About Us
Our mission is to protect Aotearoa's only native land mammal — through community action, science-led monitoring, and increasing community awareness.
How it started
Aotearoa's pekapeka were once abundant across the motu. Today, just two species remain — both listed as threatened — driven to the edge by introduced predators, habitat loss, and a lack of community awareness about how close we are to losing them forever.
This project began as a small group of volunteers frustrated by the gap between research and action. We believed that if more people truly understood the pekapeka — their echolocation, their role as pollinators, their whakapapa in te ao Māori — they would show up to protect them.
We were right. We've grown into a network of kaitiaki, researchers, and everyday people doing extraordinary things for a small, nocturnal bat most New Zealanders have never seen.
What guides us
Kaitiakitanga
Guardianship is a responsibility, not a role. We act in the long-term interests of the pekapeka and the ecosystems they depend on.
Science-led action
Every programme we run is grounded in the latest population ecology and conservation biology. Evidence drives our decisions.
Community power
Conservation at scale requires communities. We invest in training, tools, and relationships that outlast any single project or funding round.
Two species of bat call Aotearoa home — both ancient, both remarkable, and both at risk of being lost forever.
Pekapeka-tou-poto
Mystacina tuberculata · Short-tailed bat
The pekapeka-tou-poto is one of very few bat species that folds its wings and forages on the forest floor — hunting insects, eating fruit, and lapping up pollen and nectar. This makes them extraordinary pollinators of native plants including Pua o te Reinga(Wood Rose). They are found only in a handful of stronghold forests across the country.
Pekapeka-tou-roa
Chalinolobus tuberculatus · Long-tailed bat
Aotearoa's most widespread bat, the pekapeka-tou-roa hunts insects on the wing — a single bat can consume thousands of insects in a single night. They roost in the hollows of ancient trees, making old-growth forest protection inseparable from their survival. Despite ranging widely across the motu, their populations are in sharp decline due to introduced predators and habitat loss.
The team
No team members added yet.
The organisations we work alongside
Pekapeka conservation is a collective effort. These are the iwi, government agencies, research institutions and NGOs who make our mahi possible.
EcoQuest Centre for Indigeneity, Ecology and Creativity
EcoQuest is a charitable organisation dedicated to growing environmental stewardship and sustainable living. Its mission is to educate and empower communities to take an active role in conservation, protect natural ecosystems, and promote biodiversity. Through community engagement, practical field projects, and awareness campaigns, EcoQuest works to create lasting, positive impacts for the environment while encouraging responsible and meaningful connections with the taiao.
Auckland Council
Auckland Council, as the region’s local authority, helps shape how people and nature thrive together. Alongside providing core services, it supports biodiversity by protecting and restoring habitats across Auckland, from urban green spaces to wetlands and ngahere. This work includes funding research, promoting awareness, and partnering with communities to safeguard species such as pekapeka. By backing local initiatives and habitat restoration, the Council contributes to a healthier, more resilient environment.
Ngāti Te Ata Waiuohua
Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua are important partners in this kaupapa, with whakapapa connections through Tāmaki Makaurau and Waikato. Their kaitiakitanga is expressed through restoring habitats, protecting taonga species like pekapeka, and practising sustainable approaches that keep ecosystems resilient. By sharing mātauranga and experience, Ngāti Te Ata strengthen biodiversity and conservation outcomes, helping to build healthier environments where native species can thrive.
Predator Free Franklin
Predator Free Franklin is a community-powered initiative tackling invasive predators to give our native wildlife a fighting chance. By working with residents, landowners, and volunteers, the project rolls out sustainable predator control that protects taonga species, from pekapeka to our native birds. Through hands-on mahi, education, and collaboration, Predator Free Franklin is helping to restore ecosystems and create a safer, thriving environment for Aotearoa’s unique biodiversity.
Pest Free South Auckland
Pest Free South Auckland is a community-driven project working to clear harmful pests and give our native plants and animals the space to thrive. By teaming up with residents, businesses, and local groups, the initiative helps protect taonga species, including the unique Tāmaki bats. With a focus on smart pest control, restoring habitats, and raising awareness, Pest Free South Auckland is building stronger, healthier ecosystems across the region.
Beautification Trust
The Beautification Trust Manurewa works with the community to uplift the local environment and promote sustainability. Through habitat restoration, native planting, and pest control projects, the trust helps create safer, healthier spaces for South Auckland’s unique biodiversity, including species under threat. By combining education with hands-on action, the Trust inspires residents, businesses, and organisations to care for the taiao and play an active role in long-term conservation across Manurewa.