Rock wren/tuke (xenicus gilviventris)

National predator control operations

Introduction

We are planning to control introduced predators across more than 660,000 hectares of public conservation land in 2025.

Our National Predator Control Programme protects native wildlife and forests at important conservation sites across New Zealand.

Currently, we control predators on a sustained, rotational basis over about 1.8 million ha which is nearly 20% of public conservation land.

It’s critical that rats, stoats, and possums are regularly controlled so that populations of threatened native species can survive and grow.

This is particularly important when beech forests produce more seeds than usual, known as a mast event, and predator populations rapidly increase.

Climate modelling allows us to forecast when the next beech mast is expected to occur. Mast forecasting happens in May every year, when we are able to compare average temperatures across New Zealand for 2 consecutive summers. We will revise our 2025 plan as soon as the next mast forecast is received in May.

Aerially applied 1080 is the best method available to control introduced predators and protect native species over large areas and rough terrain. Ground control tools, including traps and toxins in bait stations, are also used.

Protecting critical wildlife areas

We prioritise areas for predator control using the following criteria:

  • the beech mast forecast and resulting increases in predator populations
  • conservation planning with iwi, hapū and key community stakeholders
  • risks to key ecosystems and populations of the most vulnerable species
  • the history and results of previous predator control operations in the area.

The timing of operations is also determined by predator monitoring results and the weather.

The areas prioritised for 2025 are in the search tool below.

You can also view all operations since 2016.

Check if tracks are safe for dogs

Following a predator control operation, it is not safe to hunt animals for food and walking tracks and forest areas are closed for dogs. These restrictions are in place for up to eight months.  

For more information, see:

View a map

For more detailed information and operational boundaries:

Pesticides summaries interactive map.

Search for an operation

Search for information about this year’s operations using the filters or view the complete list of operations below. Descriptions of the operation status: 

  • Planned: DOC intends to carry out predator control in this location this year. Planning processes are underway, which include consultation, pest monitoring, obtaining DOC and Public Health Unit permissions
  • Ongoing: for ground control operations this means traps and/or bait stations have been installed and are being actively managed
  • Complete: the predator control operation has been carried out. Pesticides may still be present in the area – follow local warning signs and track alerts.

Northland

Puketi-Omahuta, Bay of Islands, Northland

Areas included or near by: Ōmahuta- Puketī Forest Conservation Park
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 4,000
Date:
Status: Ongoing

Species protected include:
Kiwi, kūkupa, kauri snail, pekapeka/short and long tailed bats, toutouwai/North Island robin, forest and Northland green gecko

Waipoua, Kauri Coast, Northland

Areas included or near by: Waipoua Forest
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 21,725
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Kōkakō, pekapeka/long tailed bats, kiwi

Waipoua, Kauri Coast, Northland

Areas included or near by: Waipoua Forest
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 1,790
Date:
Status: Ongoing

Species protected include:
Kiwi, kōkako

Waikato

Hauhungaroa Blocks 1, 1a, 2a, King Country, Waikato

Areas included or near by: Pureora Forest Park and surrounding areas
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 53,000
Date: Summer 2025
Status: Completed

Species protected include:
Kākā, kōkakō, pekapeka/long tailed bats, kākāriki

Hauhungaroa Block 2b, King Country, Waikato

Areas included or near by: Pureora Forest Park and surrounding areas
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 26,500
Date: Summer 2025
Status: Completed

Species protected include:
Kākā, kōkakō, pekapeka/long tailed bats, kākāriki

Mapara Ground, King Country, Waikato

Areas included or near by: Mapara Wildlife Management Reserve, Mapara Conservation Area
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 1,429
Date:
Status: Ongoing

Species protected include:
Kōkako, toutouwai / North Island robin, pekapeka / long tailed bats

Waipapa Ground, King Country, Waikato

Areas included or near by: Pureora Forest Park
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 2,903
Date:
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Whio, pekapeka/short and long tailed bats, kākā, kokako

Mapara, King Country, Waikato

Areas included or near by: Mapara Wildlife Management Reserve, Mapara Conservation Area
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 1,429
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Kōkako, toutouwai / North Island robin, pekapeka / long tailed bats

Pirongia and Te Kauri, Waikato, Waikato

Areas included or near by: Pirongia Forest Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 16,065
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Kōkako, pekapeka / long tailed bats, Dactylanthus

Taranaki

Moki-Makino, New Plymouth, Taranaki

Areas included or near by: Makino Conservation Area
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 10,272
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
pekapeka/long tailed bats, kiwi

Coromandel

Moehau, Whitianga, Coromandel

Areas included or near by: Coromandel Forest Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 4,415
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Archeys frog, Hochstetter frog, kiwi, pekapeka/long tailed bats

Otahu, Hauraki, Coromandel

Areas included or near by: Coromandel Forest Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 6,702
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Archeys frog, Hochstetter frog, kiwi, pekapeka/long tailed bats

Bay of Plenty

Te Kopia, Rotorua, Bay of Plenty

Areas included or near by: Te Kopia Scenic Reserve
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 1,561
Date: Spring 2025
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Geothermal Plant communities

Central North Island

Rangataua , Tongariro, Central North Island

Areas included or near by: Rangataua Conservation Area, Tongariro National Park
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 6,666
Date:
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Red and yellow mistletoe

Tongariro Kiwi Ground, Tongariro, Central North Island

Areas included or near by: Tongariro Conservation Area
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 7,819
Date:
Status: Ongoing

Species protected include:
Kiwi, Whio

Tongariro Kiwi, Tongariro, Central North Island

Areas included or near by: Tongariro Conservation Area
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 20,189
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Kiwi, Whio

Hihitahi, Tongariro, Central North island

Areas included or near by: Hihitahi Forest Sanctuary
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 2,149
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Hall's Totara, Pahautea

Lower North Island

Northern Ruahine, Manawatu, Lower North Island

Areas included or near by: Ruahine Forest Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 37,017
Date: Summer 2025
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Eastern North Island brown kiwi, whio, kākā, kākāriki, powelliphanta, pekapeka/long tailed bats

Project Kaka, Wairarapa, Lower North Island

Areas included or near by: Tararua Forest Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 29,801
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Eastern North Island brown kiwi, kākā, kākāriki, powelliphanta, pekapeka/long tailed bats

Northern South Island

St Arnaud Range, Nelson Lakes, Northern South Island

Areas included or near by: Nelson Lakes National Park, Howard Conservation Area and surrounds
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 33,534
Date: Autumn 2025
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Large land snails, kiwi, kea, long-tailed bats, NZ falcon, whio and three endemic species of mistletoe

Kahurangi - Wangapeka, Motueka, Northern South Island

Areas included or near by: Kahurangi National Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 74,200
Date: Summer 2025
Status: Completed

Species protected include:
Kiwi, whio, kea, kākā, pekapeka/long tailed bats, takahē, rock wren

West Coast

Kahurangi - Heaphy Lowlands, Buller, West Coast

Areas included or near by: Low altitude, species rich coastal forest lying between the Tasman Mountains and the sea.
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 26,405
Date: Summer 2025
Status: Completed

Species protected include:
Northern rātā, pekapeka/long tailed bats, rorora/great spotted kiwi, powelliphanta, whio, pīwauwau/rock wren

Haast kiwi, South Westland, West Coast

Areas included or near by: Haast kiwi sanctuary
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 11,158
Date:
Status: Ongoing

Species protected include:
Haast tokoeka/kiwi, pekapeka/bats, kākā

Haast True Left and True Right, South Westland, West Coast

Areas included or near by: Okuru-Waiatoto Conservation Area, Cook River to Haast River Conservation Area, Mount Aspiring Pational Park
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 31,833
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Mistletoe, fuchsia, tōtara, wineberry, southern rātā, and kākā

Abbey Rocks, South Westland, West Coast

Areas included or near by: Cook River to Haast River Conservation Area
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 48,582
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Kaka, kereru, kea, and mohua, tawaki (Fiordland crested) penguins and beech mistletoe

Hope Cascade, South Westland, West Coast

Areas included or near by: Mt Aspiring National Park and Arawhata Conservation Area
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 65,282
Date: Winter 2025
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Fuchsia, haast tokoeka kiwi, kaka, kea, tawaki (Fiordland crested penguin)

Canterbury

Wilberforce-Mathias, North Canterbury, Canterbury

Areas included or near by: Wilberforce and Mathias valley systems
Aerial or ground-based:
Estimated hectares:
Date: Autumn 2025
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Wineberry, southern rātā, fuchsia, lancewood, and kāmahi. Also kākāriki, karearea/NZ falcon, pīwauwau/rock wren, whio/blue duck, kea, and koekoeā/long-tailed cuckoo.

Arthurs pass East, North Canterbury, Canterbury

Areas included or near by: Arthurs Pass National Park
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 10,000
Date:
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Mohua

Fiordland

Murchison Mountains, Te Anau, Fiordland

Areas included or near by: Fiordland National Park, bounded by Lake Te Anau
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 27,013
Date:
Status: Ongoing

Species protected include:
Takahē, mohua, whio, kea, kākā

Otago

Dart-Caples , Wakatipu, Otago

Areas included or near by: Mount Aspiring National Park, Caples Conservation Area, Lower Dart Conservation Area
Aerial or ground-based: Ground
Estimated hectares: 717
Date:
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Mohua, long-tailed bat, kea, yellow crowned parakeet kaka, whio, rock wren and falcon.

Catlins, Invercargill, Southland

Areas included or near by: Catlins Conservation Area and surrounds
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 21,746
Date: Summer 2025
Status: Ongoing

Species protected include:
Mohua, long-tailed bat, yellow crowned parakeet, southern falcon and scarlet mistletoe

Southland

Blue Mountains, Invercargill, Southland

Areas included or near by: Blue Mountains Forest Conservation Area
Aerial or ground-based: Aerial
Estimated hectares: 15,000
Date: Spring 2025
Status: Planned

Species protected include:
Mohua