South Canterbury Core TB Management Area (TMA)
Pest control work planned for South Canterbury Core includes ground control and 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.
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 wildlife and cattle herds, 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 and 2022/2023.
We completed ferret surveys:
- throughout most of the TMA in 2017/2018, and
- in Benmore East in 2020/2021 and 2021/2022.
We found 4 infected herds in the last survey.
We completed aerial possum control in the Waitangi block in 2014/2015.
Current state
As of June 2023, 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 2023 to June 2024.
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 | 2023/2024 | 9700ha | Benmore |
| Ferret survey | 2023/2024 | 172,000ha | Benmore, Haldon 1, Haldon 2, