekapeka
The long-tailed bat (Chalinolobus tuberculatus) is the only endemic bat species currently known to exist on the mainland in Tāmaki Makaurau. Their habitat spreads from the forest areas of Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa (Waitākere Ranges), up through the rural lands on Kumeū, Huapai and then on through Woodhill and Riverhead forests.
Tiaki Pekapeka is a collaborative kaupapa developed by Community Waitākere to discover, celebrate, and protect pekapeka through weaving together technology, education, citizen science, mātauranga Māori, and community action.
Pekapeka are thought to have come from the Rarohenga or the underworld, with one Māori pūrakau stating they returned to the living world with Mataora and Niwareka.
Instructed to hide in dark corners and gloomy haunts, pekapeka are associated with the mythical, night flying bird hōkioi, which foretells death or disaster.
Tiaki Pekapeka has a range of focus areas including:
Advocating for equitable bioacoustics data analysis tools to streamline analysis and increase data accuracy and breadth,
Collaboration with existing ecological data platforms through improving compatibility with national databases, maintaining indigenous data sovereignty and protecting roost locations,
Increasing the overall body of knowledge: the more data points that are shared, the more we can pinpoint and intensify conservation efforts,
Empower communities to lead through education and accessibility by walking alongside communities and aligning with mana whenua aspirations sits at the heart of our mahi,
Meaningful education pathways that support the development and delivery of curriculum-aligned education projects that engage rangatahi in conservation technology,
Targeted advocacy and awareness campaigns boosts visibility in the public eye, increases curiosity, and inspires long-term action.
We are committed to growing Tiaki Pekapeka by continuing to develop these initiatives and cultivating meaningful partnerships and networks.
Our goal is to share the kaupapa with like-minded organisations and individuals across Aotearoa.
What can you do to protect pekapeka?
Learn all about them, then tell everyone you know!
Join a bat walk with a local conservation group, or host your own.
Keep cats inside at night.
Join Predator Free NZ to help reduce the numbers of introduced predators.
Rejuvenate local streams, where their food grows and they hunt.
Help to protect all large trees that bats might roost in, not just native ones!
