The Government is investing $19.5 million to develop new approaches to eradicate predator animals in New Zealand, that may see less 1080 poison used.
The money will come through the Provincial Growth Fund, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced today.
"The new approach will also focus on maintaining predator free environments using innovative techniques once initial eradication in the project areas has been achieved. This will reduce the need to use 1080 to maintain predator free status in these areas," Mr Jones said in a statement.
He says the funding will be used by Predator Free 2050 Limited to contract the projects.
"That will bring tens of thousands of hectares of rural and forested land under predator control, create regional jobs and stimulate demand for education at regional training institutes."
Ms Sage said: "This project will help stimulate rapid innovation in the design of products such as more effective traps, lures, remote sensing, surveillance and data management technologies.
"Natural assets are at the heart of our regions and their local economies. This investment will further protect this important resource and support regional growth."
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