Predator Free NZMCA Parks

What is PredatorFree NZMCA Parks?

In August 2022, the NZMCA Board agreed to support Aotearoa New Zealand's PredatorFree 2050 vision by adopting an initial 5-year action plan for commencement in 2023.

Aotearoa New Zealand has been geologically isolated from the rest of the world for over 85 million years. As a result, our country is home to many native flora and fauna, which makes them particularly vulnerable to introduced predators.

PredatorFree 2050 has a vision to eradicate the five most damaging predators to conservation and our natural environment: rats, stoats, ferrets, weasels, and possums.

Many hapu, community groups, businesses and organisations across Aotearoa New Zealand have been quick to embrace the nation's PredatorFree 2050 vision and work together to prevent further loss of the many taonga (treasured) species that are uniquely ours.

The NZMCA supports this vision, particularly as one of the core objects of the Association's constitution is to "promote environmental sustainability and the protection of the natural environment".

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The NZMCA's Role

Working alongside members and communities, over time, the NZMCA aims to establish predator traps at every NZMCA Park.
We're asking NZMCA volunteers and members visiting parks to work together to place, monitor and safely empty traps, while maintaining records for each park.
One of the best ways individual members can help protect our taonga is to set predator traps at home. Rats, for example, are more common than many people realise.
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Primary Goals

Six goals

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  1. Predator traps are established across all NZMCA Parks within 5-years.
  2. NZMCA educates and encourages members to set traps at home.
  3. The plan supports local community efforts to eradicate predators.
  4. NZMCA volunteers and members are working alongside community groups, iwi, schools, and other key stakeholders to help eradicate predator species.
  5. The placement and day-to-day maintenance of predator traps by volunteers and members is carried out safely.
  6. Data is recorded to track progress and promote the NZMCA's efforts.
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Budget

This 5-year action plan is supported by a $10,000 annual budget.

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This will be reviewed each year following feedback and on-site observations. For the first two years, we expect 100% of the annual budget will fund the purchasing and maintenance of rat traps suitable to each individual park. Surplus funding may be allocated to purchase traps for other predator species and help support local community initiatives in line with PredatorFree 2050.

After two years, we expect the budget will primarily fund the installation and maintenance of traps for all five predator species listed above. Any surplus funding may go towards local community initiatives in line with PredatorFree 2050.
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Health and Safety

The safety of NZMCA volunteers, members, and their families (including pets!) visiting NZMCA Parks is paramount.

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The safety of NZMCA volunteers, members, and their families (including pets!) visiting NZMCA Parks is paramount. We will only use professionally built traps that are safe from curious wildlife (e.g. Weka), pets and children. Anyone handling traps must familiarise themselves with the following guidelines and any on-site safety instructions. Traps must also meet the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee animal humane guidelines for predators and
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Staged approach

What are the timeframes?

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For the first six months, the National Office will work alongside a handful of area committees and park custodians across New Zealand to help establish a practical, safe, and low-maintenance approach to laying, monitoring, and emptying rat traps.

An initial step focusing on rat traps will make it easier for us implement this action plan and iron out any kinks in the process. After six months, we will roll the plan out to all other parks before considering options to trap other predators on the above list from year two onwards.