Our National Predator Control Programme protects native wildlife and forests at important conservation sites across New Zealand. Our goal is for healthy forests and thriving populations of unique native birds, bats, frogs, lizards and insects throughout New Zealand.
Currently, we control predators on a sustained, rotational basis over about 1.8 million ha which is nearly 20% of public conservation land.
It’s critical that rats, stoats, and possums are regularly controlled so that populations of threatened native species can survive and grow.
This is particularly important when beech forests produce more seeds than usual, known as a mast event, and predator populations surge.
In summer 2026, native beech forests across the South Island are predicted to mast or mass seed causing rat and stoat populations to surge. This can be devastating for vulnerable native wildlife like birds, bats and insects. This is the biggest beech mast in the South Island in seven years.
The Department of Conservation is planning an expanded predator control programme before seeding in 2025 and after seed is gone from late 2026 to protect vulnerable native birds, bats and other wildlife.
Aerially applied 1080 is the best method available to control introduced predators and protect native species over large areas and rough terrain. We also use ground control tools, including traps and toxins in bait stations.
Protecting critical wildlife areas
We prioritise areas for predator control using the following criteria:
- the beech mast forecast and resulting increases in predator populations
- conservation planning with iwi, hapū and key community stakeholders
- risks to key ecosystems and populations of the most vulnerable species
- the history and results of 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 2025 are in the search tool below:
View all operations since 2022.
You can also view a summary map of all 2025 operations
Check if tracks are safe for dogs
Following a predator control operation, it is not safe to hunt animals for food and walking tracks and forest areas are closed for dogs. These restrictions are in place for up to eight months.
For more information, see:
View a map
For more detailed information and operational boundaries:
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
- Ongoing: 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.
Northland
Puketi-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:
Status: Ongoing
Species protected include:
Kiwi, kūkupa, kauri snail, pekapeka/short and long tailed bats, toutouwai/North Island robin, forest and Northland green gecko
Waipoua, Kauri Coast, Northland
Areas included or near by: Waipoua Forest
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 16,998 ha
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Kōkako, pekapeka/long tailed bats, kiwi
Waipoua, Kauri Coast, Northland
Areas included or near by: Waipoua Forest
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 1,790
Date:
Status: Ongoing
Species protected include:
Kiwi, kōkako
Waikato
Hauhungaroa Blocks 1, 1a, 2a, King Country, Waikato
Areas included or near by: Pureora Forest Park and surrounding areas
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 53,000
Date: Summer 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Kākā, kōkako, pekapeka/long tailed bats, kākāriki
Hauhungaroa Block 2b, King Country, Waikato
Areas included or near by: Pureora Forest Park and surrounding areas
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 26,500
Date: Summer 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Kākā, kōkako, pekapeka/long tailed bats, kākāriki
Mapara Ground, King Country, Waikato
Areas included or near by: Mapara Wildlife Management Reserve, Mapara Conservation Area
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 1,429
Date:
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Kōkako, toutouwai/North Island robin, pekapeka/long tailed bats
Waipapa Ground, King Country, Waikato
Areas included or near by: Pureora Forest Park
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 2,903
Date:
Status: Ongoing
Species protected include:
Whio, pekapeka/short and long tailed bats, kākā, kōkako
Mapara, King Country, Waikato
Areas included or near by: Mapara Wildlife Management Reserve, Mapara Conservation Area
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 1,429
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Kōkako, toutouwai/North Island robin, pekapeka/long tailed bats
Pirongia and Te Kauri, Waikato, Waikato
Areas included or near by: Pirongia Forest Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 16,065
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Kōkako, pekapeka/long tailed bats, dactylanthus
Taranaki
Moki-Makino, New Plymouth, Taranaki
Areas included or near by: Makino Conservation Area
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 10,272
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Pekapeka/long tailed bats, kiwi
Coromandel
Moehau, Whitianga, Coromandel
Areas included or near by: Coromandel Forest Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 4,415
