Pekapeka
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.
Tāmaki Makaurau is home to both the short-tailed and long-tailed bat, with only the long-tailed bat found on the mainland. 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.
There is much that we don’t know about this taonga species, therefore Community Waitākere is working to raise community awareness about the plight of pekapeka. We do this through:
Community capacity - gathering data on the location and movements of pekapeka across West Auckland;
Hosting bat walk events in partnership with local conservation groups;
Upskilling local conservation champions on bat survey techniques;
Identifying new project and funding opportunities to further our understanding of this taonga species.
What can you do to protect pekapeka?
Learn all about them, then tell everyone you know! Click here to learn more about pekapeka and download this awesome poster!
Join a bat walk with a local conservation group, or host your own. For more information on surveying for bats, have a look at the poster.
Keep cats inside at night time.
Join a local pest trapping group to help reduce the numbers of introduced predators. For information on how pest trapping works or to find a group near you, head to Predator Free NZ
Volunteer to assist in the rejuvenation of local streams, where their food grows and they hunt. We post events held in the West Auckland region on our Facebook page and include them in our newsletters.
Help to protect large trees that bats might roost in, not just native ones!