Pest Free Banks Peninsula
A VISION for a Pest Free Banks Peninsula / Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū
In 2050 a cacophony of native birdsong resounds across the Peninsula at dawn and dusk. Indigenous plant and animal species thrive and Banks Peninsula, including the Port Hills and Kaitorete, is a taonga enjoyed by the people of Ōtautahi/Christchurch, Canterbury, and visitors to the area.
Pest Free Banks Peninsula/Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū is a collaborative programme to protect and enhance biodiversity on the Peninsula through the widespread eradication of animal pests. This community-led initiative has been formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by 14 foundation signatories in November 2018. It aims to make Banks Peninsula /Te Pātaka of Rākaihautū free of pest animals, so the indigenous biodiversity can thrive and become more widespread across the Peninsula and into Christchurch City. Pest Free Banks Peninsula supports Ngāi Tahu values, community development and sustainable agriculture and tourism.
Banks Peninsula/Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū is effectively free of pest animals