The New Zealand Minister of Conservation announced the release of the publication ‘New Zealand Threat Classification System Lists’. This is the second edition of the publication, reviewing and adding to the first one from October 2002.

The new threatened species list updates the threat classification status of 5,819 of New Zealand's native plants and animals. Almost half of these are listed in one of the seven threatened categories. The remainder are categorised as "data deficient", which means they require further research to determine if they are threatened or not.

It is crucial for New Zealand's wildlife that their threatened status is understood, so that better planning can be made for its protection.

New Zealand has shown the world that they are world leaders in habitat restoration and pest eradication.

Human-induced threats and the introduction of predators and pests continue to plague native species.

The updated threatened species list will be used for priority-setting and future management of threatened species.

There are forty-four species of plants and animals that have had a significant change in their status since the last time the list was produced. The information in the list enhances knowledge and understanding of New Zealand's unique species and directs conservation management to minimise the risk of extinction.

• The total number of threatened species reported in the new list was 2,788 (up by 416).
• There were net increases of 23 species listed in the Nationally Critical category.
• Increase of 32 species in Nationally Endangered and
• Increase of 10 species in Nationally Vulnerable.
• A reduction of 8 in the number listed as in Serious Decline
• Increase of 23 in Gradual Decline
• Increase of 72 in Sparse and
• Increase of 264 in Range Restricted.

Improvement In Status:
The status of four species is considered to have improved sufficiently over the past 3 years to have resulted in a changed threat classification. These are the Codfish Island Fernbird, Crested Grebe, Campbell Mollymawk/New Zealand Black-Browed Albatross and Black Petrel.

Decline In Status:
40 species are considered to have worsened in status sufficiently over the past 3 years to have resulted in a changed threat classification.