No pests by 2050 – goal set by Govt

‘‘This is the most ambitious conservation project attempted anywhere in the world but we believe if we all work together as a country we can achieve it.’’ Prime Minister John Key

The Government wants to make New Zealand predator-free by 2050, formally adopting a target to eradicate all pests that threaten New Zealand’s native birds.

Prime Minister John Key announced the goal, alongside Conservation Minister Maggie Barry, as well as a $28 million injection into a joint venture company to kickstart the campaign.

‘‘Rats, possums and stoats kill 25 million of our native birds every year, and prey on other native species such as lizards and, along with the rest of our environment, we must do more to protect them,’’ Key said.

The announcement gives the Government a jump on the Green Party, which has refrained from setting such a target, though it has criticised the Government’s reliance on the private sector to save critically endangered birds.

By 2025, the Government has set four interim goals:

Having 1 million hectares of land where pests are suppressed or removed.

The development of a scientific breakthrough, capable of removing entirely one small mammalian predator.

To be able to demonstrate that areas of 20,000ha can be predator free without the use of fences like the one at Wellington’s Zealandia sanctuary.

The removal of all introduced predators from offshore island nature reserves.

Introduced pests threatened the economy and primary sector; their total economic cost was estimated at $3.3 billion a year, Key said.

‘‘This is the most ambitious conservation project attempted anywhere in the world, but we believe if we all work together as a country we can achieve it.’’

The Government has set up a new joint venture company – Predator Free New Zealand Ltd – to drive the programme alongside the private sector.

That is on top of $60m-$80m already invested in pest control each year.

Predator Free NZ would be responsible for identifying large, high-value predator control projects and attracting coinvestors to boost their scale and success. The Government would look to provide funding on a ‘‘onefor-two’’ basis – that is, for every $2 local councils and the private sector put in, the Government would provide $1.

Barry said the target would require a ‘‘massive team effort’’ across public and private sectors, iwi and community groups.

‘‘Now is the time for a concerted long-term nationwide effort to rid ourselves of the introduced rats, stoats and possums that have placed so much of our natural heritage in jeopardy,’’ she said.

The Predator Free NZ Project would combine the resources of the lead government agencies – the Department of Conservation and the Ministry of Primary Industries.

‘‘Possums and ferrets are the main carriers of bovine TB, which is a very destructive disease for cattle and deer,’’ Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy said.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce said New Zealand would prove itself a world leader in conservation science and technology.

‘‘For the first time, technology is starting to make feasible what previously seemed like an unattainable dream.’’