Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has announced a four-year funding boost of $9.7 million to help manage wild goats and deer in New Zealand's national parks.
The funding from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy will provide support for New Zealand's fragile ecosystems and reduce browsing pressure from the wild animals.
The areas to be targeted by this conservation boost include Whanganui National Park, Waitōtara Conservation Area, Kahurangi, Nelson Lakes, Westland Te Tai Poutini, and Fiordland national Parks.
“When left unchecked, wild goats and deer can cause significant damage and impact productivity for farmers and other land managers,” Potaka said.
He said the programme would increase "monitoring, surveillance and operational capability" of goat and deer.
Potaka said the decisions was made with the future in mind, to "reduce reinvasion risk, and build the knowledge and partnerships needed to deliver long-term biodiversity outcomes".
The scheme would support efforts to control and monitor animal numbers; protect goat- or deer-free areas; and eliminate populations from some parts of national parks.
Federated Farmers pest management spokesperson Richard Dawkins said the scheme was, "exactly the kind of work the International Visitor Levy should be funding".
'Totally out of control and breeding fast'
He said a recent survey from Federated Farmers estimated pests cost farmers around $466 million a year through direct costs and lost production.
It estimated that on average, farmers are spending $6.18 per hectare on pest control each year, which is up 13% in two years.
"Unfortunately, this issue is only getting worse. Pests are totally out of control and they’re breeding fast. We need to get on top of them before it’s too late," said Dawkins.
"This is an incredibly positive announcement," he said.
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