Why are we measuring this?
Pest management plays a vital role in sustainable management of natural resources in Waitaha Canterbury.
There are 11 Exclusion Programme pests listed in the Canterbury Regional Pest Management Plan that could harm our region’s economy, natural biodiversity, cultural values or public health.
These species are present elsewhere in Aotearoa New Zealand, but not currently in Waitaha Canterbury – meaning that there is potential for them to become established in our region. Early intervention to prevent the establishment of any of these problem species is more efficient and cost-effective than attempting to eliminate them once there are established populations.
How do we measure the result?
We might receive notifications about sightings of exclusion pests from the following sources:
Our staff also keep an eye out for exclusion pests while performing biodiversity and biosecurity work in the field and we actively survey high-risk sites.
If any exclusion pests are found, response plans for removal or destruction are implemented.
Each year we report to Council on the number of incursions detected, the species involved, and the outcome of our work to prevent establishment.
Our operational plans and activities reports can be downloaded from our website.
What work have we undertaken to contribute to this outcome?
We provide regional leadership in pest management across Waitaha Canterbury by delivering five biosecurity programmes.
Our approach to pest management is driven primarily by the Canterbury Regional Pest Management Plan 2018-38 and the Biosecurity Act 1993.
Our work includes:
- Exclusion Programme: to prevent the establishment of a pest which is present in Aotearoa New Zealand, but not yet established in the region.
- Eradication Programme: to reduce the incidence or density of a pest to zero levels in an area in the short to medium term.
- Progressive Containment Programme: to contain or reduce the geographic distribution of a pest over time.
- Sustained Control Programme: to ensure pests are being controlled, and to reduce the impact on values and spread to other properties.
- Site-led Programme: to exclude, eradicate, reduce, or contain pests to protect primarily natural biodiversity at specified sites.
Exclusion pests could spread in a variety of ways, often unknowingly by people from other regions of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Before we undertake surveillance inspections to determine if any exclusion pests have spread to our region, we identify the pathways and high-risk locations in Waitaha Canterbury. This ensures the most efficient, cost-effective, and accurate surveillance programme.
Each year, we run awareness programmes to encourage community reporting of exclusion programme pests. We undertake investigations and, if possible, management of pathways to prevent spread from other regions. If necessary, we respond to any incursions and we report to Council each year as a requirement of the Biosecurity Act 1993.
Who else plays a role?
Members of the public, landowners and staff from other agencies are often the ones that find pests and report them to us – this is vital to the success of the programme.
Other agencies, including MPI and DOC, also have specific responsibilities for pest management in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Where can I find more information?
The Canterbury Regional Pest Management Plan sets our priorities and goals for managing or eradicating specified harmful organisms (plant and animal pests) in the Waitaha Canterbury region.
