Part of the windswept Kaitōrete has been cleared of hedgehogs to protect vulnerable wildlife, in a proof of concept that’s thought to be a national first.
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Managing pests and biosecurity threats
Last updated: 01 November 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. We report annually (PDF file, 1.6MB) on our progress.
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, Tipu Mātoro National Wallaby Eradication 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.
As part of 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: We’re on track, working to gather spatial data, numbers and density information on various species. We are continuing to assess organisms so they can be prioritised for future management. We are also working with biodiversity teams to review site-led programmes. We will be working with the Ministry for Primary Industries to implement the Check, Clean, Dry surveillance programme during the summer months.
We have undertaken community engagement with seven activities occurring in the first quarter. In the coming months we will be attending a number of different events including fetes, fairs and A&P shows. We will also be running a round of Biosecurity Advisory Group meetings and publishing a series of pest awareness notices.
On track
How are we doing on our key initiatives?
Managing wilding conifers on our land (Takapō Regional Park)
How are we doing: The harvest of stage one is complete. Staff walked the 500 metre strip surrounding the park and removed all visible wilding conifers spreading from the park. However, due to dense scrub, this will be repeated in March.
On track
Controlling wilding conifers through the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme
How are we doing: We have had some changes in staffing, leading to a need to adapt how we are delivering work programmes in the short term. The Pukaki fire removed a significant area of wilding conifer from the Twizel area.
Find out more about how we manage wilding conifers.
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.
We have obtained consent for a wallaby fence and 15 km of the fence has now been completed.
On track
Recent highlights and updates
News
With artificial intelligence taking the internet by storm in recent months, our biosecurity team have taken the first steps to use it to identify pest plants.
News
Environment Canterbury and our partners have made great progress under the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme, but there is still plenty more to do.
News
Our waterways are vulnerable to infestations of exotic pest plant species that can choke our braided rivers and restrict the natural functions of waterways.