Photo: Laurie Steer

Kim Hill talks to Dr Jamie Steer, whose research explores the understanding of introduced species in New Zealand in the context of biodiversity management, arguing for a more reconciliatory approach to their history and fate in the country.

The views expressed in this interview are those of Dr Steer alone and are related solely to his academic research.

The war on predators and pests is a failed strategy, based on the delusion that we can turn back the clock, he says.

"Our forests are changing and they are going to keep on changing. Possums are part of that change. For me change is not the end of the world. I think we can learn to accept a broader range of species, we don't need to restore our environment to pre-human times."