Whataroa River TB Management Area (TMA)
Pest control work planned for Whataroa River includes wildlife surveillance.
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 Whataroa River TMA
The Whataroa TMA covers 50,000 hectares between the Poerua and Okarito Rivers on the West Coast of the South Island. The area includes the Okarito and saltwater lagoons and is bisected by the Whataroa River. The majority of the block is low altitude and swampy. The Whataroa township and surrounding farmland sit within this TMA.
History of TB and pest control in Whataroa River
TB was last detected in wildlife in the Whataroa TMA in 2009. The Whataroa TMA is close to the Hari Hari cluster of TB infection. We have carried out extensive possum surveillance alongside the Hari Hari/Whataroa boundary. No TB has been detected in wildlife since the last aerial control in 2010.
We completed ground-based possum control in the Whataroa Vector Control Zone in 2018 and 2019.
We completed aerial operations in the:
- Saltwater block in 2010
- Hercules and Price blocks in 2018.
The Department of Conservation undertook aerial control in the neighbouring Okarito block in 2021.
We undertook possum surveillance in the Saltwater block in 2022.
Current state
As of June 2023, there are no infected herds in the Whataroa River 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 Whataroa River are provisional. 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.
| Type of control | When | Coverage | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Possum survey | 2023/2024 | 10,000ha | Saltwater |
Map of 2023/2024 pest control operations
The proposed areas for wildlife surveillance are marked in blue.
Interactive map showing Whataroa River TB management area boundaries, Vector Control Zone, and proposed control areas
Contacts
Nearest local OSPRI office
OSPRI Christchurch Office
PO Box 8674
Riccarton
Christchurch 8440
Phone: 03 363 3090
Email: vectornsi@ospri.co.nz