A short video showcasing NEXT environmental investments.
Environment Investments
From 2014 to 2024, NEXT invested in environmental initiatives supporting biodiversity, predator free New Zealand and environmental education.
NEXT Environmental initiatives
Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP)
Enabling a new future
NEXT co-founded and supported R&D breakthrough organisation ZIP through feasibility, stand-up and on to Government adoption of the technology. This has enabled a transformational step change for biodiversity here. The ability now exists to completely eradicate rats, stoats and possums from the mainland.
Taranaki Mounga
He Kawa Ora! Back to Life
Restoring the ecological vitality of Taranaki’s mountain, ranges and islands is the vision for Taranaki Mounga, a collaborative partnership between the Taranaki iwi, Department of Conservation, NEXT Foundation and founding sponsors Shell NZ, TSB Community Trust, Jasmine Social Investments and Landcare Research/Manaaki Whenua, together with the wider community.
The restoration covers more than 34,000 hectares and has influenced an array of regional outcomes. Over NEXT’s life, goats have been completely removed from the Mounga; rat, stoat and possum control has been introduced; and the return of endemic manu (birdlife) and forest rebound has been remarkable.
Te Manahuna Aoraki
Enhancing biodiversity in our iconic landscapes
Te Manahuna Aoraki is a large-scale conservation project focused on restoring the natural landscapes and threatened species of the magnificent upper Mackenzie Basin and Aoraki/ Mt Cook National Park.
The project will enhance biodiversity across 310,000 hectares of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most stunning landscapes, including braided river systems, high country farmland and alpine habitats. This was the Foundation’s third joint venture with DOC and the most ambitious.
NEXT Foundation, the Department of Conservation , Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua, Te Rūnanga o Waihao and Te Rūnanga o Moeraki are the project’s founding partners. They are joined by high country landowners, and investors Aotearoa Foundation, Jasmine Social Investments, Global Wildlife Conservation and Predator Free 2050 Ltd and other government agencies together with the wider community.
Predator Free South Westland
Predator Free South Westland is a $45million, five year project that aims to eliminate possums, rats and stoats from a 100,000 hectare area bounded by the Whataroa and Waiau (Waiho) Rivers, the Southern Alps and Tasman Sea. The project area includes bush, rural land and the townships of Whataroa, Okarito and Franz Josef. The partnership is on track to achieve its predator elimination goal by mid 2025.
The project is a partnership between the people of South Westland, Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio, Jobs for Nature, Department of Conservation, Predator Free 2050 Limited, OSPRI and the NEXT Foundation.
Predator Free Wellington
The world’s first predator free capital city
The goal for Predator Free Wellington is a bold one: eradicate all rats, mustelids and possums from the Wellington peninsula, enabling native wildlife and communities to thrive.
The project is a partnership between NEXT Foundation, Wellington City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika, Capital Kiwi, Predator Free 2050 Limited and the wider community.
In 2023 Miramar Peninsula achieved the project’s first zero predation goal and now sights are set on expanding through the rest of Wellington city. With 97% ratepayer support, Pōneke Wellington is on track to become the first predadtor free capital city in the world.
Project Janszoon
Transformational change in the natural environment
Project Janszoon is restoring and preserving the Abel Tasman National Park’s rich wildlife for all to enjoy. Named after Abel ‘Janszoon’ Tasman, the Trust was launched in 2012 with a goal of achieving transformational change in the Park. Project Janszoon works with partners – including iwi, Department of Conservation (DOC), Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust, tourism operators and the community – to eradicate pests and weeds, bring back native birds and bush, and inspire a culture of care for Abel Tasman National Park.
Through this initiative, 20,000 hectares of stoat control was established, wilding pines eliminated and native species reintroduced.
Project Janszoon – a Pre NEXT initiative – is aiming to complete the restoration by 2042, in time for the Park’s 100th anniversary.
Rotoroa Island
Public conservation park and wildlife sanctuary
Rotoroa Island is a predator free public conservation park and wildlife sanctuary in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf, about an hour’s ferry ride from downtown. In 2007, NEXT benefactors Neal and Annette Plowman committed to a 99 year lease from the Island’s owners, The Salvation Army, and in 2008 the Rotoroa Island Trust (a pre-NEXT project) embarked on a massive project to return the Island to its natural state. It eradicated pests and revegetated the Island with 400,000 native plants, transforming it into the beautiful haven and ‘island of restoration’ it is today. Native species have been returned and the island is a creche for young kiwi and takahē. Tieke (saddleback), popokotea (whitehead), pateke (brown teal), and shore and moko skinks have been translocated to live on the island.
IPIPIRI NATURE CONSERVANCY TRUST
The Ipipiri Trust was set up to to save the iconic Northland surf beach and surrounding native forest at Elliot Bay, in the Bay of Islands. The Trust’s vision is to preserve and respect the Māori heritage and culture of the area, protect and enhance the biodiversity, maintain public access to the beach and camping ground, and develop walking tracks to connect with others, establishing a Great Walk in the Bay of Islands.
The Trust reached an agreement to purchase the 700 hectare property critical to the project in June 2020, after raising $6million and negotiating a two year extension with the vendor Elliot family on the remaining $2million. The project was financially supported by philanthropists, more than 150 individual donors and is backed by the Department of Conservation, local hapu, local government and conservation groups.
NEXT acknowledges the leadership of the late Geoff Ricketts, founding Chair of the Trust. Geoff envisaged this special place to be preserved for current and future generations, ‘This iconic piece of Northland will now be a taonga, a treasure for all the people of Aotearoa New Zealand to enjoy.’
Tāpui Aotearoa
Tāpui Aotearoa explored how to protect the unique animal species of Aotearoa New Zealand through banking their genetic diversity.
Cryobanks, or frozen zoos are in use throughout the world to support conservation efforts for endangered species. Tāpui Aotearoa worked alongside iwi to establish how this might work in New Zealand.
NEXT committed to two years research into cryobanking along with other founding partners. Regrettably there was not ongoing long-term funding support and Tāpui Aotearoa is presently in hibernation.
Tāpui Aotearoa prospectus – English version here
Tāpui Aotearoa prospectus – Te Reo version here
Previous Investments
The Cacophony Project
Information technology for predator control
NEXT invested in Cacophony from 2017-2021, supporting its development of information technology to advance New Zealand’s mission to become Predator Free by 2050. Its AI cameras have provided unique insights into predator activity around traditional trapping and detection devices. Cacophony continues to operate a completely open source model, so all its findings are accessible to the public.
PLACE / Predator Free Community Champion
Wellingtonian Kelvin Hastie was instrumental in starting Wellington’s first predator free community – Crofton Downs Predator Free Community – which was a catalyst for Predator Free Wellington and the other suburban trapping groups that followed.
NEXT supported Kelvin for two and a half years while he mobilised other Wellington communities into action – using the Crofton Downs model to help set up similar systems for engagement and data collection. In that time, more than 40 suburbs joined the movement with a vision of making Wellington the first predator free capital city in the world.
View the Predator Free website here.