$11.7 million for Taranaki predator control

An ambitious plan to eradicate pests from Taranaki will get an $11.7 million funding injection from Predator Free 2050 Ltd, Conservation Minister, Eugenie Sage announced today.

Taranaki Taku Tūranga – a region-wide collaboration between Taranaki Regional Council and rural landowners, aims to eradicate introduced predators from native habitats.

The project starts near New Plymouth and will be progressively rolled out across 4,500 hectares of farmland surrounding the Taranaki/Egmont National Park.

The area will be defended from re-infestation by a 'virtual barrier' created by a network of intensive trapping.

“Government funding of $11.7 million invested via Predator Free 2050 Ltd into Taranaki Taku Tūranga, aims to suppress or eradicate rats, stoats and possums in the area so our native birds and other wildlife can thrive.

“This funding is being matched by local government and other funders at a ratio of more than three to one, with a total project budget of $47 million over five years.”

PF2050 Ltd is a government-owned charitable company established to support co-funding arrangements to help expand and upscale predator control operations. It aims to work towards a predator free New Zealand by 2050.

“New Zealand has a predator crisis – 82 percent of native birds are threatened with, or at risk of extinction. We must invest in a comprehensive programme of predator control initiatives, to save Aotearoa’s indigenous wildlife,” said Eugenie Sage.

“Taranaki Taku Tūranga will build on significant predator control work already being undertaken by the Taranaki Mounga Project – a large scale ecological restoration collaboration between Department of Conservation, eight Taranaki iwi, the NEXT Foundation and other sponsors, covering the 34,000 ha of the national park,” said Eugenie Sage.

In late 2017, PF2050 Ltd issued a request for expressions of interest in collaborative landscape-scale predator control projects. Forty-five groups, representing six percent of New Zealand’s land area, expressed interest.

Seven projects were asked to develop proposals. Taranaki Taku Tūranga is the first to be confirmed for PF2050 Ltd investment.

In addition to the funding being provided by Predator Free 2050 Ltd, Budget 2018 provided an extra $81.3 million in new funding to the Department of Conservation (DOC) for landscape scale predator control as part of an extra $181.6 million in operational funding for DOC over the next four years. That funding allows DOC to plan ahead and target the pests that are devastating the habitats of New Zealand’s unique species.

“New Zealanders love our unique native plants and wildlife and want to see them protected.”

Note to editors:

The Taranaki Taku Tūranga Project – which is led by the Taranaki Regional Council working with rural landowners in the Taranaki Region is the first project to receive investment from Predator Free 2050 Ltd.

The separate Taranaki Mounga Project is a collaboration between DOC, eight Taranaki iwi, Next Foundation and others. This focusses on the national park and offshore islands. DOC has multiple roles in this project: In governance as a major partner in the project, as a funder of ecological restoration and predator control within the National Park and, together with contractors, its rangers are involved in delivering the work on the ground.

DOC supports the Taranaki Taku Tūranga Project through its involvement in the Taranaki Mounga Project, as the two projects will work closely together, under the ‘Restore Taranaki’ banner. Their combined efforts have the potential to make Taranaki the first predator free region in New Zealand.

​​​​​​​Further info: including a fact sheet www.trc.govt.nz

Latest Conservation Announcements

Story

Labour must deliver on No New Mines

The Green Party is disappointed tonight that the Government has voted down Eugenie Sage’s members’ bill to stop new mining on conservation land. Th...
Read More

Story

Inquiry into forestry slash and land use welcome, but more needed

Today’s news of a Ministerial inquiry into forestry slash and land use in Te Tarāwhiti/Gisborne and Wairoa is welcome, but the forestry sector shou...
Read More

Story

Time for Labour to deliver on No New Mines

The Green Party is today welcoming reports of Government progress towards having no new mines on conservation land.
Read More

Story

Urgent action needed at home following global deal for nature

The Green Party welcomes an historic new global agreement to protect 30% of the planet for nature by the end of the decade and calls on the Governm...
Read More

Story

Swimmable rivers and healthy lakes could soon be out of reach

The Green Party is calling on the Government to tighten the rules on synthetic fertiliser use and intensive land use, including intensive winter gr...
Read More

Story

Bill to ban mining on conservation land pulled from biscuit tin

Following months of work by the Green Party and community and environmental organisations, Parliament will have the opportunity to pass legislation...
Read More

Latest Environment Announcements

Story

Fast-Track, off the rails: Submitters show strong opposition to Bill

Despite resounding public opposition, the fast-track legislation is being pushed through Parliament with provisions that could have real consequenc...
Read More

Story

Govt’s shameful backtrack on marine conservation

The Green Party has condemned the Government’s late change to allow commercial fishing in protected areas in the Hauraki Gulf.
Read More

Story

Trojan Horse approach to fast-track projects threatens environment

The Government’s fast-track list is another example of its reckless approach to the environment and disregard for due process. 
Read More

Story

Greens call for public to back Wrybill in BOTY and beyond

The Green Party is calling on the public to support the Ngutu Pare Wrybill not just in this year’s Bird of the Year competition but also in pushing...
Read More

Story

Fast track still on track to environmental destruction

Our environment remains at risk despite the Government's proposed changes to its controversial fast-track legislation. 
Read More

Story

Government throws the environment on the scrap heap

The Government has shown its disdain for nature by undermining and cutting programmes which protect and conserve our environment.
Read More