Protecting New Zealand’s Coastlines: Why Native Regeneration + Pest Control Matters (Now More Than Ever)

The beautiful New Zealand coastline

New Zealand’s coastlines are more than postcard views and summer camping spots. They are living, moving systems that protect our communities, support taonga species (native birds, plants, and animals), and buffer us from storms, king tides, erosion, and sea level rise.

But many coastal ecosystems are under a huge amount of pressure. Developments, vehicle and foot traffic, invasive weeds, introduced dune grasses, and predators (including feral cats) have all contributed to declining coastal biodiversity and weaker natural “defence lines”.

We know first-hand that restoring native vegetation and running smart, humane pest control aren’t just “nice to have”; they're among the most effective, nature-based ways to protect the edges of Aotearoa.

Our work has seen many coastlines restored to their former glory, protecting the native plants and animals that thrive in these areas.

But why is this work so important?  Native Restorations has done a deep dive into why this matters, what the science says, and what practical restoration looks like in the real world.

Why native coastal ecosystems are a frontline defence

1) Native dunes reduce erosion and act like a storm buffer

Healthy beaches and dune systems work as a dynamic buffer. Sand moves in cycles, and dunes help store and trap that sand so it can rebuild after storms. NIWA (the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) is New Zealand’s leading science organisation specialising in climate, weather, water, oceans, and natural hazards. They explain how wind-blown sand is stabilised by dune-binding plants, helping maintain this buffer system.

Native foredune plants like spinifex (Spinifex sericeus) and pīngao (Desmoschoenus spiralis) are key players here. The Department of Conservation (DOC) has done ample research into foredune rehabilitation, tested indigenous sand binders (including pīngao and spinifex), and developed guidelines for successful revegetation.

The fact is, when dunes are covered in the right natives, they’re better at holding shape, trapping sand, and bouncing back after weather events.

2) Coastal wetlands provide flood protection, water filtration, habitat, and carbon storage

Coastal wetlands and estuaries support biodiversity and also act as natural buffers against coastal flooding, storms, wave inundation and erosion. (Ministry for the Environment)

They’re also part of the “blue carbon” story. This relates to coastal ecosystems that store carbon in vegetation and sediments. A recent New Zealand report on national coastal wetland “blue carbon” data highlights that coastal wetlands play a critical role in supporting biodiversity, improving water quality, and protecting coastlines from storm surge, alongside a range of other environmental benefits.

NIWA also outlines blue carbon work in Aotearoa across seagrass, mangroves and saltmarshes. This shows that restoring coastal wetlands is both a biodiversity and a resilience win (and potentially a climate-mitigation co-benefit).

3) NZ has lost a lot of its dune ecosystems already, and that loss matters

New Zealand’s environmental reporting series includes indicators for dune extent and dune condition, and highlights that stressors such as coastal development, recreation, invasive species, and other pressures drive the loss of native dune species and degrade dune condition.

When we lose dunes, or they’re “locked up” by invasive plants and poor management, we lose a key protective layer, which can mean more exposure for coastal roads, farmland, homes, and infrastructure.

Why pest control is essential for coastal restoration

We know that planting natives is only half the story. If predators and invasive pests are left unmanaged, the wildlife that coastal ecosystems are meant to support can’t recover, and sadly regeneration can stall.

1) Feral cats are a serious threat to native wildlife

DOC states feral cats have a major impact on native birds, bats, lizards, wētā and other insects.On islands (like New Zealand) and in sensitive ecosystems, cat control and eradication have been used to protect native species, and research reviews document successful cat eradication on dozens of islands worldwide, including NZ-led efforts.

We have seen that in coastal environments, the impact can be brutal because many shorebirds and seabirds nest on or near the ground, with some being active at night, making them highly vulnerable.

It’s important to understand that “pest control” in this context is about targeted, humane, evidence-based management, especially around breeding seasons and known nesting sites, and it is not the same as blaming pet owners. Domestic cats and feral cats are different management concerns. Understandably Feral cats and domestic cats are the same species (Felis catus), but they differ in behaviour and impact. Domestic cats are owned pets that rely on people for food and shelter, while feral cats live independently in the wild and are unsocialised to humans, surviving by hunting their own prey.

Feral cats often travel widely and reproduce rapidly. Female cats can begin breeding as young as 4–5 months, have multiple litters a year, and pose a major threat to native wildlife across Aotearoa. In New Zealand, there are an estimated 2.5 million feral cats, compared with around 1.2 million domestic cats, and together feral and pet cats are estimated to kill up to 100 million birds, bats, lizards and other native animals each year.

