Rock wren/tuke (xenicus gilviventris)
Image: Sabine Bernert | ©

National predator control operations

Introduction

We are planning to control introduced predators across more than 500,000 ha of public conservation land in 2022.

Highlights

Our National Predator Control Programme protects native wildlife and forests in New Zealand.

Controlling possums, rats and stoats is critical so that threatened native species can survive and grow. This is particularly important in mast events when forests produce more seeds than usual and predator populations rapidly increase.

1080 is the best tool available to target predators and protect native species over large areas and rough terrain. Ground control methods, including traps and bait stations, are also used.

Protecting critical wildlife areas

We prioritise areas for predator control using the following criteria:

  • the mast forecast, which shows no significant mast events in 2022
  • conservation planning with iwi, hapū and key community stakeholders
  • risks to key ecosystems and populations of the most vulnerable species
  • previous predator control operations in the area.

The timing of operations is also determined by predator monitoring results and the weather.

The areas prioritised for 2022 are in the search tool below. you can also view operations from previous years.

Know before you go

Walking tracks and forest areas are closed for dogs following predator control operations. To see if a track is safe for dogs to access, see alerts and important notices.

For more detailed information and operational boundaries, see the pesticides summaries interactive map.

Search for an operation

Search for information about this year’s operations using the filters or view the complete list of operations below. Descriptions of the operation status: 

  • Planned: DOC intends to carry out predator control in this location this year. Planning processes are underway, which include consultation, pest monitoring, obtaining DOC and Public Health Unit permissions
  • Underway: for ground control operations this means traps and/or bait stations have been installed and are being actively managed
  • Complete: the predator control operation has been carried out. Pesticides may still be present in the area – follow local warning signs and track alerts.

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Northland

Omahuta, Bay of Islands, Northland

Areas included or near by: Ōmahuta- Puketī Forest Conservation Park
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 4,000
Date: Winter 2022
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Kiwi, kūkupa, kauri snail, pekapeka/short and long tailed bats, toutouwai/North Island robin, forest and Northland green gecko

Waimā, Kauri Coast, Northland

Areas included or near by: Waimā Forest Conservation Park
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 3,200
Date: Winter 2022
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Kōkako, kiwi, kūkupa, pekapeka/ long tailed bats, kauri snails

Waipoua, Kauri Coast, Northland

Areas included or near by: Waipoua Forest
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 17200
Date: Winter 2022
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Kōkako, pekapeka/long-tailed bats, kiwi, kauri snails

Puketi, Bay of Islands, Northland

Areas included or near by: Ōmahuta-Puketī Forest Conservation Park
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 2,000
Date: Winter 2022
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Kōkako, kiwi, kūkupa, kauri snail, pekapeka/short and long tailed bats, toutouwai/North Island robin, pua o te reinga/wood rose, Northland green gecko and kauri coastal forest

Waikato

Mapara, King Country, Waikato

Areas included or near by: Mapara Wildlife Management Reserve
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 1945
Date: Winter/Spring 2022
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Kōkako, pekapeka/long tailed bats, kārearea, toutouwai/North Island robin

Rangitoto Ranges, Pureora, Maniapoto , Waikato

Areas included or near by: Rangitoto and Pikiariki Ecological Area
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 32,393
Date: Winter/Spring 2022
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Kōkako, pua o te reinga/wood rose, pekapeka/short tailed bats, kākā, yellow-crowned kākāriki/parakeet, Archey’s and Hochstetters frogs, kereru, titipounamu/rifleman, fernbird, kārearea, toutouwai/North Island robin

Hauturu-Awaroa, King Country, Waikato

Areas included or near by: Hauturu-Awaroa forest areas
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 12000
Date: Autumn 2022
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Kārearea, rock hebe (Veronica scopulorum)

Coromandel

Moehau, Whitianga, Coromandel

Areas included or near by: Te Moengahau-o-Tamatekapua/Northern Coromandel Moehau Ecological area
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 4,500
Date: Autumn 2022
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Coromandel kiwi, kākā, kererū, toutouwai/North Island robin, Archey’s frog, Hochstetters frogs, Coromandel striped gecko/mokomoko, Moehau stag beetle

