Christopher Luxon said feral cats would be added as a target in Predator Free 2050 - but it hasn’t happened - ArkforgeAI.com

Photo: Greg Bowker / Newshub, Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ When he was campaigning to be Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon said feral cats would be added to the list of species targeted in Predator Free 2050 by his government. The promise was made during Newshub's live election debate in 2023 after both leaders agreed feral cats should be treated like other pests. "So you will both put them into Predator Free 2050," moderator Patrick Gower asked. "Absolutely," was Luxon's response. But it hasn't happened. When RNZ asked Luxon's office why, it was referred to Conservation Minister Tama Potaka. In a written statement, Potaka said a review of the Predator Free 2050 strategy was underway and would be released in the new year. But the review's proposal which was put forward for public feedback doesn't include cats. It proposed retaining the three species of possums, rats and mustelids (stoats, ferrets and weasels), which are currently on the list. The reasoning was that eradicating feral cats wasn't feasible at present and asked: "What do you see as the benefits and risks of not including feral cats on the PF2050 national target species list at this time?" Labour leader Chris Hipkins, who also made the promise at the same debate, says it amounts to Luxon breaking his promise to New Zealanders to target feral cats. "Christopher Luxon is completely out of touch and failing to keep his promises to New Zealanders," Hipkins said. * See RNZ's special report on the advance of destructive wild cats across NZ's native heartland Apex predators making native birds extinct The omission of feral cats from the proposed strategy update perplexed conservationists. Feral cats are an apex predator found in all parts of New Zealand and have contributed to the extinction of several bird species. There's no confirmed estimate of their numbers, but guesses range between 2.4 million to 14 million. The Predator Free New Zealand Trust is a charity aimed at inspiring New Zealanders about what a predator free country could look like. Chief executive Jessi Morgan said not including feral cats in the proposal document was "a misread of the room". The public was well aware of the difference between companion and feral cats and the damage feral cats had on native species, she said. "Many of our native species nest on the ground or spend a lot of time on the ground, and they just don't have any defenses to fight off cats when they attack them." She believes many of the 3400 submissions made to the proposal call for their inclusion. "Adding feral cats to the target list is a no brainer. There's multi-party support, so it's not like it's one party that would be having to put their head up and do it." Photo: SUPPLIED / DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION Green MP Celia Wade-Brown said feral cats should have been included in Predator Free 2050 long ago. "National are showing very little commitment to action in that area." She said she viewed Luxon's election promise as a "throw-away" comment, which by not honouring, reduced the public's trust in politicians. "This government has now had two years to show any commitment to the natural environment, and we've seen that they prefer to support open cast coal mining, tobacco companies, tax cuts for landlords, rather than investing in our unique and precious environment." Three quarters of the birds nominated for the Bird of the Year competition are vulnerable, many nesting on the ground, said Wade-Brown, putting them at risk from cats Photo: Supplied A shift away from an 'ambitious' goal? Hipkins said Labour remains committed to Predator Free 2050 and that the party will share its own plans for the goal next year. He didn't confirm if feral cats will be added to the list. "Predator 2050 is another policy started by John Key's National government, that this government has since cut $12.6 million in funding from," said Hipkins. When John Key made the announcement in 2016 that New Zealand was going to tackle its predator problem in earnest, he described it as an ambitious undertaking. "We know we can do it because we have shown time and again what can be achieved when New Zealanders come together with the ambition, willpower and wherewithal to make things happen." He said the government would lead the effort by investing $28m in a joint venture company, Predator Free 2050 Limited. This funding was on top of existing money spent on predator control. The plan was for the company to be nimble and to foster technology and projects that would make a difference. A shock announcement in this year's Budget indicated the company was to be wound up and its functions shifted to the Department of Conservation. Its dissolution saves $12.6m over three years. Costs managing the company's projects and contracts fell to DOC, which got no extra money earmarked for Predator Free 2050 other than a transfer of $2.3m already allocated to Predator Free 2050 Ltd. Predator Free New Zealand Trust's Jessi...

Christopher Luxon said feral cats would be added as a target in Predator Free 2050 - but it hasn’t happened

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