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Commitment made to a predator-free Rakiura

Sunday, 14 July 2019

Members of the Iwi, local government, hunting groups and the tourism industry made up the 13 parties that signed a memorandum of understanding.
Members of the Iwi, local government, hunting groups and the tourism industry made up the 13 parties that signed a memorandum of understanding.

A commitment has been made to achieve the largest inhabited predator-free island in the world with the signing of an agreement on Stewart Island.

Members of the Iwi, local government, hunting groups and the tourism industry made up the 13 parties that signed a memorandum of understanding, making a commitment to developing a strategy to remove target predators from the main and surrounding islands of Stewart Island/Rakiura.

Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage presenting her speech at the memorandum of understanding signing for a predator-free Rakiura.
Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage presenting her speech at the memorandum of understanding signing for a predator-free Rakiura.

The strategy will aim to remove Norway, Ship and Kiore rats, feral cats and hedgehogs from a project area of 1764 square kilometres.

Pet cats and deer are not being considered for removal.

Ngai Tahu representative Sir Tipene O
Ngai Tahu representative Sir Tipene O'Regan presenting his speech at the memorandum of understanding signing for a predator-free Rakiura.

**READ MORE:

* Predator eradication project on Stewart Island gets momentum boost

* Urgent need to better protect rapidly declining Southland wetland

* Banks Peninsula will be predator free by 2050, minister says**

Predator Free Rakiura project manager Bridget Carter said the group had been working on the project for years but the memorandum formalised their commitment.

Due to the scale of the project, there was no deadline to develop the strategy, Carter said.

'An island of this size with a resident population and all the industries that are attached to it; nothing has been done in the world at this scale and complexity.

'We would just be speculating if we set a date for this project and or when maybe the kākāpō could return to the island.' 

The first objectives would be securing the expertise and funding to support the strategy, she said.

Department of Conservation, Ngāi Tahu, and Rakiura Titi groups had important expertise in eradicating pests, and experts outside of New Zealand would also be needed to make the project work, she said.

Minister for Conservation Eugenie Sage attended the ceremony, and said Predator Free Rakiura was a significant project towards the Government's goal of being predator free by 2050.

There had been five regional projects which Predator Free 2050 Limited had given funding to, and Predator Free Rakiura would likely apply for that funding, she said.

Once a strategy was developed there would be applications from funders to government and the Predator Free Rakiura strategy would be looked at seriously, she said.

Sir Tipene O'Regan represented Ngai Tahu at the ceremony, and said the relationship between Ngāi Tahu and the crown was intimately related to the responsibilities of the Department of Conservation.

'The Department of Conservation is the biggest actual presence of the state in our tribal existence.' 

Whilst there were often tensions between the two parties, there were causes that kept them together and there was no greater cause than a predator-free New Zealand, he said.

O'Regan wasn't sure what Ngāi Tahu could do, and at what scale to create a predator-free country but Ngāi Tahu would put their weight and mana behind the goal, he said.

The memorandum was signed by Awarua Rūnanga, Oraka-Aparima Rūnanga, Waihōpai Rūnanga, Hokonui Rūnanga, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Rakiura Māori Lands Trust, Rakiura Tītī Islands Administering Body, Rakiura Tītī committee, Department of Conservation, Southland District Council, Southland Regional Council, Real Journeys and the New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association.