Clayton Mitchell New Zealand First MP

New Zealand First has long campaigned on the need to trial alternatives to the use of 1080 poison, so we are excited to see Waiheke Island planning to be the first urban island in the world to go predator-free without the use of aerial drops of 1080.

Waiheke is already possum-free, but there is now a strategy in place to use traps to target rats and stoats. The goal is to have the island predator-free by 2025.

Environmental groups nationwide have become increasingly outspoken in calling for 1080 to be banned, claiming that it kills native animals and birds. A commitment to exploring alternatives was a key agreement secured by New Zealand First during the coalition talks.

The government is contributing $2.6 million towards the total cost of $10.9 million on the Waiheke project. It will be a team effort, involving Auckland Council, Predator Free 2050 and Foundation North, with contributions also coming from the Department of Conservation, community groups and local landowners.

Getting the buy-in of the local community is critical to the success of this project, and to others in the future.

We are proud to be part of a government
which is concerned about the negative impacts
of the poison on our environment, and is willing to take action.

We are looking forward to seeing the outcome
of the Waiheke programme and to prove that predator control is possible without the destructive use of 1080.

It is great to see these pilot programmes starting to roll out, and there will no doubt be more to come. This is another example of the coalition partners in government working together to get great outcomes.