ERADICATING BOVINE TB FROM NORTHERN TARARUA - OSPRI
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ERADICATING
BOVINE TB FROM
NORTHERN TARARUA
JULY 2018 | VERSION 2.0
TB MANAGEMENT
AREAS
TMA Boundary
The TBfree programme aims to
control and eventually eradicate
bovine tuberculosis (TB) from
New Zealand by 2055.
We use possum control, along with
regular herd testing and movement
restrictions, to achieve this objective.
Information gathered from wild
animal surveys, recent and historic
findings of TB in wild animals, herd
testing results and the operational
history of the region is used when
planning operations.
The TBfree programme is delivered
through TB management areas
(TMAs). These areas were created
based on the likely or possible
presence of TB in wildlife, similar
habitat features, known disease
patterns, geography and control
history. Each TMA has a specific TB
control plan designed to eradicate
TB as effectively as possible.
A TMA is made up of one or more
Vector Control Zones (VCZs) within
which possum control or wildlife
specific operation. All operation Manawatu – Whanganui Regions.
survey operations may be carried
dates provided are provisional The northern section of the bush
out from year to year, depending
and subject to consultation. covered and mountainous Tararua
on wild animals present, habitat,
Range is within the area, with a high
progress toward TB eradication
and available funding. NORTHERN proportion of the TMA covering the
Department of Conservation owned
This notice provides an overview
of TB control work planned
TARARUA Tararua Forest Park. A small area
in the western side of the TMA is
for the Northern Tararua TMA. The Northern Tararua TMA lies privately owned farmland, lifestyle
It is not a formal notice of any within both the Wellington and blocks, and pine forest.
TBfree is an OSPRI programme ospri.co.nz 0800 482 463
TARGETING species. Pig survey results will help
us to tell if TB is still in the area and
POSSUMS whether further possum control work
To eradicate bovine TB from possum needs to be done. To support the
information gained from pigs, deer
populations, possum numbers need
will also be collected from selected
to be kept extremely low – around
areas in this TMA.
one to two animals every ten hectares.
Previous possum control and
livestock disease management has CONSULTATION
dramatically reduced the number OSPRI aims to ensure that
of infected herds in the Wellington communities, land occupiers and
and Manawatu Whanganui regions. land users are notified of planned
However monitoring has shown that operations well in advance and have
NORTHERN further control work is needed in the the opportunity to submit feedback
TARARUA Northern Tararua area to reduce the about any possible risks or sensitive
possum population, to minimise the areas that need to be managed.
TB HISTORY risk of the disease spreading through OSPRI will always seek the willing
Infected herds and TB wildlife have wild animal populations and onto cooperation of land occupiers when
historically been present within the farmed cattle and deer and to ensure TBfree programme work needs to be
Northern Tararua TMA. A cluster of further good progress towards carried out on their land.
infected herds were present in the disease eradication.
Before any operations begin, affected
Manakau area in the 1990s and TB landowners and occupiers will be
ferrets and possums were found close
by at this time. More recently TB pigs
WILDLIFE ANIMAL contacted and visited by one of
have been caught in the Otaki Buffer SURVEY our contractors. Depending on the
methods used and the location of the
area and a TB pig and deer caught in Before an area can be classed as operations, consents may be required
the Mt Bruce to Miki Miki Crown area. TB-free, surveys are used to assess from the Department of Conservation
if TB is still present in wildlife. While and Ministry of Health.
CONTROL possums are the main source of
HISTORY infection from wildlife it can be difficult
and costly to detect TB in possum
In the past, aerial and ground control populations. Pigs are good indicators
has been undertaken in the Otaki of TB in possums because they
Buffer, Panatewaewae and Mt Bruce to scavenge widely, so are likely to get
Miki Miki Crown areas. There has been TB from eating TB-infected possum
no control undertaken in the Tararua carcasses. They can’t maintain TB
Range and Tararua Range North areas. within their own population, so if they
Over the last two years 6,500 ha are infected, it means it’s from another
have had control using traps and
toxins. During 2016/2017 and
2017/2018 extensive wild animal OPERATIONAL TIMEFRAME
surveys targeting deer and pigs Planned control and surveillance management activities
have been undertaken to assess are outlined in the table below.
if TB is present in the wildlife.
TYPE OF WHEN?* HOW MANY WHERE?
CONTROL HECTARES?
ERADICATION Pig Survey 2019/2020 45,900 Mt Bruce to Mikimiki Crown,
GOALS Otaki Buffer, Panatewaewae,
OSPRI’s main goals for TB control Tararua Range,
in the Northern Tararua area are: Tararua Range North
Deer Survey 2019/2020 29,800 Tararua Range,
• Maintain TB freedom in livestock
Tararua Range North
• TB freedom in possums and the Aerial Control 2020 42,000 Mt Bruce to Mikimiki Crown,
Northern Tararua TMA by 2026. Otaki Buffer, Panatewaewae,
These goals are ahead of the national Tararua Range,
objectives of TB freedom in livestock Tararua Range North
by 2026, and TB freedom in possums Hectares under control are indicative only and may change after consultation.
by 2040. We aim to have eradicated * The operational year runs from 1 July – 30 June
TB from New Zealand by 2055.
TBfree is an OSPRI programme ospri.co.nz 0800 482 463
2019/20 OPERATIONS
TBfree is an OSPRI programme ospri.co.nz 0800 482 463
THE METHOD AERIAL CONTROL herd testing and carcass inspection
at slaughter. The frequency of testing
Possum control is mostly done by
PIG SURVEY contractors using ground-based traps depends on the herd’s location,
Our contractors will collect wild pigs and hand-laid toxins such as cyanide. management and TB history.
for disease surveillance, using one In some areas the most efficient To check the testing frequency
of three proven methods. Pigs may method of control is aerial and this for your property visit
be ground hunted, trapped or shot involves the aerial application of baits ospri.co.nz/dcamap
from helicopters for post-mortem containing biodegradable 1080. Aerial
examination. In some areas, a Judas
Pig operation may be used: a wild
control is efficient, cost effective and
has been extremely successful at WHAT NEXT?
pig, ear-tagged with a transmitter, knocking possum numbers down to Dates and control methods for the
will lead hunters to other pigs. very low levels in the past. For more proposed operations are provisional
A selection of those pigs can be information on the use of this poison and subject to consultation. OSPRI
shot and checked for the presence visit 1080facts.co.nz. contractors will be in contact with
of TB. Another method, Sentinel Pig affected landowners and occupiers
surveillance, involves releasing an
ear-tagged, disease-free pig into an
POSSUM before any work commences.
area to scavenge local wildlife that POPULATION
may be carrying TB. The pig is later
recovered and examined to check
ASSSESSMENT
for TB infection. Before control work is carried out
an assessment of the wildlife
DEER SURVEY population may be undertaken.
CONTACT
These can be done using specialist
contractors shooting and recovering
Following control work, the possum
population density may also be
DETAILS
deer samples or complete carcasses monitored to assess the operation’s
OSPRI Palmerston North Office
for examination. OSPRI also uses success. From the results, we’ll be PO Box 9078
recreational hunters who provide able to tell if further possum control Terrace End
the deer samples which includes work needs to be done in the area. Palmerston North 4441
data on the location of the deer shot.
P 06 353 2710
TESTING HERDS
In areas of possible significant impact
E vector.SNI@ospri.co.nz
to recreational hunting OSPRI consults
ospri.co.nz
and, where possible, adjusts surveys to Cattle and deer herds are monitored
reduce effects on recreational hunting. for TB through a combination of
TBfree is an OSPRI programme ospri.co.nz 0800 482 463
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