Halo Project Operations Update
As Aotearoa has now moved into Alert Level 4 we have suspended all our field work effective immediately. We will continue to evaluate options for undertaking work, but at this stage we have a much worse enemy we need to focus on controlling. Our number one priority is the health, safety and wellbeing of people, we will achieve this by minimising the spread of COVID-19. Although the work we carry out is really important, it is not critical.
Halo Project staff are continuing to work from home and we are keen to maintain contact with you all. Please keep in touch with us and we will keep you updated on operations. We are available online through our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/halobeyondorokonui), email info@haloproject.org.nz or give us a call 022 026 2115. We will endeavour to respond in a timely manner.
The following provides our position and advice for those involved in our various work.
Field trips – Reforesting Dunedin and seed-sourcing
These field trips are cancelled. We will notify volunteers if/when we reschedule.
New trapping in backyards and on private land
Currently, we are not engaging with new households or landowners who want to start trapping in their backyards or on private land to minimise any risk of transmission of COVID-19.
Existing trapping / monitoring in backyards and on private land
There is no obligation for people to continue with trapping or other activities in their backyards and private land due to risks of:
Transmission of COVID-19 on surfaces/equipment.
People injuring themselves and not being able to receive proper medical treatment or adding stress to the public health system.
We understand the role that nature plays in improving physical and mental health - and that checking traps and monitoring may be important for people’s wellbeing. This is a great time to get on top of your backyard trapping and catch up with entering data onto trap.nz. If you haven’t signed up to trap.nz yet, now is an opportune time to do so.
If you are willing, and can safely undertake Halo related activities on your property, feel free to continue, here are some suggested extra steps to help keep people safe:
Traps are only checked/touched by people from within the same household where you are self-isolating.
You will not come within 2 metres of people from outside the same household where you are self-isolating while checking your trap(s).
You follow the hygiene practices outlined by the Ministry of Health.
You wear gloves when checking traps and consider wiping down any surfaces you come into contact with using a disinfectant solution.
If you run out of lure, remember not to use anything meat or fish-based in possum traps as it increases the risk of catching non-target species and domestic animals.
You get in touch before getting experimental. It’s important that we maintain best-practice techniques as much as possible and we are keen to hear about creative solutions!
Continue to enter backyard trap rebaits, checks and captures to the Halo Project https://trap.nz/.
Public land (Parks and Reserves)
We can not condone volunteering on public land, effective immediately because of the following:
Transmitting COVID-19 via equipment services and through contact with others.
People injuring themselves and not be able to receive proper medical treatment or adding unnecessary stress to the public health system.
For further information about volunteering on public land, please refer to the Department of Conservation’s response to the crisis: https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/issues/covid-19/ and https://www.predatorfreedunedin.org/news/covid-19.
Stay safe and we look forward to keeping in touch.
Kia kaha, kia maia
The Halo Project team