The Government's new goal of exterminating every rat, stoat, possum and feral cat from New Zealand by 2050 has been described as a "game-changer".
Prime Minister John Key announced the formal target yesterday, calling it the most ambitious conservation project in the world.
At the heart of the policy is a new $28 million joint venture, Predator Free New Zealand Limited, which will identify large-scale pest eradication projects and attract private investment to boost their reach.
Sir Rob Fenwick, chairman of the Predator Free New Zealand trust and a leading advocate for pest eradication, said it would allow a military-level response to the problem for the first time. "It's a real game-changer. This fund will drive a more strategic and comprehensive approach to a landscape-scale assault on predators that we haven't seen before."
The policy is largely dependent on private funding, prompting Labour and the Greens to question whether the Government was doing enough.