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01 April 2025
By ITM
Builder Sam Ashby and Albany ITM GM Terry Robinson are passionate about being out in the wilderness. Sam’s a keen hunter, and Terry’s into tramping big time. They’re also die-hard conservationists who formed a group around two years ago to cull predators from our native forests. The results have been nothing short of extraordinary.
“It started off as a small-scale effort, but so many people have come on board, and things have just snowballed,” says Sam, who runs a residential building company in Auckland and is also vice president of the Auckland branch of the NZ Deerstalkers Association. “We’re already seeing the effects on native bush and birdlife. It’s staggering. On a trip to Fiordland, I saw the benefits first-hand with multiple pairs of Whio (blue ducks) on the river whistling at us, Kiwi calling outside our tents at night, and Kea hanging out on the open tops.”
Inspired by the work being done by the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation, Sam was determined to pitch
in and help with building and distributing traps targeting stoats, rats, ferrets and possums. “Stoats are devastating for Kiwi and other native birds such as Mohua, Kākā and yellow-crowned Kākāriki. Stoats can take out eggs, chicks and incubating adults in one attack and have played a huge role in the extinction of South Island subspecies of Bush Wren, Laughing Owl and New Zealand Thrush.”
There are over 160,000 recreational hunters in New Zealand and an even bigger number of hikers who enjoy the great outdoors of Aotearoa. Sam reckons that if he taps into this huge resource, the idea of a predator-free New Zealand could become a reality.
“It’s amazing how once word gets out, all these people come out of the woodwork. Once you start tapping into those volunteer networks, it’s so much easier because you’re surrounded by people from the local community. They have such a passion for conservation.
“ITM people have played a huge part in all this, and quite a few stores are keen to get involved locally. I have a few mates around the country who would love to start similar projects. Hopefully, this story might encourage other builders who are into the outdoors to lend a hand.”
If you want to help Sam with his conservation efforts, Sam’s email is:
sam@ashbybuilders.co.nz
“It started off as a small-scale effort, but so many people have come on board, and things have just snowballed,” says Sam, who runs a residential building company in Auckland and is also vice president of the Auckland branch of the NZ Deerstalkers Association. “We’re already seeing the effects on native bush and birdlife. It’s staggering. On a trip to Fiordland, I saw the benefits first-hand with multiple pairs of Whio (blue ducks) on the river whistling at us, Kiwi calling outside our tents at night, and Kea hanging out on the open tops.”
Inspired by the work being done by the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation, Sam was determined to pitch
in and help with building and distributing traps targeting stoats, rats, ferrets and possums. “Stoats are devastating for Kiwi and other native birds such as Mohua, Kākā and yellow-crowned Kākāriki. Stoats can take out eggs, chicks and incubating adults in one attack and have played a huge role in the extinction of South Island subspecies of Bush Wren, Laughing Owl and New Zealand Thrush.”
Brothers in arms
Sam set up trap building workshops in Auckland, arranged to have traps shipped down the line, and, in some cases, would deliver and install the traps himself. Then, things changed up a gear when Sam approached his building supplier, Albany ITM.
“It really was a case of serendipity. I got to meet Terry Robinson, who had just come out of the Milford Track and had seen the predator trap boxes along the side of the track. I told him more traps were needed, and Albany ITM came on board straight away, co-sponsoring the initial set of box traps along with my company.
“Next thing I know, he arranged a meeting with ITM’s Support Office management, and they came to the party with a generous amount of funding to help expand the trapping programme.
“As a result, our vision has grown exponentially. We are now helping out with multiple groups around the country and absolutely loving it. We’re in the process of completing projects with the Sika Foundation in the central North Island and the Predator Free Muriwai group.”
A down-to-earth groundswellSam set up trap building workshops in Auckland, arranged to have traps shipped down the line, and, in some cases, would deliver and install the traps himself. Then, things changed up a gear when Sam approached his building supplier, Albany ITM.
“It really was a case of serendipity. I got to meet Terry Robinson, who had just come out of the Milford Track and had seen the predator trap boxes along the side of the track. I told him more traps were needed, and Albany ITM came on board straight away, co-sponsoring the initial set of box traps along with my company.
“Next thing I know, he arranged a meeting with ITM’s Support Office management, and they came to the party with a generous amount of funding to help expand the trapping programme.
“As a result, our vision has grown exponentially. We are now helping out with multiple groups around the country and absolutely loving it. We’re in the process of completing projects with the Sika Foundation in the central North Island and the Predator Free Muriwai group.”
There are over 160,000 recreational hunters in New Zealand and an even bigger number of hikers who enjoy the great outdoors of Aotearoa. Sam reckons that if he taps into this huge resource, the idea of a predator-free New Zealand could become a reality.
“It’s amazing how once word gets out, all these people come out of the woodwork. Once you start tapping into those volunteer networks, it’s so much easier because you’re surrounded by people from the local community. They have such a passion for conservation.
“ITM people have played a huge part in all this, and quite a few stores are keen to get involved locally. I have a few mates around the country who would love to start similar projects. Hopefully, this story might encourage other builders who are into the outdoors to lend a hand.”
If you want to help Sam with his conservation efforts, Sam’s email is:
sam@ashbybuilders.co.nz