The Government has announced $100 million of operating funding to tackle wilding pines as part of Budget 2020. This operational funding is for four years, and will directly fund regional control work.
The announcement sits within $232 million of funding to support New Zealand’s rural communities, and the impact of COVID-19 on the primary sector. The Government’s priority is to ensure this funding creates job opportunities for people in regions affected by COVID-19, particularly people from the tourism sector, agricultural services and agricultural aviation.
This funding will support a rapid and extensive expansion of the programme, both advancing work in existing management units, and expanding into priority areas where we have not has as much presence. It is operational funding and will primarily fund regional control work. We also expect to seek additional funding contributions from land owners and partners.