$14.1 Million Boost to Protect Native Wildlife From Predator Surge

Potaka said the government is strengthening predator control measures to reduce those threats and help protect species that are unique to New Zealand.

New Zealand is ramping up predator control efforts across the South Island with a $14.1 million funding package aimed at protecting threatened native wildlife from an expected surge in rats and stoats. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said the investment, funded through the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), will help the Department of Conservation (DOC) expand predator control operations in response to a major beech mast event that is creating ideal conditions for pest populations to grow.

Beech Seed Boom Creates Threat for Native Species

This year, South Island beech forests have produced trillions of seeds, providing an abundant food source for rats. As rat numbers rise, stoat populations are also expected to increase, creating significant risks for vulnerable native wildlife over the coming months. Potaka said the government is strengthening predator control measures to reduce those threats and help protect species that are unique to New Zealand.

The additional funding will support large-scale operations in some of the country's most important conservation areas, where native birds, bats and other wildlife are especially vulnerable to predation.

Major National Parks Targeted for Protection

The expanded programme will focus on Kahurangi, Arthur's Pass, Mount Aspiring and Fiordland national parks, alongside the Maruia, Arawhata and Landsborough valleys on the West Coast. DOC plans to carry out predator control across more than 360,000 hectares within these locations.

The work is expected to provide critical protection for species including mohua (yellowhead), kākāriki karaka (orange-fronted parakeet), piwauwau (rock wren), pekapeka (native bats), whio, kea and kiwi. Potaka said these species are found nowhere else in the world and play an important role in attracting both international visitors and New Zealanders to the country's natural landscapes.

Largest Predator Control Programme Yet

The minister pointed to previous conservation successes where sustained suppression of rats, stoats and possums has contributed to the recovery of native species such as mohua, rock wren and kiwi. The new funding will allow DOC to significantly increase the scale of its operations, helping to maintain those gains and prevent further losses during a period of heightened risk.

With the additional investment, DOC is expected to deliver its largest predator control programme on record during the 2026/27 financial year. The work will cover around one million hectares, representing approximately 12 per cent of New Zealand's public conservation land. The government says the expanded effort is an important step in protecting native biodiversity while supporting the long-term goal of creating a predator-free New Zealand.