Regional NZ gets bulk of $20m fund

The Government is investing nearly $20 million to help eradicate pests in regional New Zealand.

Yesterday, it announced that $19.5m from the Provincial Growth Fund would go towards expanding predator control in the country’s ‘‘surge regions’’ – Northland, Bay of Plenty, East Cape, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu¯ Whanganui and the West Coast.

The funding would be used by a Crown-owned company, Predator Free 2050 Limited, to contract projects that would bring ‘‘tens of thousands of hectares of rural and forested land under predator control’’, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones said in a statement.

‘‘This will create regional jobs and stimulate demand for education at regional training institutes,’’ he said.

Predator Free 2050 Ltd would seek expressions of interest in ‘‘ambitious, predator eradication projects’’ from local authorities and community-backed entities in the ‘‘surge regions’’.

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said the investment would help develop predator control

‘‘This funding signals a necessary and significant shift away from the use of 1080.’’

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters

approaches that didn’t use

1080 poison.

‘‘This funding signals a necessary and significant shift away from the use of 1080 in New Zealand without compromising our pest-control requirements.’’

Predator Free 2050 chief executive Ed Chignell said the company would look for projects with strong council, iwi, primary industry and community backing.

‘‘Restoring areas where native wildlife can thrive helps build communities, creates jobs and opens up new, tourism-related business opportunities.’’

The company was set up in

2016 to rid New Zealand of rats, possums and stoats by 2050.

Last year, it began projects in Wellington, Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay.