More than 280 experts in biodiversity from around the country came to the region for a conference titled "Transforming Biodiversity: Challenging the Boundaries".
Looking at what the future of biodiversity and predator control could look like was at the core of the three-day conference held at Napier's Conference Centre.
Welcomed by tangata whenua and hosted by large-scale ecological restoration projects Cape to City and Poutiri Ao ō Tāne, the participants learnt the importance of working together towards the common goal of a predator-free New Zealand.
After two days of talks, the attendees ventured out to see what was being talked about in action visiting the Cape to City and Poutiri Ao ō Tāne predator-eradication sites.
Project ambassador Ruud Kleinpaste said it was important the work they were "undertaking was for New Zealand".
"We are losing stuff before we can even describe it and I think that is absolutely appalling," he said.
"We are only 200,000 years old and we are like a toddler playing with matches. No wonder we are making mistakes fitting into this generous ecosystem."
Des Ratima talked about Māori being perfect partners in biodiversity restoration, but that we need to understand Māoridom better in order to effectively engage and partner.
Department of Conservation Director of Operations for the Lower North Island Reg Kemper said now was "the right time to transform how we tackle the biodiversity challenges we face, because there has been a shift in the community and policy towards environmental thinking".
He said that this shift is evident through initiatives such as Predator Free 2050.
Predator Free 2050 chief executive Ed Chignell said the "world is watching, because if we achieve this and I believe we will then they will follow our lead".
"The goals to eradicate New Zealand of possums, rats and stoats was not only long term but ambitious."
Mr Chignell also spoke highly of Cape to City and Poutiri Ao ō Tāne saying it was what New Zealanders doing it for themselves looked like.
"But there is still work to do - there is no silver bullet - we need a diversity of solutions to combat that," he said.
And that is why Cape to City and Poutiri Ao ō Tāne bought the biodiversity practitioners together so they could pool their knowledge and produce such solutions going forward.
Cape to City and Poutiri Ao ō Tāne project chairman Campbell Leckie said the conference "was a real success", with participants noting it as "inspiring".
