Nelson City Council - ADVANCE NOTICE - Large-scale Planting, Plant Maintenance, Weed Control and Targeted Animal Pest Control - RFP - 17 December 2025

In the first week of February 2026, Nelson City Council will invite suppliers to respond to an RFP for the delivery of large-scale ecological restoration works across NCC upland conservation and landscape reserves, and rural esplanade reserves.

This is a challenging and lucrative long-term opportunity for a supplier with the knowledge, capability and capacity to deliver this important work.…

In the first week of February 2026, Nelson City Council will invite suppliers to respond to an RFP for the delivery of large-scale ecological restoration works across NCC upland conservation and landscape reserves, and rural esplanade reserves.

This is a challenging and lucrative long-term opportunity for a supplier with the knowledge, capability and capacity to deliver this important work.

The work specifically includes:
• Native restoration/forest transition planting
• Planting aftercare (1–5 years)
• Pest plant control to protect plantings (preplanting and ongoing)
• Landscape-scale weed control 
• Focused animal pest control to protect plantings and promote accelerated native regeneration
• The provision of professional support to volunteers working on Council land, to achieve these same outcomes.

The procurement covers multiyear restoration programmes across upland reserves. Key objectives are:
• Restore indigenous ecosystems at scale using resilient, climate appropriate native species.
• Reduce invasive plant cover to levels that allow native plant survival and recruitment.
• Deliver consistent, high-quality maintenance to secure planting success.
• Meet NCC climate, biodiversity, cultural and emissions reduction objectives.

Key outcomes are:
• Restoration works delivered on time, to specification, with survival rates >85% at Year 5.
• Supplier tracks, reports, and continually improves carbon and cost efficiencies of field operations.
• Invasive plant cover and animal browse pressure is reduced to levels that allow native plant survival, recruitment, and succession.
• Local workforce development is supported, including training pathways in conservation work.

This 6+2+2 year contract is expected to start from 1 July 2026 and includes extensive monitoring and reporting.