King Country Energy (KCE) continues to support predator control efforts at Lake Kuratau, with the latest trapping results from the Omori Kuratau Pest Management Group (OKPMG) showing a significant increase in pests removed from the area in 2025.
The volunteer-led group, which operates a dedicated trapline around the Kuratau Power Station, recorded 2,147 predators removed in 2025, up from 1,620 in 2024. Since OKPMG began trapping in the wider Omori and Kuratau area in 2011, the group has now removed more than 14,000 predators in total.
The 2025 results included:
Rats and Mice – 921
Possums – 865
Mustelids (stoats, weasels and ferrets) – 44
Other pests - 865
KCE has supported OKPMG’s trapping work at Kuratau for several years as part of its commitment to protecting the natural environments surrounding its hydro stations. The trapline targets introduced predators that threaten native birds, wildlife and bush regeneration around the lake and power station catchment.
“We’re seeing the results of consistent, long-term effort,” says Chris Fincham, General Manager at King Country Energy. “These numbers reflect a huge amount of work by local volunteers and show just how important ongoing predator control is for protecting native biodiversity around Lake Kuratau.”
OKPMG volunteers service the trapline year-round using humane, DOC-approved traps, contributing to wider conservation outcomes across the region. The group has operated in the Omori and Kuratau area for more than 15 years, working steadily to reduce predator pressure and support the return of native birdlife.
“We’re proud to back the communities we’re part of,” says Fincham. “Protecting the environments around our power stations is part of being a responsible, long-term operator in the King Country.”
