Latest news with #IVL
Scoop
6 days ago
- Scoop
More Funding Welcome - But Not Enough To Stop Wildings
Federated Farmers says another $3 million for wilding pines control is very welcome - but falls well short of what's needed. "New Zealand's iconic landscapes are under threat, and the battle against wilding conifers is being lost," Feds pest animal and weed spokesperson Richard Dawkins says. "It's not an exaggeration to call this an ecological crisis. It's a ticking time bomb that's about to blow." The Government collects $100 each from most international visitors arriving in New Zealand. Last week it was announced $3 million over three years of this International Visitor Levy (IVL) revenue will go to the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme, in particular for work in the Molesworth and Mackenzie Basin areas. This boost comes on top of $3.35 million of IVL revenue over three years dedicated earlier this year to wilding control work in Canterbury, Marlborough, Otago and on Rangitoto Island in the Hauraki Gulf. "We're grateful for the support, but let's be clear: this level of funding won't shift the dial. We need enduring, cross-party funding but also a smarter, more strategic response," Dawkins says. "Tourists come here for our iconic scenery, yet in too many districts wilding conifers are overrunning productive land and native biodiversity." Community-led groups like the South Marlborough Landscape Restoration Trust and Mackenzie Wilding Trust do exceptional work. However, the scale of the challenge far exceeds the current funding available. New tactics are required, Dawkins says. Crown pastoral leases lost through tenure review have seen large areas completely overrun with weeds and pests. At the same time, grazing concessions on public conservation land are difficult and expensive to obtain. "Without active land use, these areas turn into breeding grounds for wilding pines and TB-carrying pests, threatening neighbouring farms and conservation efforts," Dawkins says. "Putting farmers back on the land means those with the most at stake are managing weeds and pests, while also supporting export revenue and local jobs." Dawkins says one of the most significant wilding conifer seed sources in the country, in Marlborough's Branch and Leatham river catchments, is expected to cost more than $150 million to control. "That's just one site, and it's a seed source for the wider south Marlborough region. "The area was originally aerially seeded with conifers by the Crown for soil management, with a promise to address any unintended consequences. "Some funding has been allocated over the years, but it's been patchy and nowhere near enough to tackle the problem properly." Since 2016, governments have spent $150 million on wilding pine control, with another $33 million from landowners and communities. "But without sustained effort and fresh thinking, we risk all that going backwards." Dawkins says. "We're not trying to sound ungrateful, but the current approach - small, ad hoc funding rounds outside normal budgeting - feels like a lolly scramble. "It makes long-term planning and prioritisation incredibly difficult." Two-thirds of critical work has been deferred since the 2023/24 financial year because of a big drop in funding for the national programme. "This means we're quickly losing ground across the country in areas affected by wilding pines, and control costs are increasing exponentially," Dawkins says. Base funding for the national control programme is $10 million yearly. Wilding Pine Network chair Richard Bowman estimates $25 million a year for the next decade is needed to reduce wilding pines enough to a level where private and Crown landowners can get on top of the rest. Dawkins says the wilding pine problem sits squarely within Federated Farmers' Save Our Sheep campaign, which calls for urgent action on weed and pest control, and expanded access to high-country grazing. "We also welcomed the announcement in June of $7.45 million for invasive coastal weed control and weed detection software. "That's good news, but we also need to boost council biosecurity teams. They're under-resourced and fighting on too many fronts," Dawkins says. "If we're serious about protecting our environment and rural economy, we need long-term thinking and practical policy - not just short-term funding rounds."
