Wairau Waihopai TB Management Area (TMA)

Eradicating bovine TB in NZ

As part of our TBfree programme we deliver our pest control operations through a framework of TB management areas (TMAs). TMAs are areas with known TB infection in livestock or wildlife. Each TMA has a specific TB control plan designed to eradicate TB as effectively as possible.

The Wairau Waihopai TMA

The Wairau Waihopai TMA covers about 115,400 hectares south-east of the Wairau River, including the catchments of the Waihopai, Leatham, Upper Wairau and Branch rivers.

The habitat is dry grassland interspersed with commercial forests and patches of scrub and bush. Altitudes range from several hundred metres above sea level to over 2000 metres.

History of TB and pest control in Wairau Waihopai

The Wairau Waihopai TMA has a long history of TB infection in wildlife. We found TB-infected:

• pigs in the Byrons and Waihopai spray areas in 2005
• ferrets in the area in 2018, and
• possums in 2021.

We undertook ground control in:

• Upper Waihopai in 2014
• Waihopai Spray and Wairau South in 2015, and
• Upper Wairau Rainbow and Wairau South in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

We undertook:

• wildlife surveillance across most of the TMA in 2016/2017 and 2021/2022, and
• aerial control in Upper Waihopai in 2009.

Current state

As of June 2023, there are no infected herds in the Wairau Waihopai TMA.

Future pest control operations

We plan our pest control operations up to 3 years in advance. The current year runs from July 2023 to June 2024.

Dates and control methods for pest control operations in Wairau Waihopai are provisional and subject to change. If you’re affected by any upcoming operations, our pest control contractors will contact you before work begins. They will:

• talk you through the specifics of each operation
• explain what you need to do before the operations start
• get your consent for the work to be done.

We will refine proposed boundaries for aerial operations after consulting with landowners and affected parties.

Map of 2023/2024 pest control operations

The proposed areas for ground control are marked in green on the map, and proposed areas for aerial control are marked in yellow.

Interactive map showing Wairau Waihopai TB management area boundaries, Vector Control Zone, and proposed control areas.

Contacts

Vector Free Marlborough manages aerial control operations and Excell Biosecurity manages ground control operations in the Wairau Waihopai TMA. Contact them directly if you have feedback or questions about upcoming operations.

Vector Free Marlborough

Phone: 0508 548 008
Email: communications@vectorfree.co.nz

Excell Biosecurity

Phone: 0508 392 355
Email: nsi.excell@excell.co.nz

Nearest local OSPRI office

OSPRI Christchurch Office
PO Box 8674
Riccarton
Christchurch 8440
Phone: 03 363 3090
Email: vectornsi@ospri.co.nz