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Archey's frog, Hochstetter frog, kiwi, pekapeka/long tailed bats
Otahu, Hauraki, Coromandel
Areas included or near by: Coromandel Forest Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 6,702
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Archey's frog, Hochstetter frog, kiwi, pekapeka/long tailed bats
Bay of Plenty
Te Kopia, Rotorua, Bay of Plenty
Areas included or near by: Te Kopia Scenic Reserve
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 1,561
Date: Spring 2025
Status: Planned
Species protected include:
Geothermal plant communites
Central North Island
Rangataua , Tongariro, Central North Island
Areas included or near by: Rangataua Conservation Area, Tongariro National Park
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 6,666
Date:
Status: Planned
Species protected include:
Red and yellow mistletoe
Tongariro Kiwi Ground, Tongariro, Central North Island
Areas included or near by: Tongariro Conservation Area
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 7,819
Date:
Status: Ongoing
Species protected include:
Kiwi, whio
Tongariro Kiwi, Tongariro, Central North Island
Areas included or near by: Tongariro Conservation Area
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 20,153
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Kiwi, whio
Hihitahi, Tongariro, Central North island
Areas included or near by: Hihitahi Forest Sanctuary
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 2,149
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Hall's totara, pāhautea
Lower North Island
Northern Ruahine West, Manawatu, Lower North Island
Areas included or near by: Ruahine Forest Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 15,900
Date: Autumn 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Eastern North Island brown kiwi, whio, kākā, kākāriki, powelliphanta, pekapeka/long tailed bats
Northern Ruahine East, Manawatu, Lower North Island
Areas included or near by: Ruahine Forest Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 21,175
Date: Autumn 2026
Status: Planned
Species protected include:
Eastern North Island brown kiwi, whio, kākā, kākāriki, powelliphanta, pekapeka/long tailed bats
Project Kaka, Wairarapa, Lower North Island
Areas included or near by: Tararua Forest Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 29,801
Date: Winter 2026
Status: Planned
Species protected include:
Eastern North Island brown kiwi, kākā, kākāriki, powelliphanta, pekapeka/long tailed bats
Northern South Island
St Arnaud Range, Nelson Lakes, Northern South Island
Areas included or near by: Nelson Lakes National Park, Howard Conservation Area and surrounds
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 33,534
Date: Autumn 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Large land snails, kiwi, kea, long-tailed bats, kārearea/NZ falcon, whio and three endemic species of mistletoe
Kahurangi - Wangapeka, Motueka, Northern South Island
Areas included or near by: Kahurangi National Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 74,200
Date: Summer 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Kiwi, whio, kea, kākā, pekapeka/long tailed bats, takahē, rock wren
Kahurangi - Matiri, Nelson Lakes, Northern South Island
Areas included or near by: Kahurangi National Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 34,029
Date: Spring 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Kiwi, whio, kea, kākā, pekapeka/long tailed bats, takahē, rock wren
Kahurangi - Tasman Wilderness, Golden Bay, Northern South Island
Areas included or near by: Kahurangi National Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 58,053
Date: Spring 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Kiwi, whio, kea, kākā, pekapeka/long tailed bats, takahē, rock wren
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: 26,405
Date: Summer 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Northern rātā, pekapeka/long tailed bats, roroa/great spotted kiwi, powelliphanta, whio, pīwauwau/rock wren
Kahurangi - Garibaldi-Kakapo, Buller, West Coast
Areas included or near by: Kahurangi National Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 45,504
Date: Spring 2025
Status: Planned
Species protected include:
Tuke/rock wren, whio, roroa/great spotted kiwi, powelliphanta snails
Kahurangi - Mokihinui Karamea, Buller, West Coast
Areas included or near by: Kahurangi National Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 63,610
Date: Spring 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Tuke/rock wren, whio, roroa/great spotted kiwi, powelliphanta snails
Kahurangi - Oparara, Buller, West Coast
Areas included or near by: Kahurangi National Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 28,521
Date: Spring 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Whio, roroa/great spotted kiwi, powelliphanta snails
Te Maruia, Greymouth, West Coast
Areas included or near by: Victoria Forest Park, Lewis Pass ScenicReserve,
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 37,719
