This story first appeared in The Shout New Zealand, authored by Charlotte Cowan

The Bond Store in New Zealand is releasing a limited edition of its Kawakawa Gin, packaged in a handmade wooden rat trap, to help more people to help play a part in conserving New Zealand’s native birdlife.

The Bond Store owners Chris Barber and Bec Kay regularly trap rats on their Wairarapa property where the Kawakawa used to infuse their gin is grown.

“The Department of Conservation estimates that rats, and other predators such as stoats and possums, kill over 25 million native birds each year,” Kay said.

“Initially we began by gifting rat traps to family and friends who loved them, and the idea of combining our gin with rat traps grew from there.

“It’s important for people to understand that trapping rats is something we can all do to help preserve our native birds and other species, and it’s not just something done commercially.”

Kay said sustainability is at the core of their business, and says she came up with the idea to make a rat trap part of their packaging while enjoying a gin in her Raumati back yard and seeing a rat scamper across the lawn.

“We’re also on a mission to reduce waste – most gift boxes are thrown away after they’re received, so we want to change that. This was the perfect solution, and we hope people’s friends, family and neighbours get trapping in their backyards”.

The Bond Store wooden traps come with full instructions for use, and can trap both rats and mice.

They are a ‘no-touch design’ and were all made locally by a not-for-profit community organisation on the Kāpiti Coast.

Once the bottle of locally-distilled Kawakawa gin is removed, the gift box is ready to use as a trap, and comes complete with a sachet of Pic’s Peanut Butter to bait it.

“This is the perfect combination of helping DOC on their quest to eradicate vermin from the backyards of Aotearoa, and a smooth award-winning gin in a truly useful gift-box,” Kay said.