The Connection Between Pest Control and Healthy Ecosystems: A New Zealand Focus

Part 1: Why Pest Control Is Crucial for New Zealand's Ecological Health

Aotearoa’s Natural Legacy: Beauty on the Brink

New Zealand’s natural environment is globally exceptional. Isolated for millions of years, our islands evolved species that exist nowhere else — like the kākāpō, kiwi, tuatara, and giant wētā. But this very isolation is also our ecological Achilles’ heel. Without mammalian predators during their evolution, our native flora and fauna lack the defences to survive the onslaught of pests introduced by humans over the past few centuries.

Today, Aotearoa holds one of the highest rates of threatened endemic species in the world. According to Environment Aotearoa 2019, nearly 4,000 native species are at risk of extinction due to environmental pressures — with pest species being a leading driver.

The Unnatural Predators in Our Ecosystems

Most of New Zealand’s modern pest species — like stoats, rats, possums, feral cats, hedgehogs, and mice — were introduced by European settlers, either accidentally or deliberately. Their impact has been nothing short of catastrophic:

• Ship rats prey on birds, eggs, lizards, and invertebrates and dominate forest ecosystems.
  

• Possums consume around 21,000 tonnes of native vegetation nightly and spread bovine tuberculosis.
  

• Stoats are considered one of the most destructive mammalian predators globally, wiping out entire bird populations in unfenced areas.
  

• Feral cats, often overlooked in predator strategies, decimate native lizards and ground-nesting birds.
  
  

A recent analysis by Manaaki Whenua underscores the complexity of pest control in achieving ecosystem restoration. Multi-species interactions mean that removing one predator can inadvertently lead to the rise of another — for example, reducing rats can lead to a surge in mice, which may then eat the seeds or invertebrates we were trying to protect.

How Pests Disrupt Ecosystem Services

Pests do more than harm individual species — they unravel the fabric of entire ecosystems:

• Altering nutrient cycling: Invasive weeds and mammals change soil chemistry and reduce carbon storage capacity.
  

• Interrupting food chains: When a predator species dominates, the balance of prey and predator collapses. Native species like the whio or tīeke may vanish from areas where predators roam unchecked.
  

• Degrading water quality: Pests destabilise soils and forests, reducing the filtering capacity of ecosystems that protect waterways.
  

• Suppressing native regeneration: Herbivores like deer and goats strip forests of seedlings and slow natural succession.
  
  

In ecological terms, this is referred to as a collapse of "ecosystem services" — the natural processes that purify air and water, pollinate crops, store carbon, regulate pests and diseases, and maintain genetic diversity.

A National Call: Predator Free 2050 and Beyond

The Predator Free 2050 vision represents an ambitious and globally rare initiative: to eliminate possums, mustelids, and rats from New Zealand by mid-century. But emerging science suggests we need to go further.

A 2024 insights paper recommends expanding the predator list to include mice, feral cats, and hedgehogs as part of research and development phases — noting that targeting only part of the predator guild risks “perverse ecological outcomes” such as meso-predator release.

Moreover, traditional trapping alone won’t get us there. While community engagement is powerful, eradication requires:

• Widespread use of species-specific toxins

• Remote monitoring and data-informed deployment strategies

• Genetic and biological tools

• Collaboration with iwi and respect for species of cultural significance like kiore
  

Ecological Health Is Cultural Health

For tangata whenua, ecological health is deeply entwined with identity, spiritual values, and mana whenua. Te ao Māori teaches us that humans are not above nature but a part of it. When ecosystems suffer, so do people.

Incorporating mātauranga Māori and co-management models — such as DOC’s work with Ngātiwai on kiore management — ensures pest control respects cultural values while restoring ecological balance.

Part 2: Connovation’s Contribution to a Predator-Free Future

At Connovation, we stand at the frontline of New Zealand's conservation journey, delivering innovation that directly supports ecosystem recovery.

Targeted Toxin Solutions

Our flagship products like Double Tap, a novel mix of Diphacinone and Colecalciferol, and Feracol, a Colecalciferol based toxin for rodents and possums, are designed to be humane, effective, and species-targeted. These tools help reduce non-target impacts while increasing efficacy in field conditions.

Advanced Monitoring & Lures

With our Trakka tools and scent lures, field operators can optimise trap placement, monitor bait uptake, and gain real-time insights into pest behaviour.

R&D and Ecological Stewardship

Our commitment doesn’t stop at products. We actively engage in research with conservation partners, refine our delivery methods, and explore new materials for sustainable pest control. We’re also working to bridge the gap between ground operations and national strategy, enabling regional projects to scale effectively.

Final Word: Every Species Matters. Every Action Counts.

Whether it's returning birdsong to our forests, protecting our food production, or safeguarding cultural taonga, healthy ecosystems are not optional — they are essential.

At Connovation, we’re proud to play our part in restoring Aotearoa’s ecological integrity. Every trap, every bait station, every new formula is a step toward a thriving, balanced future.

🕊️ Let’s protect what makes Aotearoa unique. Together.