New Zealand’s Predator Free 2050 (PF2050) vision is one of the most ambitious conservation efforts in the world. The stakes couldn’t be higher. The Department of Conservation is now reviewing its strategy for the next five years, and Pest Free Token has formally added its voice to the conversation.
Why Long-Term Funding Needs Innovation, Not Politics
New Zealand’s nature is in crisis—but we all know that already. Introduced predators such as rats, stoats, possums, and feral cats are pushing native species to the brink. The Predator Free 2050 (PF2050) goal is a bold, necessary mission to restore our biodiversity and protect what makes Aotearoa so special.
The Department of Conservation is now consulting on its updated 2025–2030 strategy, and Pest Free Token has made a formal submission to help shape this next chapter. You can read our full submission here.
Below, we outline what we said, why we said it, and why our approach is necessary—because the future of PF2050 must span election cycles and party politics.
A National Goal Needs National Resolve—And Real Funding
In our submission, we recognised the significant progress that’s been made from 2020 to 2025. Communities have rallied, tools have improved, and awareness has grown. But the biggest challenge we now face isn’t awareness—it’s funding.
Short-term or static funding might save money in the moment, but it risks losing all the ground we’ve gained. Predator numbers bounce back fast. Delayed action now means higher costs and lower chances of success later. We can’t afford to play funding ping-pong with an ecological crisis.
Beyond the Politics: The Pest Free Token Model
That’s why we created Pest Free Token ($PFT). It’s a new way to contribute to pest eradication that doesn’t rely on traditional government funding. Built on blockchain, our model:
- Applies a small transaction fee on token sales to automatically fund pest control work.
- Rewards people directly for catching pests via QR-coded traps and our Catch Payment Scheme.
- Operates transparently and securely via decentralised technology.
- Offers a scalable funding stream—linked to global cryptocurrency markets, not local budgets.
It’s a complementary solution, not a replacement—but it shows how creative thinking can build resilience into the PF2050 mission.
Key Points from Our Submission
In our feedback to the Department of Conservation, we highlighted:
- The importance of investing in public education, innovation, and collaboration between agencies and the wider community.
- The urgent need to maintain and grow funding to match the scale of the challenge.
- Support for keeping the current target species (possums, rats, stoats, ferrets, and weasels).
- A recommendation to strategically add feral cats to the national list of target species—signalling intent, even if full eradication is not yet feasible.
- Recognition of new funding models like ours, which can diversify conservation support and reduce pressure on public funding.
Supporting the PF2050 Goals
The updated strategy identifies four key focus areas for 2025–2030, and we’re proud that Pest Free Token contributes to all of them:
- Mobilise for action: Our reward system encourages people to get involved and stay active in predator control.
- Maintain the gains: With automated, ongoing funding, we help sustain efforts between large funding cycles.
- Innovate for eradication: Our entire model is built on rethinking how conservation can be funded.
- Prepare to accelerate: We’re creating a scalable approach that could attract global support for local outcomes.
Get Involved
Public submissions on the PF2050 strategy review are open until 5pm, 30 June 2025. This is a chance to share your views and help shape the future of predator eradication in our beautiful country.
Learn how to submit your feedback here.
In the meantime, you can also support the PF2050 mission by getting involved with Pest Free Token. If you haven’t already ordered or registered your trap, it’s easy to get started—and you’ll earn $PFT tokens for every pest caught. It’s a practical way to protect native wildlife and be part of a growing community making a real impact.
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