The Canterbury Regional Pest Management Plan 2018–2038 sets out how declared pests are managed across Waitaha Canterbury under the Biosecurity Act 1993. It identifies the pests covered by the plan, the rules that apply and how pest management will be carried out.
What the pest management plan does
The plan aims to:
- minimise the actual or potential adverse or unintended effects associated with declared pests
- maximise the effectiveness of individual actions in managing pests through a regionally coordinated approach.
How pests are included in the plan
Before an organism can be included in the plan, we assess whether regulation under the Biosecurity Act 1993 is justified. This includes considering:
- its effects on environmental, economic, cultural and human health values
- whether regulation is needed, or voluntary action would be effective
- the proposed management objective and how progress would be measured
- who would benefit from pest management
- the cost of managing the pest and how this would be funded
- whether the benefits of management outweigh the costs.
Pest management plan programmes
The CRPMP includes five programmes to manage declared pests. Each programme has objectives depending on the pest’s occurrence in Waitaha Canterbury.
Exclusion programme
This programme’s purpose is to prevent the establishment of pests that are present in New Zealand, but not yet established in the region.
If these pests were to become widely established, their impacts could be severe. Early intervention by preventing their establishment is a cost-effective management approach.
Examples of species in the exclusion programme include koi carp, hornwort and woolly nightshade
Eradication programme
This programme’s purpose is to reduce the incidence or density of a pest to zero in an area in the short to medium term.
Pests in the eradication programme are present in low numbers or have limited distribution within Canterbury and eradication is feasible.
Examples of species in the eradication programme include egeria, moth plant and yellow water lily
Progressive containment programme
This programme’s purpose is to contain or reduce the geographic distribution of a pest over time.
Generally, these pests are present in low numbers or have limited distribution in Canterbury but have the potential to be highly damaging if they were to become widespread.
Progressively containing these pests, by reducing their distribution over time, is a cost-effective approach to prevent their more extensive spread and impact within the region.
Examples of species in the progressive containment programme include African love grass, African feather grass and puna grass
Sustained control programme
This programme’s purpose is to ensure pests are being controlled, and to reduce its impact on values and spread to other properties.
Pests in the sustained control programme vary greatly in their distribution across the region. Some are found in low numbers, while others are already well-established pests.
Examples of species in the sustained control programme include Chilean needle grass, nassella tussock and saffron thistle
Site-led programme
This programme’s purpose is to exclude, eradicate, reduce or contain pests to protect primarily natural biodiversity at specified sites.
Manage a pest within a specific place to protects the values of that place. Examples of species in site led programmes include cathedral bells, feral goat and spartina
Pest advice and information
Download the plan
Other ways pests are managed
Not every pest found in Waitaha Canterbury is managed through the Canterbury Regional Pest Management Plan. Some are managed nationally, while communities may choose to control other harmful species locally.
View other pest management approaches
National Pest Plant Accord
The National Pest Plant Accord prevents specified invasive plants from being sold, distributed or propagated in New Zealand.
Examples include chocolate vine, aluminium plant and pig's ear
National Interest Pest Responses
The Ministry for Primary Industries manages nationally significant weeds through the National Interest Pest Responses programme. These plants could seriously affect New Zealand's economy, environment, and social and cultural values if allowed to spread.
An example is phragmites
Unwanted organisms
Unwanted organisms are legally declared under the Biosecurity Act 1993 because they are capable, or potentially capable, of causing harm to natural and physical resources or human health.
Examples include Bennett's wallaby, velvetleaf and freshwater gold clam
Community-led pest management
Some species found in Waitaha Canterbury are not legally declared pests but can still adversely affect the environment. Communities may choose to manage these species locally.
Examples include Madeira vine, stinking iris and spur valerian