Great Barrier Island, off the north east coast of North Island, has a resident population of some 1,400 people, but unemployment is high and the major potential area for employment is in nature tourism. The Awana Catchment comprises all the Great Barrier Island's vegetation types and habitats, as it stretches from the island's highest point, Mount Hirakimata, down to the beach. The Awana Catchment Trust was formed by local people who are concerned about the dramatic decline of brown teal, threats to beach nesting birds, lack of knowledge about petrel nesting / survival, impacts on birds from domestic dogs and feral cats, and the ongoing loss of indigenous plant and animal biodiversity in the area.

The project will monitor wildlife and carry out activities to improve nesting/breeding opportunities, such as trapping of feral cats and roaming domestic dogs. Discussions will be held with farmers to ensure that activities such as rush and hedge cutting can be done at times of year when they do not disturb teal and other birds. It is hoped that with proper management of the area, species such as the kiwi and kokako which used to live on Great Barrier Island can be reintroduced.