Increased funds for pest management in Far North applauded

Adrienne Tari.

The Northland Conservation Board has congratulated the Northland Regional Council on increasing its spending on pest management from the current $3.6 million a year to almost $6m by 2020/21.

New funding for addressing freshwater quality issues, pests and flood infrastructure is included in the council's long-term plan 2018-2028.

Newly-appointed conservation board chairwoman, Adrienne Tari, said the board agreed with council chairman Bill Shepherd's description of the plan as bold and visionary.

"Northland is blessed with an abundance of native life, with a third of the region in native vegetation cover, original wetlands, dune lakes, and an extensive coastline hosting animal and plant life.

"But these native habitats are at risk, threatened by introduced pest plants, animals, marine organisms and diseases such as kauri dieback.

"Therefore we salute the mana and resolve of the Northland Regional Council in the leadership role they have taken in providing the financial resources to protect our precious native life and restore our biodiversity, meaning we have a fighting chance of reaching our goal of becoming pest-free in Northland."

The board also thanked the Northland community for its support of this LTP, acknowledging that the funding increase for protecting native species resulted in rates increases.

"This is an investment by us all in boosting the work we are already doing to move towards our pest-free goals," she said.

"It will increase the council's ability to respond to pest incursions across the region, and allow for more collaborative work with the Northland Conservation Board and our many communities, enabling us to build capacity for area-specific pest control programmes."