A few times a week, Peter Cavanagh can be seen on the Dunes Trail cycleway with his canine sidekick, checking and clearing traps.

The 9-kilometre coastal strip, which is part of the Motu Trails, links two shorebird nesting sites at the Waioweka and Waiaua river mouths and provides an important habitat for coastal biodiversity.

In just a few years, Mr Cavanagh’s dedication to the cause and attention to detail has seen the removal of almost 500 rats, and 100 mustelids alongside other pests.

It has also earned him an award from the Bay Conservation Alliance.

At its recent annual meeting, the conservation alliance presented Mr Cavanagh and four others with BCA Trophy for Outstanding Contribution to Conservation in the Bay of Plenty.

Alongside the more than 35,000 trees planted over the past decade, Mr Cavanagh’s mahi is helping restore bird life in the area, removing the pressure of pests along this buffer corridor before they enter the immediate nesting sites of threatened species such as the New Zealand dotterel.

“His work extends beyond pest control. He is friendly, approachable and always happy to chat to some of the 20,000 annual users of the trail.

“He will take the time to demonstrate to families how the traps work, the ins and outs of trapping, and most importantly, why pest control matters.”

Bay Conservation Alliance says he is a “brilliant ambassador”, not only for the trail but for the environment, fostering connection between people and conservation.