Quarter 3, 2026 Donation Update

Another quarter, another opportunity to support some fantastic conservation mahi happening across Aotearoa!

Conservation Socks donates $1 from every pair sold to conservation efforts across the motu. This quarter, I wanted to support a project where our contribution could make a practical, measurable difference.

So I decided to contact Ōhiwa Headland Sanctuary, a community-led conservation initiative in the Bay of Plenty working to protect and restore the local environment.

It was the geography that caught my attention. I was familiar with the concept of predator-free islands and fences, but hadn't really considered how natural boundaries on the mainland could offer similar advantages. Surrounded by estuaries, coastline and freshwater catchments, the Ōhiwa Headland is particularly well suited to pest management.

The team at Ōhiwa Headland Sanctuary suggested putting our quarterly contribution of $250 towards materials for a community trap-building day!

What I particularly love about this project is the number of people who came together to make it happen.

ITM Ōpōtiki donated and prepared the timber, Lodestone Energy sponsored the trap mechanisms, Conservation Socks contributed towards the remaining materials, and students and staff from St Cuthbert’s College rolled up their sleeves to help construct the boxes.

The result? 24 new double-set DOC200 trap boxes, built by volunteers and ready to be deployed!

These traps will support ongoing predator control efforts, helping create a safer environment for native wildlife on the Ōhiwa Headland.

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported Conservation Socks this quarter. It is incredibly rewarding to see something as simple as a pair of socks contribute to practical conservation projects like this.

And a big ka pai to the Ōhiwa Headland Sanctuary team and everyone involved in bringing this project to life!