Two Western Bay of Plenty BNZ bank managers are trading in their ties and black shoes for shorts and tees as they attempt to protect kiwi habitats in the Coromandel.

On Saturday morning, Mark Ellerington and Lloyd Parnell ventured into the kauri forest between Hot Water Beach and Tairua with the Whenuakite Kiwi Care Group to set some traps to catch pests that threaten kiwis.

BNZ bank managers Mark Ellerington (Te Puke) and Lloyd Parnell (Tauranga) place eggs in traps in the bush at Whenuakite on the Coromandel.

The care group maintains 450 traps in the project area and last year they caught 57 stoats, one ferret, nine cats and 18 weasels.

BNZ partners the care group that consists of local landowners and residents, Department of Conservation staff and Environment Waikato staff.

BNZ staff from throughout the Waikato and Tauranga area service the trap lines on a monthly basis and have participated in this programme for the last six years.