Funding for new technology will reduce the use of 1080, says NZ First

1080 poison bait.
1080 poison bait. Photo credit: File

Funding new high tech traps will reduce the need for 1080 poison, says New Zealand First.

On Thursday, Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage announced $3.5 million has been invested in developing five new trapping devices.

They are a range of bait and trap devices, all designed to be left unattended for long periods of time.

The move is being celebrated by NZ First. 

"This funding signals a necessary and significant shift away from the use of 1080 in New Zealand without compromising our pest control requirements," said NZ First conservation spokesperson Jenny Marcroft.

The money has been allocated from a total of $19.5 million invested by the Provincial Growth Fund.

The remaining $12 million will be used for new large scale predator control projects, said Sage. 

"[The new technology will] expand the range of options available for conservation managers, landholders, farmers and community organisations," she said in a statement. 

"They are part of a wider shift of effort from suppressing predators to eradicating them."

The traps will contribute towards the goal of making New Zealand predator-free by 2050.