29923 (2025). Lan Pham to the Minister of Conservation

29923 (2025). Lan Pham to the Minister of Conservation: What plan, if any, does the Government have to eliminate, minimize, reduce or mitigate the impacts of introduced pests on biodiversity and ecosystem services?

Hon Tama Potaka: The Department of Conservation has the responsibility for managing the impacts of introduced pests on species and ecosystems on public conservation land. Regional Councils and the Ministry of Primary Industries also play key roles in managing pests in New Zealand and all agencies work closely together. Key programmes include: • National Predator Control Programme – this delivers sustained, wide-scale suppression of possums, rats, and stoats at high-priority mainland sites. • National Wild Animal Programme– targets introduced browsing animals such as deer, goats, and pigs at priority ecosystems where impacts are most severe. • Supporting MPI’s National Wilding Conifer control programme which aims to prevent, contain and eradicate these weeds from priority areas.