Puharakekenui/Styx River - Urban Predator Control Lines
In 2020, New Zealand Conservation Trust volunteers began setting up predator traplines along the Styx River in Styx Mill Conservation Reserve and Radcliffe Road Reserve. The Trust’s trapping network along the Styx has since been expanded to include the Sheppards Stream, Janet Stewart and Puharakekenui Reserves.
Volunteer With Us.
Our dedicated team of volunteers head out every fortnight to clear our urban trap lines. Every week we offer free training for anyone who is keen to get involved and help support our projects.
Come along to any of our trapping days to find out more and get involved.
See our list of 2026 trapping dates below.
2026 Urban Trapping Dates.
Te Waoku Kahikatea Reserve
2026 Dates – (please keep in mind that some of these may be subject to change)
14th February
14th March
11th April
9th May
6th June
4th July
1st August
29th August
26th September
24th October
21st November
19th December
Styx Mill Reserve
2026 Dates – (please keep in mind that some of these may be subject to change)
24th January
28th February
28th March
18th April
23rd May
20th June
18th July
15th August
12th September
10th October
07th November
5th December
Read about the history of the Styx River Trapping Below:
Get in touch.
Would you like to join us at one of our predator control lines?
Become a volunteer with the trust and help do your part to protect nature.
A Vision and Collaboration.
The Styx is a spring-fed river flowing through Christchurch into the Pacific Ocean. In recent years many groups, including the Styx Living Laboratory Trust, have worked tirelessly to protect, maintain and restore the ecosystem along the Styx.
The aim of NZCT’s project is to help protect the wetland and bush birds living and nesting along the Styx from introduced predators like rats, stoat, weasels and ferrets.
In 2020 thanks to funding from both Environment Canterbury and the Mazda Foundation, 89 traps were placed in the Styx Mill Reserve, marking the start of our urban trapping. 53 more traps were also placed at the Te Wouka Kahikatea Reserve (Radcliffe Road) creating the start of a urban wildlife corridor along the Styx River.
Extending the Project.
In 2021 the project was expanded by adding Sheppards Stream to the lines. 16 traps were placed in the area. In 2023 a group from Burlington Retirement Village expressed an interest in running a predator control line at Janet Stewart Reserve, this was then added to the urban trapping project, extending the growing wildlife corridor.
Over the years more traps have been added to each line and are monitored every month by and ever growing group of dedicated volunteers.
Alongside the predator control efforts, the Styx lines have also supported local Canterbury University students with varying research projects. The first in 2021 where students researched if willows are a help or a hindrance to regeneration.
In 2024 students carried out another research project about the impact of Canadian Geese on the resident waterfowl and wading birds.
In 2025 a new research project was started testing new baits for predator control lines, this project is ongoing.
