Kaitiakitanga | Animal Conservation Issues in New Zealand

What is kaitiakitanga?
Guardianship and protection. 
For example, Tane, the god of the forest, is a Kaitiakitana because he protects the forest. 

List some introduced species in New Zealand.
Rabbits
Possums
Rats
Stoats
Ferrets
Weasels
Goats
Tahr
Red deer
Wallabies
Pigs

What does introduced species mean?
A species that is not native to the country, and have either been accidentally or deliberately transported to the country. 

Why were these species brought to New Zealand?
Animals can be introduced for a number of reasons - including their fur, for food, and for sports.

Why have their numbers (population) exploded?
Animals, such as rabbits, breed quickly. One female rabbit can have 45 kits (baby rabbits) in one year alone. Certain species have been legally protected from hunting, causing population numbers to rise. 

What effects do they have on native plants and animals in New Zealand?
The production losses across New Zealand caused by animals are millions of dollars. They eat and destroy vegetation and undergrowth in forests, damaging native trees and destroying large portions of land. 

How is D.O.C (Department of Conservation) trying to get rid of them?
They are trying to remove animals by using poison, traps, gassing, destroying their burrows, shooting them, hunting with dogs, deporting and preventing them to enter certain areas. They are also now allowing hunting of certain animals. 

Rabbits and red deer

Rabbits were introduced to New Zealand for food (to be hunted for meat) and sport, however this backfired as the animals soon became pests and damaging to the environment. 
Red deer were introduced for sport in New Zealand, by European settlers, between 1861 and 1919.
Rabbits breed quickly. One female rabbit can have 45 kits (baby rabbits) in one year alone. 
Red deer soon became legally protected for hunting. This meant less deer were killed, causing population numbers to increase rapidly. 
18 years ago, the production losses across New Zealand caused by rabbits were approximately $50 million dollars. They eat and destroy vegetation all across New Zealand, and has never grown back. 
The Red deer ate out undergrowth in forests, damaging trees and slowing rainfall runoff.
They are trying to remove rabbits by using poison, traps, gassing, destroying their burrows, shooting them, and hunting with dogs.
To remove red deer, the Department of Conservation are deporting them from Northland and other places, preventing them from entering certain places, and controlling red deer in several parks. They are also now allowing hunting of the animal.