Govt launches largest ever pest control op
Saturday, 23 June 2018
The Government will begin an operation to rid the remote Auckland Islands of mice, cats and pigs.
It comes after a mission to rid the sub-antarctic Antiopodes Islands from mice was found to be a success earlier this year. That was known as the Million Dollar Mouse project.
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage told Forest and Bird's annual conference, on Saturday, that this will be the most ambitious island pest eradication undertaken by the Department of Conservation.
The Government will stump-up $2m for initial scoping work. But the total cost could stretch to $40-50 million over ten years. Its part of a plan to make New Zealand predator-free by 2050.
READ MORE: Department of Conservation Auckland Island eradication project may be largest in world
Pig and cats were introduced to the islands from expeditions and shipwrecks. They have destroyed the island groups native bird population and plants.
Mice compete for food with the seabirds and attack chicks.
Sage said rare birds like the Auckland Islands snipe, rail and teal have disappeared from the main Auckland Island and only survive on the surrounding pest-free islands.
'Eradicating these pests from New Zealand's fifth-largest island would see Auckland Island become the country's largest pest-free island. It would complete the removal of introduced predators from all of New Zealand's sub-Antarctic islands, cementing our reputation as a world leader in predator control,' she said.
The Auckland Islands are the fifth largest in New Zealand waters at 46,000ha and are a World Heritage Site. Up to 25 seabird species breed there and albatross, yellow-eyed penguin and shag all nest there.
Auckland Islands was rid of goats in 1992 and Enderby Island, in the group, no longer has rabbits or mice. Few Kiwis will ever visit the island which is more than a day's sailing from Bluff.
DoC strictly controls the number of visitors - mostly scientists and cruise ship visitors - to protect the fragile eco-system.