Kaipara and Mahurangi are the big winners in the latest Jobs for Nature funding announced by the Government last month.
The money has been awarded to help eradicate rats, stoats and possums as part of the goal to become predator free by 2050.
On the Kaipara Harbour, the Government is providing $2 million in “anchor funding” for a $30 million project to eradicate pests from key peninsulas.
It will initially focus on 105,000 hectares on the harbour, expanding to 640,000 hectares as technology is developed.
The first stage of the project will identify communities on peninsulas that need support for pest control and could include the likes of Taporapora or Oruawharo.
The project was initiated by the Integrated Kaipara Harbour Management Group (IKHMG) and is being implemented by Te Uri of Hau Settlement Trust through its environmental arm, Environ Holdings.
Coordinator Fiona Kemp says Environ will use its relationships with landowner networks across its rohe (territory) to find out where support is needed.
“Local landowners can recall seeing native wildlife like ruru (morepork) eating huhu grubs and it is hoped through pest control we will see that return,” she says.
The project will support the Kaipara Moana remediation programme by reducing the impact of pests on native plantings, which are being used to reduce sediment flow into the harbour.
Environ Holdings has also been awarded $579,000 to undertake planting and kauri dieback monitoring on Pukekaroro Hill in Kaiwaka and Pukearenga Hill in Maungaturoto.
The Jobs for Nature fund has also contributed $1.3 million towards an Auckland Council project to eradicate wallabies from Kawau Island, as well as rats, stoats and possums.
Council says Kawau is one of the last remaining islands in the Hauraki Gulf where pests have not been eradicated.
