Social Impact Assessment

We’ve commissioned an independent Social Impact Assessment to give our community a chance to share their views on how Predator Free Chathams might impact life on the islands.

Two independent researchers, Nick Taylor and Katherine Russell, are visiting the islands for two weeks in September. They want to hear how you think the PF Chathams project will affect you and the wider community – in other words, the project’s social impacts.

Nick, Katherine, and James Russell (University of Auckland) will pull these views together into a Social Impact Report. To have this report accurately reflect the community, they’re keen to hear from anyone interested in sharing their views. Conversations are confidential, so you can speak as a private individual as well as officially representing any organisations or groups you might be part of.

Social impacts include things like the project’s effects on tourism, local employment, housing, transport, outdoor recreation, services and infrastructure. They want to know things like:

• What would you like to see out of Predator Free Chathams?
• How do you think the project will affect you or the wider community?
• Do you have any ideas or concerns?

This social impact research, funded by Predator Free 2050 Limited, builds off our Trust’s community engagement and work into understanding the benefits and challenges of the PF Chathams project – especially now that we’re slowly going operational with the northeast pilot.

What we learn from this report will help inform how the Trust works in the future. It will also be made publicly available, likely in the first quarter of 2026.

Taiko Town school camp, supported by the Taiko Trust and Hamish from the Landscape Restoration Trust: working out the best ratio of charcoal to marshmellow.

How to have your say

• Kaingaroa public drop-in session at The Club (time TBC).
• Pitt Island: day TBC - Nick and Katherine will travel to Pitt Island
• Waitangi Community Day: Monday 22 September at The Den 11am to 3.30pm.

Can’t make a community day? Chat to the team if you see them, or get in touch via email PFChathamsSIA@gmail.com with your comments. All emails will be replied to, although there might not be time to respond in detail immediately.

Nick and Katherine will also be meeting with key organisations while on the Chathams and may get in touch with you directly for an interview.

If you have any questions, please contact the team on the email above or check out the information below.

Bridge over Nairn River in Waitangi.

More background

Who are Nick, Katherine and James?

Nick Taylor is a partner with Nick Taylor and Associates, and was previously a partner for Taylor Baines and Associates. He was involved in the 1989 and 2002 Chatham Islands Economic Reviews and the Social Impact Assessment for Rakiura Stewart Island. Learn a bit more.

Katherine Russell (Ngāpuhi) is a consultant working for Nick Taylor and Associates. She has worked on several projects including the Social Impact Assessment for Rakiura Stewart Island. Read more about this SIA.

James Russell is a Professor at the University of Auckland in Conservation Biology. He has worked in predator control and eradication both in New Zealand and around the world. Learn more.

Nick, Jamie Cooper, Katherine and James outside River Onion.

What is a Social Impact Assessment?

A Social Impact Assessment (SIA) is a process that assists decision makers, affected people and communities to plan for and manage the impacts of a programme of work, as underway with PF Chathams. Using a community-based approach, SIA provides a way for individuals, groups and organisations to participate from early on in forming plans and making decisions around a project or plan. Learn more here.

An Open Day on Rakiura as part of the Social Impact Assessment. Image: Katherine James

What is Predator Free Chathams?

Predator Free Chathams is a long-term programme of work to eradicate rats, feral cats and possums from the Chathams, led by the Chatham Islands Land Restoration Trust. It’s supplements by restoration work. Head over to our PF Chathams pages to learn more.