2) Coastal predators aren’t just cats

But it’s not just feral cats. New Zealand’s coastlines are under constant pressure from introduced predators, including stoats, ferrets, weasels, rats, hedgehogs, and possums, which all prey on ground-nesting birds, eggs and chicks. Coastal species such as New Zealand dotterels, variable oystercatchers, banded dotterels, white-fronted terns and little blue penguins are especially vulnerable because they nest on beaches, dunes and estuary margins with little natural defence. Without targeted pest control, even well-planted restoration sites can fail, as predators can wipe out entire breeding seasons in a matter of weeks.

Invasive plants: the “silent” coastline destroyers

A lot of people think “coastal restoration” means planting, but we know from experience that on many NZ sites, the first job is removing what shouldn’t be there.

Common coastal stressors include:

• Invasive dune grasses that outcompete native sand binders and change dune shape, which can alter how dunes respond to erosion cycles.

• Invasive weeds that smother foredunes and backdunes, reducing native biodiversity and habitat quality, and sometimes increasing fire risk and access issues.

It’s important to consider that even though a coastline can look “green,” it can still be unhealthy if the plant community is dominated by invasive species that don’t support local ecosystems or resilience.

What successful coastal regeneration actually looks like

Step 1: Assess the site (and be honest about pressure points)

Before any planting happens, good restoration plans identify:

• Erosion hotspots and dune blowouts

• Existing native remnants worth protecting

• Weed and pest pressure

• Human impacts (tracks, vehicles, dogs, foot traffic)

• Hydrology and sediment movement (especially for wetlands and estuaries)

Step 2: Control invasive species first (plants + animals)

• Remove or suppress invasive plant species (often staged over seasons)

• Reduce predator pressure in priority areas (especially near nesting habitat)

• Create barriers or redirect foot traffic (fencing, boardwalks, signage)

This is where a professional team makes a huge difference, because experience, timing, methods and follow-up maintenance determine whether the site rebounds or relapses. It is not uncommon to see coastlines that have been managed poorly, making rejuvenation more difficult and much more costly.

Step 3: Replant the “right” natives for the zone

Coastal ecosystems are layered, and planting needs to match the zone. It’s not one size fits all, this is when calling in the experts is important:

Foredunes (front dunes):

• Spinifex and pīngao are key sand binders that help trap and stabilise sand.

Backdunes & coastal shrublands:

• Site-specific natives that provide shelter, habitat complexity, and resilience (species selection depends heavily on region, exposure, and soil conditions)

Wetlands & estuary margins:

• Planting and restoration that support sediment filtering, habitat and resilience. This is often paired with addressing catchment runoff and upstream impacts.

Step 4: Maintain and monitor (this is the make-or-break phase)

DOC’s foredune rehabilitation work emphasises the importance of practical strategies, maintenance and monitoring. Coastal systems are harsh: salt spray, wind, sand burial, drought, storms, browsing, and weeds. Sadly, planting without follow-up often fails.

The bigger picture: coastlines, climate change, and “working with nature”

Coastal hazards are increasing with climate change and sea level rise, and NZ guidance exists to help plan for coastal hazards and adaptation.

At the same time, national environmental reporting highlights how restoring native coastal vegetation and dunes can help protect ecosystems from flooding and erosion while also improving resilience.

Nature-based solutions aren’t a silver bullet, but they’re a proven, scalable way to:

• buy time for communities

• reduce exposure

• restore biodiversity

• and rebuild the natural systems that protect shorelines
  

How Native Restorations can help (and where to start)

If you’re a landowner, beach community group, iwi/hapū, council, or coastal property manager, the best first move is a site walk and plan that covers:

• Pest plant control - coastal weeds, dune invaders, regrowth suppression

• Native coastal planting plans - species + zones + staging

• Pest animal management support - targeted advice and correct coordination

• Protection measures - fencing, access controls, signage

• Maintenance schedule - 12–24 months minimum

• Monitoring - photo points, survival rates, weed reinvasion checks

Because coastal restoration done properly isn’t just planting. It’s rebuilding a living system. Protecting native ecosystems doesn’t stop at planting — it also means managing the threats that prevent regeneration from thriving.

Alongside our native restoration and pest plant control work, Native Restorations now offers pest animal control services, helping reduce pressure from predators such as feral cats, rats, stoats and other invasive species. By combining targeted pest control with native planting and long-term maintenance, we support healthier habitats, stronger biodiversity outcomes, and more resilient landscapes across New Zealand.