An aerial view of Akaroa Harbour, Banks Peninsula. Groups and agencies including the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust, Department of Conservation, Christchurch City Council, Environment Canterbury and Ngāi Tahu rūnanga signed a memorandum of understanding to work together to remove pest animals from the peninsula by 2050. "The growth of trapping groups on Banks Peninsula and among Port Hills and Lyttelton Harbour communities shows there is widespread community support for this venture." Sage said as a peninsula indented with deep bays, Banks Peninsula's geography ideally supported the staged control and removal of animal pests. "Projects like Wildside, where intensive trapping over 13,500ha has doubled the populations of white-flippered penguin/kororā and sooty shearwater/tītī at the south-eastern side of Banks Peninsula, show the potential of a pest-free environment," Sage said.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 04, 2018 04:30 UTC