Predator Free Wellington – proud partners

We’re proud to be one of the partners working on Predator Free Wellington, a project that has inspired thousands of people to create a safe haven in Wellington City for native wildlife.

Here’s a bit about how it began, and how the great partnership between our organisations and the community is working to achieve an amazing feat.

This little Titipounamu (Rifleman) is from a site in Wainuiomata, which has been protected by Greater Wellington since 2004 and sustains large native bird populations. Photo credit: Leon Berard.

It’s a group effort

Greater Wellington Regional Council provides both financial and technical expertise required to design and manage the operation, based on 25 years of biosecurity control in Wellington City and the region. We also manage the monitoring of native wildlife before, during, and after operations.

NEXT Foundation provides both financial and non financial support, and they invest in PFW as a template for urban eradication for the rest of Aotearoa, New Zealand. NEXT Foundation wants to test tools and techniques in the cities that can be applied nationally. It’s part of their wider vision to find predator free solutions for urban, rural, forest and other mainland areas. 

Predator Free 2050 limited provides funding and support from the national, crown-owned, charitable company established by the Government to eradicate possums, stoats and rats by 2050.

Wellington City Council works closely with the community, surveying and supporting residents on predator control and the operation with guides and material (like rat-proofing compost kits).

What you can do

Creating a safe haven for native wildlife would not be possible without the hard work of the people living here. Every small action can make a big difference. Here are some of the things you could do:

• Join a group – there are so many around Wellington City. Meet new people and work together to remove pests. Check out a list of groups.
• Protect food waste – rat-proofing your compost or getting a sealed worm farm is a great way to remove a food source for pests. Here’s how to do it.
• Trapping – you can always get a trap of your own and put it in your backyard. We’ve compiled some useful information on where to start.
• Follow groups on social media – follow the Predator Free Wellington Facebook page for useful updates.

Stage One – Miramar Peninsula

Miramar Peninsula was selected as the first and most achievable spot for an eradication of other predators such as rats, stoats and weasels because it is a self-contained location, and has had a possum-free status since 2006 (thanks to the joint efforts of Greater Wellington and Wellington City Council).

This has now largely been achieved thanks to all partners and the local community.

Stage Two – another part of Wellington City

Stage two is to eradicate rats, stoats and weasels in another part of the city, and continue this success.

Many suburbs are already very active in trapping, with a particular focus on rats. Predator Free Wellington and partners will develop a strategic approach to eradication throughout the city.

“To make a difference to bird populations, you need to get rat populations down.

In our region that has only really happened in Wainuiomata Mainland Island, some parts of Wellington City and a few other sites.

It will do amazing things to achieve this across the whole of Miramar Peninsula.”

–Philippa Crisp, Greater Wellington Environmental Scientist, leading the monitoring on behalf of the project.

The relationship with other Predator Free groups

The Predator Free Wellington project has been set up specifically to establish Wellington City as predator free.

It is separate to, but aligned with:

Predator Free 2050 Ltd – the national programme run by the Department of Conservation.

Predator Free NZ Trust - a private charitable organisation established to encourage, support and connect New Zealanders in their efforts to control and eradicate introduced predators.

Greater Wellington also sits on the Predator Free NZ Trust Advisory Group.

Other members are: Landcare Research, OSPRI, DOC, University of Auckland, Zero Invasive Predators, Hawkes Bay Regional Council, Victoria University, Eagle Technology, and Forest & Bird.