Scoop
03-07-2025
- Scoop
$22 Million To Enhance Wildlife Visitor Experiences
Minister of Conservation Toitū te marae a Tāne-Mahuta me Hineahuone, Toitū te marae a Tangaroa me Hinemoana, Toitū te tangata. Significant investment into supporting native species and tackling invasive pests in national parks has been announced by Conservation Minister Tama Potaka. Mr Potaka visited the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust facility near Christchurch today, where he announced $22 million from the International Visitor Levy will go to restoring unique wildlife in national parks, islands and other popular visitor sites over the next three years. Last year, nearly three-quarters of international visitors said they did a hike, walk or tramp while in Aotearoa New Zealand, and around half visited a national park. 'Conservation-related tourism is worth around $3.4 billion a year,' says Mr Potaka. 'By backing conservation and sustainable tourism, the government also boosts our economy. This funding is strategically split between supporting our native species and tackling invasive pests—giving birds, bush, marine life and landscapes respite to recover. 'We're putting $4.15 million into expanding predator control, plus $11.5 million on the recovery of highly threatened species, including tara iti, at national parks and popular sites so visitors can enjoy thriving natural areas where their funds have contributed. 'Almost $7 million will target feral goats which remove the forest undergrowth and prevent regeneration. 'People fly here with the dream of enjoying our world-class environment and we want to make that experience even better for them. It's about generations of whānau camping out and struggling to sleep because of noisy kiwi calling outside; later waking to find only precious footprints. 'I'm delighted $1.7 million of this will go towards protecting critically endangered Canterbury locals—kakī/black stilts and kākāriki karaka/orange-fronted parakeets. 'There are only about 400 of these parakeets in the world. They nest in trees, cared for by both parents – but parent birds are no match for rats and stoats. If these invasive predators are around, eggs and chicks are quickly wiped out. 'We want to protect and grow rare species like these so more people can enjoy them at places closer to home like at The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary near Nelson. 'Budget 2025 allocates $55 million per annum to DOC for new investments from money raised under the new $100 IVL rate. 'New Zealand attracts visitors who care about nature and every cent that goes into conservation is an investment in our environment and our economy.' Additional information on the IVL projects: Expanding landscape scale predator control ($4.15m over 26/27 and 27/28). Additional work in National Parks and priority sites, to grow populations of iconic bird species. The IVL funding will allow DOC to boost predator control operations in 2 or potentially 3 priority areas in response to the beech mast forecast for 2026. Potential locations (triggered by monitoring and need for urgent beechmast response) include: Fiordland, Mt Aspiring, Arthur's Pass, and Kahurangi National Parks in 26/27. IVL funding will also enable the government to maintain the gains of philanthropic projects, maximising predator control outcomes from the NEXT Foundation investment: e.g. in Abel Tasman, Taranaki Mounga and Predator Free South Westland. Goat management in National Parks and popular visitor areas ($6.9m over 3 years from 25/26) where damage results in visitors experiencing forests with limited understory. Priority locations for focus: Whanganui and Kahurangi National Parks Iconic landscapes of Marlborough. In some places it is viable to eradicate (totally remove) goats, creating huge cost efficiencies over the long-term, and reducing the impact of goats on forests. Priority locations include: Westland Tai Poutini National Park Kaimai Forest Park Nelson Lakes National Park Increasing populations of threatened species in national parks, islands and popular sites ($11.5m over 3 years). While increased weed and predator control will help many threatened species, there are targeted actions needed to ensure recovery of our most threatened and iconic species. Initial focus of the IVL funding will be on the recovery of priority, highly threatened species that occur in national parks and high visitation sites, so that visitors can enjoy thriving natural areas where their funds have contributed. 2025/26 IVL funded species include: Fauna: Southern NZ dotterel, kakī, Tara iti, kākāriki karaka, Paparoa giant wētā, Canterbury knobbled weevil, Awakopaka skink, Kakarakau skink, Oligosoma St Arnaud lowland skink. Threatened plants: e.g., Brachyglottis rotundifolia, Solenogyne christensenii, Cardamine mutabilis, Carmichaelia carmichaeliae, Craspedia (Fyfe River). Enhancing biodiversity on islands in popular visitor areas and ensuring appropriate protection is in place for biosecurity on high priority islands. For 2025/26, funding is allocated to the Hauraki Gulf, Marlborough Sounds, Kapiti and Fiordland islands.
