Environment Canterbury and our partners have made great progress under the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme, but there is still plenty more to do.
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Managing pests and biosecurity threats
Last updated: 22 February 2023
Reporting frequency: Quarterly
Portfolio: Biodiversity and biosecurity
We are acting early and working in partnership to protect indigenous biodiversity, economic production and mahinga kai from harm caused by pests.
We control plants and animals that have a negative impact on our natural environment through the implementation of the Canterbury Regional Pest Management Plan.
To do this, we partner with Ngāi Tahu, landowners, communities and industry to promote pest management, develop an awareness of pest threats and encourage community action.
Our Biodiversity Advisory Groups are community groups that have been established to provide advice and support for regional biosecurity programme delivery in their respective regions.
We also contribute to local, regional and national biodiversity partnerships, such as the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme, Wallaby Management Programme and South Island Councils’ Biosecurity Alliance, which enable us to share knowledge and resources and deliver programmes that are more efficient and better connected.
How are we tracking on our Levels of Service?
Level of Service 14: Provide regional leadership to act early and work in partnership to protect indigenous biodiversity, economic production and mahinga kai from harm caused by declared pests and other invasive organisms
To achieve this level of service we will:
- 14.1 Implement the Canterbury Regional Pest Management Plan (CRPMP)
- 14.2 Implement surveillance, investigations and pathway management initiatives to reduce the risk of pests and other invasive organisms establishing in Canterbury
- 14.3 Empower individuals and the community to assume responsibility for and take action to address biosecurity issues
How are we doing: All targets are on track. Nassella tussock inspections have begun on high-density properties.
On track
How are we doing on our key initiatives?
Controlling wilding conifers through the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme
How are we doing: Wilding conifer control work has progressed at a strong pace across the region. Information on wilding conifers is included in our ‘Managing plant pests’. Download document: Wilding Conifers - What you need to know (PDF file, 945KB)
On track
Managing the threat from Bennett’s Wallabies
How are we doing: We hold the funds for the control work within our region, targeting the pests both inside and outside of a 900,000 hectare containment zone. Our usual bait supplier has no capacity for production until June 2023. We are currently working with MPI to identify an alternative supplier.
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Recent highlights and updates
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Residents in Lake Ōhau village have grown native seedlings as part of the area’s regeneration project in the wake of the devastating wildfire in 2020.
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Controlling the spread of nassella tussock means regularly inspecting your property and taking appropriate action at the right time.
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Invasive weeds are being targeted through a four year project in Rakaia Gorge.