Greens and Govt launch Phase II of new possum trap plan

Green Party Conservation spokesperson Kevin Hague and Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson today launched Phase II of the Department of Conservation's (DOC) trial of self-resetting possum traps in Northland's Trounson Kauri Park.

"As we've seen in the first phase, these traps are effective at killing possums and helping protect the birds and forests that New Zealanders love," said Mr Hague.

"The 600 new traps installed in Trounson Kauri Park and Te Urewera National Park will hopefully prove the effectiveness of this form of pest control so it can be rolled out nationwide.

"The Green Party is glad to work co-operatively with the Minister of Conservation under our Memorandum of Understanding with the National Government to get this trial underway.

"It shows that, even though we're outside of Government, the Green Party can work on important policy issues in a collaborative, constructive way."

The self-resetting trap trials are part of a $4 million pest control initiative announced by the Green Party and the Government last year under a Memorandum of Understanding. The Memorandum also includes the Heat Smart home insulation scheme, the New Zealand Cycle Trail, natural health product regulation, and the clean-up of contaminated sites.