Newsroom
30-06-2025
- Business
- Newsroom
DoC and Treasury arm wrestle over visitor levy funds and ‘high-value' investments
The Department of Conservation and Treasury have butted heads over a $32 million 'shortfall' in the department's funding and a difference in opinion of what constitutes a high-value project. A Treasury report on International Visitor Levy investments for the Department of Conservation outlines for and seeks action from Finance Minister Nicola Willis on approval of the department's 2025/26 visitor levy investment envelope along with Treasury's treatment of a '$32 million shortfall from DoC's IVL allocation'.
Fibre2Fashion
23-06-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Textile recycling could cut COâ by 440,000 tonnes a year: Research
Reaching a modest 10 per cent textile-to-textile recycling rate by 2035 could cut CO2 emissions by 440,000 tonnes annually and reduce water scarcity impacts by over 3 per cent—or 8.8 billion m³ world equivalent, according to findings from the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute. Despite rising concerns over fast fashion's sustainability, global textile-to-textile recycling remains critically low—at only around 1 per cent. However, advanced recycling technologies could lift that rate to 26 per cent by 2030. The research, which examined five key recycling processes and used Monte Carlo modelling, showed a 92 per cent probability of reducing climate impacts and a nearly 100 per cent chance of bringing water scarcity improvements. The average reduction in climate impact of the new approach, compared to 'business as usual', was 0.5 per cent. With the EU aiming to make all textiles placed on the market durable, repairable, and recyclable by 2030 under its Sustainable and Circular Textiles Strategy, the study underscores the need for policy support to scale fibre-to-fibre recycling. This includes improvements in textile collection and sorting, quality of recycled fibres, and mechanisms such as taxes on virgin materials to shift industry norms. Researchers emphasise that while recycling must increase, the processes themselves also require enhanced efficiency to ensure that recycled fibres can effectively replace virgin counterparts. The findings add weight to calls for coordinated EU action under frameworks like the Energy Efficiency Directive and Circular Economy Action Plan. A 10 per cent textile-to-textile recycling rate by 2035 could cut COâ‚‚ emissions by 440,000 tonnes annually and ease water scarcity by over 3 per cent, said IVL. With current rates at just 1 per cent, advanced recycling could boost it to 26 per cent by 2030. The study has urged EU policy support to improve fibre recycling efficiency and infrastructure. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
Scoop
10-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Hospitality New Zealand Acknowledges Release Of Tourism Roadmap
Press Release – Hospitality NZ Hospitality NZ looks forward to ongoing collaboration across the tourism and hospitality sectors to support the implementation of the roadmap. Hospitality New Zealand is today acknowledging the release of the Government's Tourism Roadmap. Steve Armitage, Chief Executive of Hospitality NZ, says 'We're pleased to see the Government's intent to support the growth of tourism and hospitality, enabling its role in doubling the value of tourism exports. 'We welcome the roadmap's clear alignment with our Hospitality Summit report, particularly regarding its emphasis on growing the number of Kiwis in tourism and hospitality roles. 'More generally we see strong alignment with the Going for Growth focuses on 'developing talent' and 'competitive business settings'. 'We are, however, disappointed to see that International Visitor Levy (IVL) contributions to tourism and conservation projects will be capped in 2025/26, with additional funds being used to subsidise existing government spend in areas such as funding for Tourism New Zealand. 'Our view is the IVL was conceived to generate funds for investment in tourism and conservation, over and above existing budget lines. Particularly when there is a focus on growing tourism arrival numbers, to use IVL funds on what should be taxpayer funded does little to resolve the nationwide tourism funding gap the industry is facing. 'Hospitality NZ looks forward to ongoing collaboration across the tourism and hospitality sectors to support the implementation of the roadmap.'
