13 Mar 2024

Agency warns NZ's 2050 predator free progress could be going backwards

From Checkpoint, 4:22 pm on 13 March 2024

An agency driving work to rid Aotearoa of pests, is warning the country's 2050 predator free goal could be an endangered species itself, with areas that are already pest free at risk of being reinvaded.

Predator Free 2050 Limited, was set up by the government to organise much of the work towards the 2050 goal, which former Prime Minister John Key announced in 2016.

But the charitable company has been plagued by funding and governance issues, including infighting with the Department of Conservation.

It's so worried, it's warned the new Conservation Minister Tama Potaka in a briefing that progress towards the goal is actually at risk of going backwards.

Freelance journalist and podcaster Eugene Bingham speaks to Lisa Owen.