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New Strategy ready for feedback No images? Click here Refreshed Wilding Conifer Strategy ready for feedback2026 update #2  Kia ora koutou, The main purpose of this note is, as promised, to share where you can read, download and comment on the new Draft Strategy - see below. That said, the fantastic conference in Invercargill cannot go without mention. It is hard to pick highlights from a thoroughly packed three days but below are a few key points and pictures.  Sherman Smith, Draft Wilding Conifer Management Strategy now onlineFeedback invited until 9 October  Where to find itAt wildingpines.nz/strategy-2026 you can view and download:
Ways to send feedbackUse the online feedback form Email wilding.pines@mpi.govt.nz The Wilding Pine conference met all expectationsA packed conference and the start of some new conversations Day 1 opened with a warm welcome from Matua Michael Skerrett of Ngāi Tahu, and he shared some of the cultural history of the Murihiku Southland region. Minister for Biosecurity Andrew Hoggard used his address to commend the collaborative efforts of all involved in wilding control, with particular mentions of community Trusts. He then announced the Programme's commitment of $1 million over the next two years for community funding, to support local groups to do what they do best and care for land that is highly valued, but is not able to be included in National Programme operations. The Minister stressed his expectation for efficient and effective spending of the funding announced in Budget 2026 of $109 million over the next 3 years, and for owners of exotic plantings to be good neighbours. National Pest Management Plan Biosecurity New Zealand (MPI) Director of Pest Management John Walsh talked about what to expect from a National Pest Management Plan (NPMP). He noted that Biosecurity New Zealand has been given a two-year timeline to produce an NPMP, which, if achieved, will be the fastest such a plan has ever been developed. Strategy refresh Sherman presented on Day 3 to update stakeholders on the national view of the past year's achievements, and the key focus areas for the next 3 years, including introducing the draft strategy. Douglas Fir (picture further below) Jolie Hazley, Environment Southland biosecurity plants team leader, outlined the urgent need to address the increasing appearance of Douglas Fir in Southland (also a problem for Otago). Many Southland forests planted before the current rules to restrict wilding-prone plantings are reaching maturity, and seedlings are appearing much further away than even today's national and industry standards are able to prevent. It's a wicked problem, but there are some good discussions happening. Forestry and farming perspectives This year's conference programme placed a strong focus on hearing from the forestry industry, and we heard and saw some impressive examples of thoughtful management. Speakers representing Matariki Forests, Pamū farms (formerly Landcorp), NZ Forest Owners Association, the Farm Forestry Association, QEII National Trust, and DOC, to name just a few, generously shared their strategic and practical approaches for controlling wildings and reducing wilding spread risk. There were also novel approaches to funding, including using carbon credits to fund wilding control, and a catchment based private company model. Communities making a difference Iwi and community groups trekked from as far as Northland to share their knowledge, inspiration and the difference they are making for their local communities and whenua (land). Always a highlight and a reminder that the value of our landscapes is why we all do this work. Our communities are the engine room of ideas and passion that keep people committed to this mahi for so long! On that note, Ali Ballantine was appropriately honoured on her retirement from the Mid Dome Wilding Tree Trust, which at the same time celebrated its 20 years of protecting this special place. This summary has merely scratched the surface, and has not even touched on the research updates... watch the Wilding Pine Network for more. Huge thanks to Jo and her committee from Environment Southland, the BNZ team, Vanessa and others. It was another cracking event - Southland even turned on the sun! A few snapshots below. Infestation mapping gives a clearer picture At the conference we shared the updated Infestation map layers that have been built through an extensive project over the past year. They are not quite ready for publishing online yet, but this graphic gives a provisional look. While it's not really news, it is now official: wilding conifers currently affect more than 3 million hectares of Aotearoa New Zealand. You may recall that previously the area of mapped infestation was around 2 million hectares. The change is not a sudden explosion of spread, but the result of over 4,000 data entries, which provided updated density information and filled known gaps. The new density layers (which will be easier to view at larger scales on the website soon) highlight that the vast majority of mapped infestation is sparse and outlying spread (from 0%-15% overall percentage cover of wilding pines within a mapped area). One more thing - Bird Flu adviceMPI is asking New Zealanders to be alert following detections of H5 bird flu in wild birds in New Zealand. Everything you need to know is online at mpi.govt.nz/bird-flu  New to this newsletter? Find out more...
If you need help finding any information, email us wilding.pines@mpi.govt.nz A tiny sample of the conference in picturesTop to bottom:
    
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