CALLING ALL ADVENTURERS!
Have you got what it takes to hunt down the 'Most Wanted' invasive insects and critters and protect the Bay of Plenty?
YOUR MISSION
Use your wits, knowledge, and orienteering skills to find the 'locations' of some pesky creatures, answer quiz questions, and 'report' them to biosecurity experts.
TIME FRAME
You can play anytime!
LOCATION
Pilot Bay, Mount Maunganui
Complete the hunt at a local favourite location.
THE PESTS
There are multiple pests/ invasive insects and critters ‘hiding’.
YOUR TOOLS
Use any smartphone and the FREE Actionbound app - complete it on foot.
Disclaimer: these hunts are purely fictional and are for educational purposes only, participants will not be hunting actual invasive species.
CHECK OUT SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS!
HOW TO PLAY:
FREE on iOS and Android smartphones
Get your friends or family together - up to 6 players
Scan the code and off you go!
Follow clues, answer questions, find locations
Safety Note: It is recommended that young children complete the hunts with an adult.
DON'T HAVE A PHONE TO PLAY WITH?
Simply download this worksheet by clicking the button below.
Head to Pilot Bay, Mount Maunganui.
Open the Actionbound app on your smartphone and scan the QR code of the hunt you'd like to complete below.
Pilot Bay -Mount Maunganui
- 1.5km - 2km track
- Walking / Prams: 1 hour (approx)
- Suitable for Prams and walking (some gravel).
- Mount Maunganui, Pilot Bay waterfront
- No roads
HUNT DOWN THESE PESTS
Asian Paddle Crab
The Asian Paddle Crab is a swimming crab native to South East Asia. It is normally found in the waters of Japan, Korea and Malaysia. It has the potential to compete with native crabs for their habitat and food.
Status in NZ:
PRESENT IN SOME PARTS OF NZ
Fall Armyworm
The Fall Armyworm is a pesky moth (yes, not a worm at all!) that can cause a lot of trouble for farmers because its young, called larvae or caterpillars, love to eat crops. Even though the larvae do the most damage to our crops.
Status in NZ:
PRESENT IN SOME PARTS OF NZ
PA pathogen - the threat to Kauri
Kauri are a taonga (treasure) of Aotearoa New Zealand. They are threatened by a pathogen called Phytophthora agathidicida (PA for short) which lives in soil and infects Kauri trees through their root
Status in NZ:
PRESENT IN SOME PARTS OF NZ
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug is an agricultural, horticultural, and social pest. It's native to Asia and has spread through North America and Europe. It feeds on plant species and could decimate agricultural industries.
Status in NZ:
NOT PRESENT
Freshwater Gold Clam
Freshwater Gold Clams, are now in New Zealand and causing trouble. First spotted in the Waikato River in May 2023, they live in big piles on the riverbed, they can take all the food out of the water and crowd out native shellfish.
Status in NZ:
PRESENT IN SOME PARTS OF NZ
Northern Pacific Seastar
The Northern Pacific Seastar is a creature native to the waters of the northwestern Pacific Ocean, including Japan, Russia, North China, and Korea
Status in NZ:
NOT PRESENT IN NZ
Exotic Caluerpa
A type of seaweed that was discovered at Aotea Great Barrier Island in 2021. These seaweeds are easy to spot because they're bright green and have blades that look like little oars.
Status in NZ:
PRESENT IN SOME PARTS OF NZ
Myrtle Rust
Myrtle Rust, a troublesome fungal disease that affects myrtle plants in New Zealand like pōhutukawa and rātā, mānuka and kānuka, ramarama and swamp maire and exotic plants like feijoa has spread across the North Island and the top of the South Island.
Status in NZ:
PRESENT IN SOME PARTS OF NZ
It takes all of us to protect our region from pests and diseases.
This hunt is brought to you by Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital Incorporated (TMBC), developing our next generation of biosecurity champions!
Thank you to all our TMBC funding partners for making this possible.