Date: Spring 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Pekapeka/long tailed bat, South Island kākā and robin, whio and mistletoe
Landsborough, South Westland, West Coast
Areas included or near by: Cook River to Haast River Conservation Area, Hooker Landsborough Wilderness Area, Mount Aspiring National Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 50,247
Date: Spring 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Tuke/rock wren, mohua/yellowhead, beech mistletoes
Arawhata, South Westland, West Coast
Areas included or near by: Arawhata Conservation Area, Mount Aspiring National Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 76,309
Date: Spring 2025
Status: Planned
Species protected include:
Haast tokoeka kiwi, South Island kākā, tuke/rock wren, and the Cascades forest gecko
Haast kiwi, South Westland, West Coast
Areas included or near by: Haast kiwi sanctuary
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 11,158
Date:
Status: Ongoing
Species protected include:
Haast tokoeka/kiwi, pekapeka/bats, kākā
Haast True Left and True Right, South Westland, West Coast
Areas included or near by: Okuru-Waiatoto Conservation Area, Cook River to Haast River Conservation Area, Mount Aspiring National Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 31,833
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Mistletoe, fuchsia, tōtara, wineberry, southern rātā, and kākā
Abbey Rocks, South Westland, West Coast
Areas included or near by: Cook River to Haast River Conservation Area
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 48,582
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Kaka, kereru, kea, and mohua, tawaki (Fiordland crested) penguins and beech mistletoe
Hope Cascade, South Westland, West Coast
Areas included or near by: Mt Aspiring National Park and Arawhata Conservation Area
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 65,282
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Fuchsia, Haast tokoeka kiwi, kaka, kea, tawaki (Fiordland crested penguin)
Canterbury
Arthurs Pass East, , Canterbury
Areas included or near by: Arthurs Pass National Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 69,294
Date: Spring 2025
Status: Planned
Species protected include:
Mohua
Arthurs Pass East, , Canterbury
Areas included or near by: Arthurs Pass National Park
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 10,000
Date:
Status: Planned
Species protected include:
Mohua
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: 27,013
Date:
Status: Ongoing
Species protected include:
Takahē, mohua, whio, kea, kākā
Otago
Dart-Caples , Wakatipu, Otago
Areas included or near by: Mount Aspiring National Park, Caples Conservation Area, Lower Dart Conservation Area
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 717
Date:
Status: Planned
Species protected include:
Mohua, long-tailed bat, kea, yellow crowned parakeet/kākāriki, whio, rock wren and kārearea/falcon
Dart-Caples , Wakatipu, Otago
Areas included or near by: Mount Aspiring National Park, Caples Conservation Area, Lower Dart Conservation Area
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 43,326
Date: Spring 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Mohua, rock wren, kea, kaka, whio, falcon, long tailed bats/pekapeka and other vulnerable native species
Makarora, Central Otago, Otago
Areas included or near by: Mount Aspiring National Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 51,500
Date: Spring 2025
Status: Planned
Species protected include:
Mohua, rock wren, kea, kaka, yellow crowned parakeet/kākāriki, whio, robin, long-tailed bat, and mistletoe
Southland
Catlins, Invercargill, Southland
Areas included or near by: Catlins Conservation Area and surrounds
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 21,746
Date: Summer 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Mohua, long-tailed bat, yellow crowned parakeet, kārearea/southern falcon and scarlet mistletoe
Blue Mountains, Invercargill, Southland
Areas included or near by: Blue Mountains Forest Conservation Area
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 11,964
Date: Spring 2025
Status: Planned
Species protected include:
Mohua
Hollyford, Te Anau, Southland
Areas included or near by: Fiordland National Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 28,315
Date: Spring 2025
Status: Planned
Species protected include:
Rock wren, homer grasshopper, kea, mohua, scarlet mistletoe and critically endangered long tailed bat/pekapeka
Eglinton, Te Anau, Southland
Areas included or near by: Fiordland National Park, Mavora Lakes Conservation Area
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 43,564
Date: Spring 2025
Status: Completed
Species protected include:
Kākā, mohua, pekapeka/long tailed bats and short-tailed bats, toutouwai/robin, tītīpounamu/rifleman, and flowering mistletoes
Ettrick, Te Anau, Southland
Areas included or near by: Fiordland National Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 5,287
Date: Spring 2025
Status: Planned
Species protected include:
Southern lesser short-tailed bat/pekapeka