Recreational Boat Owners & Rats
Snapshot of rat control actions and attitudes
February 2023
The Hauraki Gulf is the playground of vast numbers of recreational boaters. To support Te Korowai o Waiheke goals to eradicate rats and stoats from Waiheke, a survey was carried out with 63 powerboat and sailboat owners to find out the origin of boats visiting the island, learn whether rats had been observed in or around their vessels and to gauge their interest in rat control measures. Boat owners were also questioned about how they perceived the risk of accidentally introducing rats to Gulf Islands like Waiheke.