New Zealand has the highest rate of threatened species in the world. Around 81% of our birds, 88% of our reptiles and 72% of our freshwater fish are endangered.
So we formed the 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 including rats, possums, and mustelids so our native species’ populations can increase in our lifetime.
While our foes are introduced predators, our friends are the individuals and community groups who are working to make New Zealand predator free. The Trust’s job is to connect with these community groups, families and individuals and to give them support, advice, and encouragement to help restore our unique native species.
We show groups and families how to get started, offer approved products and equipment, provide information and best practices for trapping, and run community and school programmes.
Find out more about the introduced mammalian predators we want to remove, the threatened species we want to protect, and why habitat creation is so important.
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What sort of groups do we support?
DOC estimates that around 200,000 Kiwis give their time to conservation projects. And we are here to support each and every person and group in any way we can.
Whether you’re a community conservation group or an NGO like Forest & Bird, a school group after useful teaching resources, a marae or a farm or whether you’re simply a family catching the rat in the compost bin so they can savour the delight of riroriro and tui in the garden ー we’ve got your back.
We also provide a platform where groups can plot their trapping activities on a giant national map, so they can see where they fit in the national campaign and where there might be opportunities to close gaps or align with neighbours.
The predator free movement is attracting global attention as the world’s media marvels at what no country has done before.
We hope you’ll join us to make New Zealand a safe haven for our special birds, bats and insects.
Info on the Predator Free NZ Trust
The Predator Free New Zealand Trust is an independent trust established in 2013 to help connect the myriad of people involved in conservation – including agencies, community groups, landowners, iwi and farmers – and engage all New Zealanders in a predator free vision.
Our three focus areas are connect, accelerate and celebrate:
1. Connect everyone involved
- Connect with individuals, community groups and organisations interested in supporting the predator free vision.
- Manage a national map of predator control activity from large agencies to individual landowners.
- Connect groups, individuals and agencies within regions and encourage a collaborative approach.
2. Accelerate the kaupapa
- Drive publicity on social media and mainstream media.
- Promote best practice, including humane practice and safety and heightened effectiveness in the field.
- Share relevant science and technology.
- Make affordable predator equipment available online throughout NZ.
- Establish new partnerships.
3. Celebrate
- Telling stories and celebrating success.
- Acknowledging champions and promoting awards schemes.
The Team
The Trust is made up of a lean and nimble team who develop strong relationships with community conservation groups, individuals and organisations across the country.
Trustees
Fenton Wilson, Gareth Morgan, William McCook, Richard Abbott, Estelle Leask and Andrea Byrom.
Technical Advisory Group
The technical advisory group includes: Landcare Research, OSPRI, DOC, University of Auckland, Zero Invasive Predators, Hawkes Bay Regional Council, Victoria University, Eagle Technology, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Forest & Bird.