Predator Free Wellington

Phase One - Miramar Peninsula

Miramar Peninsula was selected as the first and most achievable spot for an eradication of predators such as rats, stoats and weasels because it is a self-contained location, and has had a possum-free status since 2006 (thanks to the joint efforts of Greater Wellington and Wellington City Council).

This has now largely been achieved thanks to all partners and the local community.

Phase Two - Island Bay to CBD

Stage two is to eradicate rats, possums, stoats and weasels in another part of the city, and continue this success. This will involve 19 suburbs from Kilbirnie around to Owhiro Bay and up through to the CBD. The area is home to around 60,000 people!

Before Predator Free Wellington start installing traps on the ground, they are seeking permission from around 7,500 households to have a trap/bait station or detection device in their backyard.

If you live in the area, you could help by signing up and giving your permission now.

Check if you can be involved in phase two.

Predator Free Wellington are the main body that delivers the Predator Free Wellington project, with help from their partner organisations.

Greater Wellington Regional Council - We provide both financial and technical expertise required to design and manage the operation, based on 25 years of biosecurity control in Wellington City and the region. We also manage the monitoring of native wildlife before, during, and after operations.

Our Environmental Science team also manage the monitoring of native wildlife before, during, and after operations. 

NEXT Foundation provides both financial and non-financial support to this project, as well as other conservation projects across New Zealand. , New Zealand. PFW is part of their wider vision to find predator free solutions for urban, rural, forest and other mainland areas. 

Predator Free 2050 limited provides funding and support from the national, crown-owned, charitable company established by the Government to eradicate possums, stoats and rats by 2050.

Wellington City Council provides funding for PFW. They also works closely with the community, surveying and supporting residents on predator control and the operation with guides and material (like rat-proofing compost kits).

The Predator Free Wellington project has been set up specifically to make Wellington city predator free. It is separate to, but aligned with:

Predator Free 2050 Ltd - A crown-owned charitable company, established to help deliver Predator Free status in New Zealand by 2050.

Predator Free NZ Trust - a private charitable organisation established to encourage, support and connect New Zealanders in their efforts to control and eradicate introduced predators.

Greater Wellington also sits on the Predator Free NZ Trust Advisory Group.

Other members are: Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, OSPRI, DOC, University of Auckland, Zero Invasive Predators, Hawkes Bay Regional Council, Victoria University, Eagle Technology, and Forest & Bird.

Head to the Predator Free Wellington website

Creating a safe haven for native wildlife would not be possible without the hard work of the people living here. Every small action can make a big difference. Here are some of the things you could do to help achieve a predator free capital city:

• Join a group - There are so many around Wellington! Meet new people and work together to remove pests. Check out a list of groups.
• Protect food waste - Rat-proofing your compost or getting a sealed worm farm is a great way to remove a food source for pests. Here's how to do it.
• Trapping - you can always get a trap of your own and put it in your backyard. We've compiled some useful information on where to start.
• Talk to Predator Free Wellington - See if there is anything you can do to be involved!