Jobs for Nature Funding is EndingBut Our Mission Continues
The Next Chapter for The Forest Bridge Trust
For the past five years, our support from Save the Kiwi via DOC Jobs for Nature has been a game-changer for The Forest Bridge Trust. This government fund, as part of the COVID-19 recovery plan, allowed us to achieve incredible conservation milestones, strengthening our predator control networks, restoring native habitats for kiwi to flourish, and empowering communities to protect their land. Our journey and impact have been beautifully captured in this video, celebrating the combined effort that has brought us this far. We are immensely grateful to Save the Kiwi and DOC for this opportunity to scale up this incredible project.
With the support of Jobs for Nature, we’ve put over 49 different people to work for conservation, equating to over 140,000 hours since the project began in October 2020. Today, our team of 26 continues to make an impact:
- Trapping predators across thousands of hectares, protecting native wildlife.
- Supporting landowners with ecological monitoring and restoration.
- Developing crucial GIS and data systems to evidence and strengthen our conservation efforts.
The end of Jobs for Nature funding is affecting conservation organisations across New Zealand, and we are not immune. Without further funding, our ability to support landowners, community groups, and volunteers will be significantly reduced. This means that from July, support for the mustelid trapping network, and thus the protection of our precious kiwi populations across Rodney, will scale back. Our capacity to provide updates and respond to queries about predators will be limited, but of most significance, our workforce will be reduced. Not because we want to, but because we don’t have the funding to sustain it.
Yet, while this chapter is closing, be assured that The Forest Bridge Trust is here to stay, and while we’ve exceeded our goals for the Jobs for Nature project, our work isn’t finished. Our work in planting and protecting waterways with our valued partners, Kaipara Moana Remediation will continue, and we’re actively seeking partnerships to keep driving conservation forward.
We are committed to maintaining the progress we’ve made and finding new ways to connect people and the landscape, with healthy forests and flourishing indigenous wildlife from the Kaipara Harbour to the Pacific Coast.
From July 2025, we will transition to a new chapter of The Forest Bridge Trust, focusing on a fee-for-service approach to pest control, calling on the community to support our donation campaign, and working with funders and partners to secure new projects and funding streams.
What does this mean for you?
Without further committed funding from July, there will be:
- Fewer community events and organised hub gatherings.
- No free predator control setups and maintenance.
- No volunteer coordinators.
How You Can Help:
- Write a letter of support – Help us show potential funders and partners the impact we’ve made.
- Sign up for our Trap Maintenance Partnership – Play a role in keeping our predator control network strong, talk to Helen about the options.
- Donate now – Every contribution, big or small, helps us continue this vital work.
- Business partnerships – If your business wants to support conservation, let’s talk!
Thank you for being part of this journey. Stay tuned for more updates. These are tough times, but we are excited about the next chapter—and with your support, we will continue to protect and restore our precious landscapes.
Ngā mihi nui,
Ana Christmas
Kaiwhakahaere / CEO
The Forest Bridge Trust