A Bold Dream Meets Budget Cuts: Predator Free 2050 Ltd Disestablished

New Zealand’s ambitious vision of a predator-free Aotearoa by 2050 is facing uncertainty following the government’s recent budget announcement. Predator Free 2050 Ltd, the Crown-owned company established in 2016 to drive large-scale pest eradication and support breakthrough science, is being disestablished as part of Budget 2025. Funding for the company will cease by the end of the year, with its responsibilities and contracts handed over to the Department of Conservation (DOC).

The Predator Free 2050 initiative was launched as a “moonshot” for New Zealand’s environment, aiming to eradicate rats, possums, and stoats by 2050 and restore native biodiversity—bringing birdsong back to every valley and protecting iconic species like the kiwi. Over the past nine years, the programme has made significant progress, with predator-elimination projects now covering more than 800,000 hectares and inspiring a wave of community-led conservation efforts across the country.

Image: Forest and Bird, https://www.forestandbird.org.nz/campaigns/predator-free-new-zealand

Despite these achievements, the environmental sector is deeply concerned about the future of the programme. The government argues that shifting responsibilities to DOC will reduce duplication, increase efficiency, and save about $12 million. However, critics, including WWF New Zealand’s Dr Kayla Kingdon-Bebb, warn that without ongoing funding and strategic oversight, the momentum behind predator-free

efforts could be lost. They point out that DOC is already facing significant budget pressures and may struggle to take on this additional leadership role.

Community groups and volunteers who have been at the heart of the movement are also left wondering what support will look like going forward. While the government insists that existing contracts and projects will continue unaffected, many fear that innovation and community engagement could be stifled under a more bureaucratic approach.

The Predator Free 2050 dream has captured the hearts and minds of New Zealanders like no other conservation project in recent memory. Its future now rests on how effectively DOC can pick up the reins and whether the government remains committed to the vision in both word and deed.

For the full article, visit:https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/thedetail/563851/a-bold-dream-gets-a-cut-as-predator-free-2050-ltd-is-disestablished