Partnership Approach Strengthened by Wilding Pine Funding Boost

Date: 15th June 2026

The South Marlborough Landscape Restoration Trust and the national advocacy group the Wilding Pine Network have welcomed the Government’s announcement of increased funding for New Zealand’s National Wilding Conifer Control Programme, describing it as a major step forward in protecting vulnerable landscapes, biodiversity and productive land from the spread
of invasive wilding pines.

Community representatives joined Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Minister for Biosecurity Andrew Hoggard on Queenstown Hill on Sunday for the announcement confirming renewed Government investment and long-term support for wilding conifer management programmes across the country. Chair of the South Marlborough Landscape Restoration Trust, John Oswald said the announcement marked a significant milestone after decades of advocacy. “The recent announcement from the on top of Queenstown Hill was a significant day in the long saga of advocacy for some corrective action to negate the devastating effects of historic exotic pine plantings in the wrong places.” “My personal journey of advocacy started 51 years ago. The South Marlborough Landscape Restoration Trust has been advocating for government funding for the Branch/Leatham since 2018 when we flew the then Minister of Conservation, Eugenie Sage into Greigs Hut. She was horrified that she had not been made aware of the environmental disaster unfolding there.”

Branch Leatham catchment

Oswald said Minister Hoggard had confirmed support for the Branch/Leatham project as part of the renewed programme. “Yesterday Minister Hoggard assured us there will be funding for this important project in the Branch/Leatham.” He highlighted the extensive work already undertaken by the Trust and volunteers in the upper South Island. “SMLRT has been conducting operational work in the Branch/Leatham and has cleared 10,000 hectares of scattered contorta pine on the Raglan Range, while our backcountry volunteers have removed more than 60,000 wilding pines from an alpine basin known as The Lost.” “We welcome this new injection of funding and would like to thank Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Minister Hoggard for their efforts to get the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme back on track and their assurance that the funding stream will continue beyond the announced three-year timeframe.”

John Oswald and Prime Minister Luxton on Queenstown Hill Ket Bradshaw – Wilding Pine Network Chair

Chair of the Wilding Pine Network, Ket Bradshaw said the announcement represented an important turning point for New Zealand’s wilding pine response. “The New Zealand Wilding Pine Network is very pleased with the announcement of a significant increase in wilding pine control funding — up to $36 million per annum for the next three years. This will get the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme back on its feet again and help save our landscapes.” “It’s also very positive there’s a matching commitment to develop a statutory National Pest Management Plan for Wilding Conifers to pave the way for sustainable long-term funding and effective regulation.” Bradshaw said the increased funding reflected years of collaboration and advocacy from communities, landowners and industry groups around the country. “Protecting productive farmland, water resources and iconic high-country landscapes and unique natural environments throughout New Zealand is a shared responsibility. The
collaboration between community groups, Federated Farmers, landowners and government has been essential in building momentum for long-term action.”

Both Jim Ward, Co – Chair of High-Country Federated Farmers and Richard Bowman, Former Chair of Wilding Pine Network agree. “The governments wilding conifer announcement made on Queenstown Hill on the 24th of May was historic. The $79m of new funding and a commitment to secure future funding and more effective regulation through the development of National Pest Management Plan will enable a ‘wilding free New Zealand’ to be realised within the next decade or so. This will prevent massive national economic and environmental losses. We would like to thank the government for the vision of dealing with the wilding pine problem. We really appreciate the government supporting the agricultural sector. The follow up work and ongoing commitment to wilding pine work is as important as this financial announcement.”

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