Predator Free Wellington is ambitiously targeting a pest-free environment in Newtown and Ōwhiro Bay by the end of 2025. This effort is part of a broader initiative to eradicate invasive species throughout the Wellington region. The comprehensive plan is segmented into five phases, each focusing on different parts of the capital.
The initial phase, completed in November 2023, covered the Miramar Peninsula, where native bird populations have nearly doubled since 2017. Current activities are centered around trapping in areas such as Kilbirnie, Hataitai, Evans Bay, and Mount Victoria, reaching Newtown’s border.
Project director James Willcocks reports that approximately 4,000 bait stations and traps have been deployed this year. The project’s scale is expected to expand significantly, with around 14,000 devices projected to be in place by the time they reach Ōwhiro Bay.
The objective for the coming year is to clear the region south of Mount Victoria to Ōwhiro Bay. This challenging task is complicated by the high urban density of Newtown, the presence of Wellington Regional Hospital, and Wellington Zoo.
Phase two’s experiences are anticipated to lay the groundwork for future operations in urban areas like Lambton Quay and Courtenay Place. A continuing challenge for the organization is maintaining cleared areas’ predator-free status, underscored by a recent sighting and subsequent trapping of a stoat in a previously cleared area of Miramar Peninsula.
