Register now for the wilding management event of the year! 

The 2023 wilding pines conference, organised by the Wilding Pine Network, is set to take place in stunning Tāhuna Queenstown from 18 to 20 October. With 170 attending the 2022 conference in Blenheim, this year's event is set to be another congregation of likeminded ‘wildlings’ eager to share experiences and progress over the past year. It's also an opportunity to learn and strategise for the coming year and beyond. “Seeing people from primary industry, iwi, community, landowners, government agencies and contractors working collectively together to prevent the spread of wilding pines is something to be really proud of," says Jo Ritchie, Wilding Pine Network Coordinator. The three-day conference is being hosted by the Whakatipu Wilding Control Group with support from the Queenstown Lakes District Council. There are two field trips planned, a networking evening and several keynote speakers.  There is also an option to attend the conference online this year. Head to Wilding Pines Conference 2023 - Wilding Pine Network NZ to find out more and to register.

Jo Ritchie in Awatere, with loppers at the ready to tackle pesty wildings

Te Orewai Te Horo Trust in Northland: The project has helped protect an area from Pipiwai to Kaikou that includes a 1200ha of 500-year-old native forests with flora and fauna like kiwi, native orchids, bats and fern birds. This work is a part of the Trust's larger restoration goals.

Ruawāhia 2B Trust on Ruawāhia/ Mt. Tarawera: The project enabled essential wilding control work to continue on Ruawāhia Maunga, led by a team of Ngāti Rangitihi iwi members. Watch a video on Ruawāhia wilding pines.

Kaharoa Kokako Trust in the Kaharoa Conservation Area: The project has contributed to the long-term protection and survival of Kokako and other indigenous flora and fauna by clearing approximately 22 hectares of wilding radiata pine. 

Tākaka Hill Biodiversity Group Trust on Tākaka Hill: After successfully removing around 8200 wildings from this iconic Hill, the group teamed up with DOC and private landowners to continue control efforts. Their work over the last two years also includes helping re-establish native shrubland and forest on land that once held private conifer plantations. Read more about Takaka Hill wilding project.

South Marlborough Landscape Restoration Trust in Awatere & The Ned/ Te Hau: The Trust is committed to controlling wildings in the iconic South Marlborough hill and high-country landscapes. With community support, the group has prevented the spread of invasive wildings into Awatere and lower Wairau Valley covering an area of approximately 100,000 hectares.

Banks Peninsula Wilding Pine Advisory Group in Banks Peninsula Reserves: This project continued wilding control efforts from previous years in the reserve.  Through the 2021- 23 community funding, the group were able to extend wildings control work into adjoining lands to prevent their spread into areas reserved for conservation.

Motairehe Marae on Aotea Great Barrier Island: The project enabled the Marae to remove wildings from a regionally significant fixed dune system and the surrounding regenerating forests. The project also helps protect Te Ahumata from the impact of wildings – a site of significance for Māori on Aotea Great Barrier Island.

Ngāti Tahu - Ngāti Whaoa Runanga Trust in Orakei Korako, Red Hill and Tutukau Forest: The project continues wilding control work that the Trust has led since 2013 to help protect vulnerable and nationally significant geothermal and native ecosystems.

Tongariro Natural History Society on Tauhara Maunga: This project enabled ongoing efforts to protect Tauhara Maunga, as part of a long-term restoration plan to allow native flora and fauna species to regenerate there.

Tongariro Natural History Society in Western Bays, Lake Taupō: The project has continued wilding control in the western bays of Lake Taupō including an area that was densely infested with Douglas fir near the globally recognised Ngātoroirangi rock carvings pictured below.

Central Otago Wilding Conifer Control Group on Maungatua Range: The project completed ground and aerial control over approximately 1000 ha on the southern end of the Maungatua ranges.

Central Otago Wilding Conifer Control Group on the Kakanui Range: The project carried out essential aerial maintenance control of wildings over approximately 17,000 hectares of the southern portion of the Kakanui Range near Dunedin.

Watch a video on preserving Central Otago the landscapes for future generations.

Watch Reclaiming our Biodiversity & Natural Landscapes: Part one and two

Whakatipu Wilding Control Group videos: Reclaiming  landscapes

The award-winning Whakatipu Wilding Control Group (WCG) is undoubtedly an integral and trusted voice for the local Queenstown community. They recently released two videos aimed at showing local residents why it's important to protect their own backyard from the effects of wildings. The videos feature members of the community and how they work together to preserve Whakatipu's stunning landscapes and local biodiversity through shared conservation goals. 

Keep Health and Safety in focus

Thanks to all of our skilled and hardworking contractors who continue to report health and safety incidents occurring within Programme operations. Reporting incidents into WCIS as soon as possible helps us share learnings across the programme and contributes to our continued focus on health, safety and wellbeing of all our people. As we make our way through the winter season, please continue to pay particular attention to conditions before commencing control work.

Health and Safety Dashboard

Recorded health & safety incidents between 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023:

Good Practice Guides (GPG)

We've published a number of guides that set out the Programme’s agreed methods for safe and effective wilding conifer control. Find them on our website by clicking the button below. As part of our ongoing focus on continuous improvement, we welcome any feedback or questions to wilding.pines@mpi.govt.nz.

Identifying wilding conifers - easy!

The new 2023 Wilding Conifer Quick ID Guide makes it easy for anyone to learn about wilding species and identify them when out and about. Click on the button to view the guide on our website. If you'd like hard copies get in touch with us.