News

Predator Free South Westland Newsletter: June ’24

Nau mai, haere mai. Read on for an update on the progress of the project, insight into new research around carbon in native forests, and the challenge created by that lovely aurora. Thank you for reading! Your ongoing input and support is critical to the success of Predator Free South Westland. Keeping in touch Our […]

Birdsong on Ōkārito Lagoon

Turn up your volume! Ōkārito Lagoon is a nature reserve in Predator Free South Westland. This video, taken by Ōkārito Eco Boat Tours in April 2024, features a stunning symphony of birdsong in the forest surrounding the lagoon.

Return of the kākāriki

Predator control success in South Westland. South Westland has seen a resurgence in birdlife, with increased sightings of the kākāriki (yellow-crowned parakeet) underscoring the success of local conservation work, reports Development West Coast. Read the full article here. Published by The Greymouth Star, 28 May 2024.

Predator Free South Westland Newsletter: December ’23

Nau mai, haere mai – 2023 has been a very busy year in South Westland! We have covered a lot of ground since our last update, and we’ve put together a 2023 newsletter to tell you all about it (available as a downloadable PDF, below). The headline is: work is now well underway across 80% […]

Predator Free South Westland Newsletter #4

Nau mai, haere mai! Welcome to the fourth Predator Free South Westland newsletter (available as a downloadable PDF, below). Since our last update, the Predator Free South Westland project has achieved a major milestone: the completion of the South Ōkārito predator elimination operation! This means that we are now focused on the long-term protection of […]

Vandalism a good sign in kea project

It is not often that your work equipment being torn apart is a sign of doing your job well. But that was the case for some workers in South Westland recently. Pest controllers in South Westland found their tent shredded to pieces by kea. Zero Invasive Predators (Zip) field rangers recently returned to their base […]

Second Ōkārito 1080 drop gets most rats, possums

Tuesday, May 10, 2022 | Greymouth Star

Zeroing in – toxic rodents lure last stoats

Imagine lush landscapes alive with Aotearoa New Zealand’s quirky and unique plants and wildlife. This is the Predator Free 2050 vision but to get there we need new tools. While 1080 operations and trapping networks remove most introduced predators from an area, getting the remaining animals is a challenge. The last stoats can be particularly […]

Bird numbers rebound as predators removed

Saturday, March 26, 2022 | Greymouth Star

Native bird species ‘bounce back’ as predators eradicated in Westland

Native bird species in South Westland are bouncing back, with detection of some birds doubling in the last three years – the results of a project to eradicate predators in the area. Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP), part of environmental initiative Predator Free South Westland, has successfully removed stoats, possums and rats from a 12,000-hectare block in the […]

ZIP Media Release

An media release from ZIP regarding the recent aerial operation in South Ōkārito.

Phase 1 predator elimination operation being completed in the South Ōkārito block

Phase 1 toxin application will start on 23 November 2021

Phase 1 of predator elimination work is continuing in the South Ōkārito block

Predator elimination work is continuing in the South Ōkārito block – with the second step of the aerial operation.

Detecting the “Birds” of the Year

Predator Free South Westland, and schemes like Jobs for Nature, are helping ensure the future of local Bird of the Year contestants.

Predator elimination work getting underway in the South Ōkārito block

Predator elimination aerial operations in the South Ōkārito block are now underway.

Rowi kiwi make tracks to new site

A rowi or Ōkārito brown kiwi footprint has been found outside of the main Ōkārito Kiwi Sanctuary, in conservation land on the flats of the lower Whataroa River.

Rare native bats discovered on the West Coast for the first time in decades

Rare, long-tail bats/pekapeka have been recorded near Franz Josef for the first time in decades. They were detected with the help of the Mahi mō te Taiao – Jobs for Nature scheme.

Update: Whataroa-Butler catchment area

Predator elimination aerial operations in the Whataroa-Butler catchment area are now complete.

Predator elimination work underway in the Whataroa-Butler catchment area

Starting in the Whataroa-Butler catchment area – work towards achieving a Predator Free South Westland has begun.

Women find niche in glacier jobs : West Coast Messenger

As the glacier country moves to position itself at the heart of the battle to rid the country of predators, two tourist operators are forging a new future in pest eradication.

$45million push to eliminate pests from Whataroa to Franz : Greymouth Star and Hokitika Guardian

South Westland iwi have welcomed a $45 million injection into a new predator control project that will create 50 local jobs over the next five years.

South Westland predator-free project ‘massive win’ for biodiversity, economy : NZ Herald

The $45 million predator-free project announced for South Westland yesterday was a “massive” win for biodiversity and the local economy, former Federated Farmers president Katie Milne says.

$45m Predator Free South Westland project launched : Newshub

Aotearoa’s most ambitious predator free project has been launched by the Conservation Minister in Franz Josef.

$45m to eliminate pests from South Westland – and keep them out : Stuff

Predator Free South Westland – a $45 million project to eliminate possums, rats and stoats from 100,000 hectares of South Westland is being touted as New Zealand’s largest and most ambitious predator-free project yet.

The launch of Predator Free South Westland

On the 11th of March the Minister of Conservation, the Hon Kiritapu Allan, officially launched Aotearoa’s most ambitious predator elimination project.

To eliminate possums, rats and stoats from 100,000 hectares of South Westland.

100,000 hectares of South Westland set to become predator free under ambitious new plan : One News

100,000 hectares of South Westland is set to become predator free as part of an ambitious new project that promises to create jobs in an area hit hard by Covid 19.

Perth Valley experiment a ‘kea saver’

We are pleased with the results from a successful aerial and trapping operation in the Perth Valley on the West Coast, which has eliminated possums, rats and stoats from the valley and safeguarded native biodiversity. We are pleased with the results from a successful aerial and trapping operation in the Perth Valley on the West […]