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A thriving landscape

From the mountains to the sea

Predator removal completed over

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Welcome to Predator Free South Westland

Predator Free South Westland is on track to achieve the ambitious goal of eliminating possums, rats and stoats from more than 100,000 hectares of one of Aotearoa’s most stunning landscapes.

Launched in 2021, the project area includes remote back country, rural areas and townships between the Whataroa and Waiau (Waiho) rivers, the crest of the Southern Alps | Kā Tiritiri o te Moana, and the shores of the Tasman Sea | Te Tai-o-Rēhua.

Now nearing completion, success in South Westland demonstrates that a predator-free Aotearoa is a goal well within reach.

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A landscape in recovery

Free from the constant threat of introduced predators, nature in South Westland is re-awakening.

Native plants are bursting with flowers. Kea, kākāriki and mātā (fernbirds) are being seen more frequently, and forests are alive with birdsong.

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"In Ōkārito birds that were once shy now share your day in the garden, bellbirds sing their hearts out, fernbirds hop alongside you as you walk down the drive, and kākāriki fly past the window. It’s wonderful."
Paula SheridanŌkārito Boat Tours
"The scale of what’s going on here and where we’ve got to with elimination of some of those key predators just blew my mind. It’s huge. And when [ZIP] started with this project, people didn’t think we could do it. And what we’re seeing is we can do it. And if we can do it here, we can scale it to other places. It just excites me hugely."
Penny NelsonDirector General, Department of Conservation
“I found two groups of yellow-crowned kākāriki! In all my years here (24yrs) I have never seen them! Now I have seen two groups of them in the space of one hour. Your hard work is having tangible results.”
Ian CooperŌkārito Kiwi Tours
"For a start I was sceptical, as a lot of people in South Westland were. As the programme’s gone on, and as we see the results, we’re all pretty happy now that it’s making a big difference”
James ScottHeliServices

Achieving predator elimination

At the start of the project, we engaged Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) to develop the tools and techniques that would create an unfenced predator-free ‘mainland island’ – something that had never been done before.

Across South Westland, ZIP has now developed and implemented a step-by-step approach to safeguard native and endemic species, reduce carbon emissions, improve forest health, and create a range of work and income opportunities for the local community.

How we got here

Project Area

Spanning alpine peaks, lowland forests, farmland and lagoon wetlands, the project area includes the communities of Franz Josef, Whataroa, and Ōkārito.

Predator Free South Westland is leading the way.

On track to become the first predator free landscape in Aotearoa – from the mountains to the sea.

Predator Free South Westland is made possible through the support and collaboration of many.

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Westland
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