A four-year funding boost of $9.7 million, announced by Minister for Conservation Tama Potaka today, will help protect New Zealand's national parks and native ecosystems from wild goats and deer.
"When left unchecked, wild goats and deer can cause significant damage and impact productivity for farmers and other land managers," Mr Potaka says.
The funding, from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), enables targeted wild goat and deer management in nationally significant conservation areas, reducing browsing pressure on native vegetation and supporting ecosystem recovery.
"This IVL investment means DOC will continue achieving significant conservation gains by reducing wild goat and deer impacts across some of New Zealand's most important conservation landscapes — including Whanganui National Park and Waitōtara Conservation Area in the North Island, and Kahurangi, Nelson Lakes, Westland Te Tai Poutini, and Fiordland National Parks in the South Island," Mr Potaka says.
"The programme strengthens monitoring, surveillance and operational capability, helping protect previous investments, reduce reinvasion risk, and build the knowledge and partnerships needed to deliver long-term biodiversity outcomes.
"It also builds on the strong progress of priority wild goat and deer work in these national parks, amplifying the biodiversity gains in some of New Zealand's most important conservation landscapes."
