“When people worry about rats and stoats and possums, wasps are actually, on my list, either number one or two around rats for the worst destruction of bird species — and those are the species we’re trying to save,” Buckland says.

Despite the serious, widespread impacts of introduced wasps, the government declined to include them along with rats, mice, stoats and possums when it announced plans to make New Zealand predator free by 2050.

This is why the Nelson Mail and Stuff are partnering with the Department of Conservation and local conservation groups on Wasp Wipeout — a community-led project aimed at significantly reducing German and common wasp populations in the Nelson-Tasman region this summer.

Wasp Wipeout is supporting existing wasp control operations through crowdfunding to enable them to continue this summer and, in some cases, expand.

People can also register their interest in specific projects, or take the DIY approach by doing their own wasp control operation in their community, street, or backyard.

The wasp control method that has been adopted by conservation groups and approved for public use is the protein-based bait, Vespex.

"We've proved this year with the successful completion of the great white butterfly eradication that the community, with smart science, can actually eliminate insects.”

“It's part of a broader revolution taking place in New Zealand into having a real respect for the species that are unique to our country, rather than our ancestors who tried to create another English countryside,” Smith says.

Environment minister Dr Nick Smith says Wasp Wipeout is an “incredibly ambitious project” that complements the government’s Predator Free 2050 goal.

“The fact that we live in such a gorgeous area surrounded by three national parks, we really should be getting involved in how we protect those areas and how we enhance the quality of our life here,” Nelson regional editor Victoria Guild says.

Developed in Nelson by Richard Toft, managing director of Entecol, Vespex has been remarkably successful in wiping out wasps.

Trials in five locations across the South Island, including Abel Tasman and Nelson Lakes national parks, last year achieved between 95 and 100 per cent wasp eradication.

Joice says Vespex is an “amazing tool” for wasp control in the Nelson Lakes area.

“When the wasp numbers get up high here the hum of the wasps in the trees, it’s all you hear.

“We put the Vespex bait out and the next day you go into the forest and you can hear the birds singing. It’s just amazing. It’s like a switch.”

Nelson regional editor Victoria Guild says the goal of Wasp Wipeout is not eradication, but to create a “corridor” around urban and popular conservation areas that is wasp-free.

“It’s really crucial for a project like this that everybody’s on the same page at the same time working towards a common goal.

“To be able to target one pest at one time and give it a really good, hard shot — that’s where we can make a difference.”