South Canterbury Core TB Management Area (TMA)
Pest control work planned for South Canterbury Core includes ground control.
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 South Canterbury Core TMA
The South Canterbury Core TMA covers 399,380 hectares. It extends from the Waitaki River system north and eastwards to the Hunters Hill and Burkes Pass areas, and includes the area between the Ben Ohau Range and Lake Benmore.
It is a mixture of high-country tussock, rock, scree and scrub, together with improved farmland. It supports a mixture of intensive and extensive farming.
History of TB and pest control in South Canterbury Core
The South Canterbury Core TMA has a long history of TB infection in cattle herds and local wildlife, especially in the Mackenzie Basin. Ferrets are widely distributed and infection was common in the 1980s and 1990s, but has been sporadic since. Possum control completed during this period suppressed infected herd numbers to some extent.
We last completed ground control in Benmore East in 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023 and 2023/2024.
We completed aerial control in the Waitangi block in 2014/2015.
We completed:
- ferret surveys throughout most of the TMA in 2017/2018
- ferret surveys in Benmore East in 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023, and 2023/2024
- ferret surveys in Benmore West, Haldon 1, Mackenzie Basin, Mackenzie East and Waitangi in 2024/2025
- a pig survey in South Canterbury Core in 2024/2025.
Current state
As of June 2025, there are no infected herds in the South Canterbury Core TMA.
Future pest control operations
We plan our pest control operations up to 3 years in advance. The current year runs from July 2025 to June 2026.
Dates and control methods for pest control operations in South Canterbury Core 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.
| Type of control | When | Coverage | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground control | 2025/2026 | 26,032ha | Benmore |
| Ground control | 2026/2027 | 26,032ha | Benmore |
Map of 2025/2026 pest control operations
The proposed area for ground control is marked on the map in green.
Interactive map showing South Canterbury Core TB management area boundaries, Vector Control Zone, and proposed control areas.
Contacts
Rentokil Initial manages eradication activities in the South Canterbury Core TMA. Contact them directly if you have feedback or questions about upcoming operations.
Rentokil Initial
Phone: 0508 767 786
Email: kuran.ireland@rentokil-initial.com
OSPRI
PO Box 3412
Wellington 6140
Phone: 0800 482 463
Email: vector_ssi@ospri.co.nz