Predator Free Banks Peninsula: Scoping Analysis seminar, 7 April, 2017

With the New Zealand government setting an aspirational goal of a Predator Free New Zealand by 2050, the Trust funded a summer scholarship to see what might be involved in achieving this for Banks Peninsula. Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust has been leading a group of agencies to develop a bid for some of the initial funding to come the Peninsula’s way, as it offers a potentially large area for initial trials of Predator Free methodologies and so many different groups are already committed to pest control and eradication work in the area.  Former Lincoln summer scholar Max Curnow presented his excellent research scoping out what might be involved in achieving Predator Free status for Banks Peninsula to a well-attended seminar held at Environment Canterbury where he now works. Max had developed four different scenarios using current trapping and poisoning methodologies for removing all possums, ferrets, stoats and rats and then maintaining zero levels, within the Peninsula area east of Gebbies Pass. The costs and effort involved are substantial (to put it mildly) and Max, supported by his supervisor Geoff Kerr, fielded numerous questions from an audience already well-engaged with this tough topic. The full report is currently undergoing peer review and a link will be posted once it is ready for public release.