---
title: "Planned pest eradications on three large New Zealand islands get listed by the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge"
---

# Planned pest eradications on three large New Zealand islands get listed by the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge

*![Feral cat on white capped mollymawk Auckland Island. Photo Stephen Bradley 1](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/W/White_capped/Feral_cat_on_white_capped_mollymawk_Auckland_Island._Photo_Stephen_Bradley-1.jpg)  
A feral cat feeds on the body of a White-capped Albatross chick close to fledging on Auckland Island, photograph by Stephen Bradley*

 The international conservation initiative, Island-Ocean Connection Challenge ([IOCC](https://jointheiocc.org/)), led by [Island Conservation](https://www.islandconservation.org/), [Re:wild](https://www.rewild.org/), and [UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography](https://scripps.ucsd.edu/), has added three of New Zealand’s most ecologically rich islands into its ambitious effort to restore and rewild 40 globally significant island-ocean ecosystems by 2030.  The [Department of Conservation](https://www.facebook.com/docgovtnz?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZUAKbHod-D7L2z97TkbhjSpRBFVEfd5Znlyc69VENl2J15u5I4DVWvQyr0MR0Jcv8SjIeCXHm4jwCQ-yWetPbuFNKfSUxOuHEk1B0YzpFWHKjafEpTuILIZ80s497I8Yb6YN54UCj79ye9KIHDdB1fhTV0ARBKDZGXV3Rzird3ARTUIb1rPIkmtA-nzy_8ulFl_MAjgbisuqUjAaRsAwoFaAGHwXl0lRvgAQu2m-rW4cO2Ewo4J5WG32_KE3DL0dS0&__tn__=-%5dK-y-R) and [Chatham Islands Landscape Restoration Trust](https://www.facebook.com/ChathamRestorationTrust?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZUAKbHod-D7L2z97TkbhjSpRBFVEfd5Znlyc69VENl2J15u5I4DVWvQyr0MR0Jcv8SjIeCXHm4jwCQ-yWetPbuFNKfSUxOuHEk1B0YzpFWHKjafEpTuILIZ80s497I8Yb6YN54UCj79ye9KIHDdB1fhTV0ARBKDZGXV3Rzird3ARTUIb1rPIkmtA-nzy_8ulFl_MAjgbisuqUjAaRsAwoFaAGHwXl0lRvgAQu2m-rW4cO2Ewo4J5WG32_KE3DL0dS0&__tn__=-%5dK-y-R) have joined the IOCC to boost conservation efforts on sub-Antarctic [Auckland Island](https://jointheiocc.org/projects/maukahuka-auckland-island-new-zealand/), [Stewart Island](https://jointheiocc.org/projects/rakiura-stewart-island-new-zealand/) and the [Chatham Islands](https://jointheiocc.org/projects/chatham-islands-new-zealand/).  The addition of these three projects brings the total number of committed island-ocean ecosystems to 20 ([click here](https://jointheiocc.org/new-zealand-joins-iocc/)).

 Efforts are now being made to raise the necessary funds for the three restoration efforts.  Read more about the New Zealand island eradication plans [here](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/542550/huge-restoration-and-pest-control-project-planned-for-three-of-nz-s-largest-islands?fbclid=IwY2xjawIlSpxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHYlDD_Eb-Sqr-51ux4fJvF69bQAiMuKfXh3XyLZrrKBf6j0FtXCsyEKyvg_aem_-IxzN7tFYfM7yLsYsgywjw).

 *![Grey headed Albatross 3 Ben Dilley](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/G/Grey_headed/Grey-headed_Albatross_3_Ben_Dilley.jpg)  
Scalped!  A Grey-headed Albatross chick after nocturnal attacks by mice on Marion Island, photograph by Ben Dilley*

 Previously BirdLife South Africa joined the IOCC by listing sub-Antarctic [Marion Island](https://mousefreemarion.org/birdlife-south-africa-joins-the-island-ocean-connection-challenge-to-help-save-albatrosses-and-petrels-at-risk-from-house-mice-on-marion-island/), where the [Mouse-Free Marion Project](https://mousefreemarion.org) is working towards eradicating its albatross- and petrel-killing House Mice. Read more about Marion Island’s listing with the IOCC [here](https://jointheiocc.org/marion-islands-seabirds-under-severe-threat/) and [here](https://jointheiocc.org/projects/marion-island-south-africa/).

 *John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 27 February 2025*