Fortunately, none of the pest-free islands in the Hauraki Gulf are within swimming distance of rodents.
However, pests can and do make it to our pest-free islands. The most likely way these destructive pests get there is by stowing away on (or in) your shoes or gear, on your vessel or kayak or in freight goods, building materials, vehicles and plants.
Pests such as, rats, mice, Argentine ants, and plague skinks injure and kill our native wildlife and compete for their food.
Invasive weeds can alter the habitat that wildlife needs to survive. Soil may contain plant diseases like kauri dieback which is killing our kauri forests.