The next steps in an ambitious plan to eliminate all pests from Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park will begin later this month.
Led by Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP), on behalf of Te Manahuna Aoraki Project (TMAP), the pest removal combines aerial 1080 application, ground-based traps, bait stations and remote-reporting technology to remove every individual pest from the area. This work marks a major step toward protecting one of New Zealand's most iconic alpine landscapes – and a key milestone on the path to Predator Free 2050.
TMAP is a partnership between the Department of Conservation (DOC), mana whenua, high country landowners, philanthropists, and other Crown agencies, to protect and restore biodiversity across a vast 310,000-hectare area spanning the Upper Mackenzie Basin and Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.
This spring, the project will step up ongoing efforts to completely remove possums, rats, rabbits, hares, ferrets, stoats, hedgehogs and feral cats from over 70% of the national park, to protect and restore the unique native plants and animals that make this area so special.
TMAP Project Manager Simone Smits says the alpine environment of Aoraki has long suffered from the impact of pests.
"These pests are widespread, even high into the alpine zone, and are driving native species toward local extinction. When we remove these threats, nature bounces back. We're already seeing kea numbers increase, and we expect to see more native birds, lizards, insects and alpine plants thriving as our work continues.
"Since alpine pest removal began in 2022, the results have been inspiring. The successful removal of predators in the Malte Brun Range has already led to a noticeable increase in kea activity – a promising sign for the future of native wildlife in the region. Building on this momentum, the project will soon complete pest removal in the Liebig Range and expand efforts to the Kirikirikatata/Mount Cook Range," she says.
DOC Aoraki/Mount Cook Operations Manager Sally Jones says the partial closure of the upper Hooker Valley Track while a new suspension bridge is being built provides a great opportunity for ZIP to carry out the pest removal work safely, away from the public with minimal disruption to visitors.
"The project has been planning to carry out this work for some time, and the fact that the upper part of the track is currently closed while the new suspension bridge is under construction is ideal, as it provides a window to carry out this work quickly and safely, with minimal visitor disruption," she says.
The Tasman Valley Road and Hooker Valley Track from the first suspension bridge will be closed for a few hours from early morning over six separate days, between mid-November 2025 and March 2026 (weather permitting) while aerial operations take place. Public notices will be placed in local newspapers before each operation, and warning signs will be posted in the park.
Visitors can stay informed through alerts on the DOC website and are advised to check before travelling to the area to avoid any disruption to plans.
Sally Jones says the long-term benefits will be hugely significant for the park and its wildlife inhabitants.
"Once pests are gone from this iconic area, we'll see native species like kea, tuke/rock wren, lizards and many alpine plants thriving—a real win for nature and for everyone who visits this special place," she says.
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