Boots On The Ground Make A $164M Footprint
The goal of eradicating rats, mustelids, and possums across two-thirds of Aotearoa New Zealand, the urban and rural areas where people live, work, and play, has morphed from an ambitious "moonshot" into a feasible proposition. Beyond financial backing, volunteer efforts have become an invaluable asset, uniting a generation in a shared purpose and delivering what would normally come with substantial costs.
The tireless efforts of projects with boots on the ground, and supported by PF2050 Limited, have proved that predators can be eliminated in urban and rural areas. Thanks to those efforts, as of 31 March 2025, communities have already contributed more than $164M in non-government support for 18 major projects since their inception. This meets a key target for community contribution and is a testament to the unwavering dedication of hundreds of Kiwis working on urban and rural land to protect Aotearoa New Zealand's biodiversity before it's too late. Support has come in the forms of cash, in-kind donations, and the value of volunteer labour, and it more than matches the PF2050 Limited contribution of $92M to this work.
Year after year, Predator Free 2050 projects have proven that, with a combined collective effort from communities, philanthropists, councils, and volunteers, people are willing to put more on the line to bring nature back to our communities and the places we live, work and play. From visible nature gains to economic and public health gains and strengthened communities, the payback is significant.
It is a great achievement so far, but to reach the PF2050 goal, more is needed. While PF2050 Limited and the projects it supports remain committed to sustaining momentum, they face the end of funding from Jobs for Nature and the Provincial Growth Fund. The collective of predator free projects and PF2050 Limited will be working to raise new funds to advance this essential work in our cities, towns, farms and forests and to develop even more efficient and scalable predator free approaches. So much has been achieved by the community already that it is unthinkable to let the momentum falter.
PF2050 Limited, a Crown-owned charitable company established in 2016, plays a pivotal role in this transformative movement. The Company focuses on supporting large-scale predator elimination projects and breakthrough scientific innovations, supporting professionally delivered, community-led initiatives, in its mission to address a critical biodiversity crisis. The Predator Free 2050 goal, a bold national commitment to eradicate possums, rats, and mustelids by 2050, has achieved remarkable funding success.
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