Media statement – for immediate release

Northland Regional Council commended on its increased investment in kauri dieback and pest control management

The Northland Conservation Board has congratulated the Northland Regional Council (the Council) on increasing its current spending on pest management from the current $3.6 million a year to almost $6 million by 2020/21.

New funding for tackling fresh water quality, pests and flood infrastructure is in the Council’s 2018-2028 Long Term Plan, which comes into effect on 1 July this year.

Newly appointed Northland Conservation Board chair, Adrienne Tari, congratulated the council on behalf of the broad, saying they agreed with Council’s chairman that this was a “bold and visionary” Long Term Plan.

Said Ms Tari: “Our Northland region is blessed with an abundance of native life, with a third of the region in native vegetation cover, original wetlands, dune lakes and an extensive coastline hosting animal and plant life. But these native habitats are at risk, threatened by introduced pest plants, animals, marine organisms and diseases such as kauri dieback.

“Therefore we salute the mana and resolve of the Northland Regional Council in the leadership role they have taken in providing the financial resources to protect our precious native life and restore our biodiversity, meaning we have a fighting chance of reaching our goal of becoming pest-free in Northland.”

Ms Tari said the Northland Conservation Board also thanked the Northland community for its support of this Long Term Plan, acknowledging this funding increase to protect native species resulted in rates increases for all.

“This is an investment by us all in boosting the work we are already doing to move towards our pest-free goals. It will increase the Council’s ability to respond to pest incursions across the region and allow for more collaborative work with the Northland Conservation Board and our many communities, enabling us to build capacity for area-specific pest control programmes.”

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