Predator Free 2050 – New Zealand’s mission to eradicate invasive possums, rats and mustelids impacting native biodiversity from the whole country – was launched in 2016 knowing that we do not yet have all of the tools and technologies that we need to get the job done in an affordable way. Dan Tompkins will present on the new tools made available to date (or soon to be available) that are helping drive achievement of the Predator Free 2050 mission. These new tools span improved toxins (including species selectivity), more efficient monitoring (including thermal and A.I.), more effective trapping and control (including self-resetting), better lures (supporting long-term device deployment), and more effective device communications.
Dan Tompkins is the Kaiwhakahaere Matua | Director of Ngā Ara Whetū (Centre for Climate, Biodiversity and Society) at University of Auckland. He specialises in strategy, innovation, research impact and both social and policy licence in the environmental sector. Until August 2025, he was the Science Director | Kaiwhakahaere Matua – Pūtaiao at Predator Free 2050 Limited.
