Clayton Mitchell New Zealand First MP

New Zealand First has long advocated looking for alternative methods of predator control.

Monday's announcement, made by Minster Jones, of a $19.5 million PGF investment to develop alternative, environmentally friendly, innovative predator eradication approaches has been a welcome move in the right direction for New Zealand.

This investment will allow for the development of predator control without using 1080 - a poison which has seen a significant negative impact on the environment, native birds, other native species and even dogs.

When applied, 1080 blankets the whole area, which means that nothing can escape the deadly poison. Animals that consume anything covered in 1080 end up dying a slow, painful death.

This funding will encourage innovation in the development of products such as traps, lures, remote sensing, surveillance and data management technologies. This will create opportunities for trapping and allow the fur industry to grow and develop added value exports.

Predator Free 2050, a crown entity, is seeking expressions of interest from local authorities and community-backed entities in the PGF surge regions of Northland, Bay of Plenty, East Cape, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Whanganui and the West Coast.

For more information, please visit: www.pf2050.co.nz/opportunities-for-funding/

This is a big step in the right direction, working away from the use of aerial 1080.