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Maori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta says a Budget boost for the Department of Conservation could open the door for alternate methods of pest eradication.
After years of frozen or falling budgets, DOC is to get an extra $20 million a year for control of predators such of stoats, rats and possums.
Ms Mahuta says there is widespread opposition to the reliance on 1080 poising as the most effective eradication strategy.
There could be other options as regional councils, private landowners and iwi join the effort.
"Places like within parts of Tuhoe they are trialing possum trapping as an alternative economic opportunity to 1080 so there are some potential opportunities here," she says.
Ms Mahuta says Thursday's Budget will be modest as the Government sets new priorities based on reducing inequality and supporting regional development.
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