Hon Maggie Barry

Minister of Conservation

16 March 2017
Media Statement

Predator Free Dunedin MOU signed

Conservation Minister Maggie Barry says Dunedin has accelerated its commitment to the Government’s Predator Free 2050 vision with 19 organisations signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today.

Prime Minister Bill English and Ms Barry joined signatories to the MOU at the Orokonui Sanctuary today to celebrate the Predator Free Dunedin initiative.

“Predator Free Dunedin is exactly the sort of collaboration that is essential for New Zealand to be Predator Free by 2050. It will create a haven for wildlife in the wider Dunedin area and brings predator control into the city centre,” Ms Barry says.

“Momentum is growing for the Government’s Predator Free 2050 goal to rid New Zealand of rats, stoats and possums and I have no doubt Predator Free Dunedin will provide a strong model for other projects still to come.”

“Predator Free Dunedin is based on the concept of a city as a ‘living restoration laboratory’, linking research and education with action and connecting and supporting communities to restore the health of our natural environment.
“It links up a number of projects around Dunedin where volunteers are actively involved in predator management. For example it connects the Pest Free Peninsula Project, which has just trapped its 11-thousandth possum, with other trapping projects.”

“Predator Free Dunedin takes the outstanding and innovative work already being done to the next level, as all parties work together to develop a city-wide management Plan that aligns with the Government’s Predator Free 2050 goal.”

A new company, Predator Free 2050 Ltd, will receive a minimum $6 million of Crown funds annually and will leverage these funds to attract additional investment.

“On average it will invest an extra $10m or more into regionally significant predator control and eradication projects each year and around $3 million will be invested each year into break-through research on eradicating predators,” Ms Barry says.

This new investment, when added to the existing $70 to $100 million spent annually on predator control, will result in more than $3 billion being invested in predator control and eradication by 2050.

Background:

Predator Free Dunedin
· Aims to create a haven for wildlife in the wider Dunedin area, leading to increased breeding success of birds, enhanced reptile and invertebrate populations, and enhanced forest health.
· The Predator Free Dunedin Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has 20 signatories including Treaty Partners and all the statutory land managers for public land within the area identified to be predator free.
· Partners include Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki, Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou, the Otago Chamber of Commerce, Landcare Research, University of Otago, Dunedin City Council, Otago Regional Council, DOC, Otago Polytechnic, OSPRI and 10 active charitable community organisations.
· Under the MOU the parties have agreed to work co-operatively to develop a city-wide Predator Free Dunedin Management Plan that aligns with the Government’s ‘Predator Free 2050’ target.
· This Management Plan will build upon existing flagship Dunedin projects and will incorporate research, education and operational objectives.

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