Invasive species

Introduced and invasive species pose a major challenge to native animal and plant biodiversity, especially on the world’s islands like New Zealand and its South Pacific neighbours. Many of these species also impose risks to New Zealand’s primary industries, such as agriculture, horticulture and forestry.

The Centre has been instrumental in advancing current knowledge about the behaviour and ecology of invading species, their impacts on native communities, and techniques and strategies for their management or eradication. Working with government and non-government agencies in New Zealand and the South Pacific, like the Ministries for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Primary Industries, TBfree NZ, Zero Invasive Predators NZ and the Wellington City Council, our members have been responsible for advances in invasive species management, including research on ants, possums, wasps, weeds and rats.