March 26, 2026

#regional: Wellington to lead next phase of Predator Free 2050

Matthew Tukaki Posted On March 26, 2026

Wellington, Te Whanganui-a-Tara is being positioned at the forefront of Aotearoa’s conservation efforts, with the capital set to lead the next phase of the Predator Free 2050 programme.

The Government has confirmed the city will play a central role in advancing large-scale predator eradication, building on progress already made through local initiatives.

The move reflects growing confidence in Wellington’s predator-free model, which has already demonstrated that urban eradication of invasive species is achievable. Projects in the capital have successfully removed large numbers of rats, stoats, weasels and possums from targeted areas, creating safer environments for native wildlife to return and thrive.

Predator Free 2050 is a nationwide goal to eliminate the country’s most damaging introduced predators, including rats, stoats and possums, by the year 2050. These species are responsible for the deaths of millions of native birds each year and continue to threaten biodiversity across the motu.

Wellington’s success to date is being viewed as a blueprint for how similar work could be rolled out across other urban centres. The programme combines science, community involvement and long-term investment, with thousands of residents already participating in backyard trapping and monitoring efforts.

The next phase is expected to expand operations across wider parts of the city, strengthening predator control measures and pushing toward the long-term goal of a fully predator-free capital.

The initiative also highlights the importance of partnerships between government agencies, councils, iwi and community groups, with conservation efforts increasingly being shaped by both scientific research and mātauranga Māori.

With Wellington now leading the charge, the focus will shift to scaling up what has worked locally and applying it nationwide, as Aotearoa continues its push toward a predator-free future.