International visitor levy funds wilding pine battle

Tuesday, 25 February 2025

Wilding pine seedlings popping up in Tarndale, Molesworth. Some pine species can spread their seeds up to 40km on a strong wind.

Work to remove wilding pines has received $3.35 million from the pockets of international visitors, but a councillor has warned more is needed to stop the hardy pest.

Molesworth Recreational Reserve has gained $400,000, and wider Canterbury $2.45m, from the Government’s international visitor levy, which charges most international visitors $100 to fund conservation projects that boost tourism.

Wilding pines, which produce seeds that can travel 40km on a strong wind, are a plague on the 180,000-hectare Molesworth Recreational Reserve, changing its landscapes and threatening fragile native habitats.

Last year funding for annual government-led conifer control work reduced from $25m to $10m, forcing groups across the country to scale back their work.

Conservation Minister Tama Potaka announced last week that the international visitor levy would contribute $3.5m to removing wilding conifers from landscapes across Aotearoa.

Ben Reddiex, national programmes director at the Department of Conservation (DOC), confirmed on Tuesday that included $400,000 for conifer control over 5682ha of the Molesworth Recreation Reserve.

The work would be led by the Marlborough District Council, and co-ordinated and delivered by the Ministry for Primary Industries’ wilding conifer programme, Reddiex said.

“Wilding conifers are invasive weeds that threaten to permanently alter New Zealand’s unique landscapes endangering native ecosystems, plants and wildlife,” Reddiex said.

“It's estimated 25% of New Zealand would be covered in unwanted wilding conifers within 30 years if they were left to spread. Wilding conifers already cover more than 2 million hectares of New Zealand.”

Wilding pines are sprayed at Molesworth Station in 2016.

Marlborough District Council environment and planning committee chairperson Gerald Hope expressed appreciation for the new funding but said increased and ongoing funding was essential to stop and reduce the spread of wilding conifers.

“This investment is a recognition of the importance of our ongoing battle against wilding conifers. We estimate total funding of $7m annually to restore Molesworth to its original state. Our programme has funding for $1.37m this year, which is helping us slow the spread, but we cannot afford to let the problem escalate.”

Marlborough District Council environment and planning committee chairperson Gerald Hope says more work is needed to stave off pines in the Molesworth.

Hope said the invasive pines had broader implications for Marlborough’s environment and economy.

“If left unchecked, wilding conifers seriously threaten local biodiversity. These invasive trees can significantly decrease water flow at the headwaters of the Wairau, Clarence and Awatere catchments, as they consume large amounts of water. This will inevitably impact vineyards and agricultural productivity.

“Molesworth holds immense value as an iconic part of New Zealand’s high country landscape, benefiting tourism. Controlling wilding conifers will pave the way for the return of critically endangered native species, enhancing our natural heritage. I’m impressed by the Government’s investment in this vital programme, and I encourage it to work with council through long-term funding to restore Molesworth.”

Along with Canterbury and the Molesworth, the national conifer programme would also receive from the levy $500,000 for work in Otago, and $150,000 for a DOC-delivered operation on Rangitoto Island in Auckland.