New Zealand pledges $202M to clear invasive mammals from three islands with Māori

New Zealand has committed $202 million to an ecological restoration initiative targeting invasive mammal populations on three major islands: Maukahuka, Rakiura, and the Chatham archipelago. The project is a broad collaboration involving government agencies, local communities, and Indigenous Māori organizations. Its primary goal is to protect and revive native wildlife that has been threatened by introduced mammal species. If successful, the initiative could position New Zealand as a global leader in large-scale environmental restoration efforts.