Invasive Species:

The Silent Invaders

The Battle for
Our Ecosystem

Globally, invasive species are the fourth largest driver of biodiversity loss. In New Zealand, these silent invaders are the number one cause of flora and fauna loss.Their negative impact extends to the economic sphere – with an estimated annual global cost around $423bn per year.

Active
Strategic
Automated
For 60 million years, in New Zealand, there were no mammal predators or browsers of plants, native flightless birds (e.g. Kiwi and Moa), unusual creatures (e.g. Tuatara and Giant Wētā) and unusual plants were able to evolve and thrive. Today, New Zealand has 825 endemic species, so the introduction of invasive mammals when the natives have not adapted to defend themselves is catastrophic.
Originally, TAHI had just about every introduced mammalian species—and our forests had no understory, no regeneration, and a canopy that was heavily browsed. Since 2004, an intense programme of stock removal and invasive species management has been underway covering our land and neighbouring properties. 

20 years later, an abundant natural regeneration in our forests and shrublands, as well as recovery of the forest canopy, has welcomed home native birdlife. Once absent, our native birds and creatures are now thriving again.

Invasive Species
Management

At TAHI Invasive Species Management traps and bait stations are recorded by GPS coordinates. This records all actions and catches and provides statistics for analysis.

Credit: Thank you to the NRC and Kiwi Coast for their support
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Mangroves & Sandunes

The intersection of land and sea: TAHI's unique landscape spans farm and coast, including hills, lakes, streams, forests, wetlands, estuaries, beaches, and ecologically significant sand dunes.