Predator Free Wellington: The coolest little capital has a big goal

Words by Tui Lou Christie. Image by Emma Rowell.

Predator Free Wellington is an initiative taking on what some are calling an impossible task— turning Wellington into the world’s first predator-free capital city. That’s the eradication of all rats, mustelids (ferrets, stoats, and weasels), and possums in the city, introduced species which pose a significant threat to our native birds and other wildlife. As difficult as it may seem, it would be a huge leap forward for conservation, and PFW are already making huge, huge steps.  

Why predator-free? What’s so bad about those stoats and possums? 

Across the motu, an estimated 68,000 native birds are killed by introduced predators every night. Millions each year. That’s not even mentioning the native lizards and insects that also play a key part in Aotearoa’s ecosystem. Rats, mustelids, and possums also cause a lot of economic damage as agricultural, industrial, and domestic pests, and occasionally pose a threat to human and animal health through disease carrying.  

We already have some native species like kaka, kakariki, and hihi colonising suburbs around Zealandia. By removing predators from this area, these natives can find safe spaces to thrive and populate. 

What’s the plan, then? 

Predator Free Wellington’s staff is supported by a network of households, community groups, and organisations working towards a common goal of creating a city where our native wildlife can thrive. There are many backyard chapters and reserve groups that make up the conservation effort. Every suburb has a predator-free chapter run entirely by volunteers who work to distribute traps into backyards across the city. The predator-free efforts are also supported by the many reserve groups that work towards the upkeep of Poneke’s green spaces.  

It's a special project, as it’s taking the ‘predator-free’ movement beyond off-shore islands like Matiu/Somes Island and fenced reserves like Zealandia, and into an urban, populated area. Over 200,000 people live and work in Wellington, and PFW is writing the script for urban eradication so we can live and work alongside our native taonga. 

Thanks to the efforts of PFW, the Miramar peninsula up to the Wellington airport is almost entirely predator-free, with all weasels and Norway rats eradicated, and only a few ship rats remaining. That’s the project’s ‘phase 1’ area, with the airport serving as a natural boundary. The plan is to move this boundary out further and further, until eventually the whole city is free from these predators. Up next is phase 2, with the buffer running from the CBD down through the green belt all the way to Ōwhiro Bay. This phase will involve over 900 traps and bait stations and brings new complexities with different terrain and population density. It also brings about new excitements, as PFW will begin working with Wellington institutions like Wellington Zoo, Government House, and Wellington Regional Hospital. 

How do we know it’s working? 

• Norway rats and weasels have been eradicated on Miramar Peninsula (Phase 1) which is a first for New Zealand in the urban context, and Ship rats are at record low levels. 

• Research shows a 51% increase in the detection of birds on the Miramar Peninsula since the eradication began. This includes a 550% increase in pīwakawaka (NZ fantail) and a 275% increase in riroriro (grey warbler). 

• Kārearea, our native falcon, have successfully bred on Miramar over the last 3 years and other highly endangered species such as kākāriki (red crowned parakeet) and kākā have been recorded on detection cameras for the first time in living memory. 

• It's not just about the birds – On Miramar there has also been a 200% increase in tree wētā and anecdotally, increases in lizards (such as the ngahere gecko and raukawa gecko) and skinks. 

• Social research has shown that PFW has achieved equitable deployment of traps and bait stations across the Miramar Peninsula landscape irrespective of the socio-economic context. This is important because it means ALL residents can enjoy the benefits of rat-free homes and increased native wildlife. 

How can I get involved? 

Become a community ranger for the Phase 2 buffer project. As a community ranger, you'll be fully trained and provided with all the necessary gear to help install, service and monitor devices. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please sign up using this link: https://bit.ly/PFWvolunteer 

Join your local community trapping group. In total, there are 58 community backyard and reserve trapping groups across Wellington. There is one for every suburb, and one for each major reserve across the city. These groups are already doing so much for local wildlife, and it is simple and easy to work with them and get involved in backyard trapping. Learn more and find your chapter on the Predator Free Wellington website, www.pfw.org.nz  
PFW also holds trap-building workshops twice yearly to boost community trapping supplies, so keep an eye out on their Facebook page to volunteer at the next one. 

Learn More 

If you’re interested in learning more, there are lots of resources available on the Predator Free Wellington website. Learn more about property pest control, backyard trapping, pest identification, and more at www.pfw.org.nz/get-involved/resources/ 

Follow the journey on their social channels.  
Facebook (www.facebook.com/predfreewelly) 
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/predfreewelly/)  
LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/predator-free-wellington/).  

Special Thanks 

This article was made possible by the work of Eleanor Dewar, Programme Manager of Predator Free Wellington, who generously provided us with the awesome info and pictures we’ve used. Thanks, Eleanor, and thank you to all staff and volunteers at PFW who are working to make our city an amazing place for our native wildlife! Ka pai tō mahi!