Central North Island

Tongariro Forest, Ohakune, Central North Island

Areas included or near by: Tongariro Forest
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 20153
Date: Autumn 2022
Status: Complete

Species protected include:
Whio, kiwi, pua o te reinga/wood rose

Matemateaonga-Waitōtara, Whanganui, Central North Island

Areas included or near by: Whanganui National Park and Waitōtara Conservation Areas
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 51298
Date: Autumn 2022
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
North Island brown kiwi, whio, northern rātā, kamahi

Lower North Island

Project Kākā Western Site , Wairarapa , Lower North Island

Areas included or near by: Tararua Forest Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 32793
Date: Autumn 2022
Status: Complete

Species protected include:
Kākā, bellbirds, kakariki, rifleman

West Coast

Kahurangi - Heaphy Lowlands, Buller, West Coast

Areas included or near by: Low altitude, species rich coastal forest lying between the Tasman Mountains and the sea.
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 26596
Date: Spring 2022
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Northern rātā, pekapeka/long tailed bats, rorora/great spotted kiwi, powelliphanta, whio, pīwauwau/rock wren

Kahurangi - Oparara, Buller, West Coast

Areas included or near by: Bio and geo-diverse landscape rising from sea level through the Oparara basin to Alpine ranges in the East.
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 62328
Date: Spring 2022
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Northern rātā, pekapeka/long tailed bats, rorora/great spotted kiwi, powelliphanta, whio, pīwauwau/rock wren

Arawhata, South Westland, West Coast

Areas included or near by: Arawhata and Waipara Valleys and the Haast Tokoeka Kiwi Sanctuary
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 49177
Date: Autumn 2022
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Haast tokoeka, forest birds, korukoru/ mistletoe

Copland, South Westland, West Coast

Areas included or near by: Copland and Karangarua Valleys
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 19955
Date: Autumn 2022
Status: Complete

Species protected include:
Southern rātā, forest birds

Abbey Rocks, South Westland, West Coast

Areas included or near by: Forests from the Paringa River in the north to the Haast River in the south including the western side of the Mataketake Range
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 49148
Date: Winter 2022
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
kākā and other forest birds, korukoru/ mistletoe

Haast, South Westland, West Coast

Areas included or near by: Haast kiwi sanctuary
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 7500
Date: Winter 2022
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Haast tokoeka/kiwi, pekapeka/bats, kākā

Hope/Cascade, South Westland, West Coast

Areas included or near by: Left of the Cascade River to the coast between the Cascade River south to Ryan's Creek
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 39118
Date: Spring 2022
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Haast tokoeka, tawaki, kaka, scarlett mistletoe and tree fuchsia

Canterbury

Arthur’s Pass East, Rangiora, Canterbury

Areas included or near by: Arthur’s Pass National Park and Lake Sumner Forest
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 50419
Date: Summer 2022
Status: Complete

Species protected include:
Kākāriki karaka /orange fronted parakeet, kiwi, pīwauwau/rock wren, mohua/yellowhead

Arthur's Pass ground control, Rangiora, Canterbury

Areas included or near by: Arthur’s Pass National Park and Lake Sumner Forest
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 5671
Date: Winter 2022
Status: Underway

Species protected include:
Kākāriki karaka/orange-fronted parakeet, kiwi

Arthur’s Pass West, Rangiora, Canterbury

Areas included or near by: Arthur’s Pass National Park and Lake Sumner Forest
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 54322
Date: Winter 2022
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Great Spotted kiwi/roroa, pīwauwau/rock wren, kea, rātā

Fiordland

Murchison Mountains, Te Anau, Fiordland

Areas included or near by: Fiordland National Park, bounded by Lake Te Anau
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 52985
Date: Winter 2022
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Takahē, mohua, whio, kea, kākā, kārearea/New Zealand falcon

Southland

Rakiura , Rakiura National Park , Rakiura/Stewart Island

Areas included or near by: Tin Range, Rakiura
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 5382
Date: Winter 2022
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Southern NZ dotterel

Otago

Dart Caples, Wakatipu, Otago

Areas included or near by: Mt. Aspiring national park, Caples, Routeburn and Dart Valleys. From Glenorchy to the Cascade saddleWilkin.
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 46230
Date: Spring 2022
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Kea, mohua, rockwren/tuke, whio, long-tailed bats

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