Stewart Island is home to brown kiwi, blue penguins and the rare yellow-eyed penguin, and now a world-first project is aiming to rid the island of all its major predators.
Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research and Predator Free Rakiura have signed a significant research partnership agreement worth a joint 2.8 million dollars over 4 years to eradicate possums, rats, feral cats and hedgehogs.
A project of this combined size and complexity has never been attempted before.
Predator Free Rakiura Project Director, Campbell Leckie talks to Jesse about their ambitious plans.
Rakiura/Stewart Island, looking NE across Mason Bay. Photo: Supplied / Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
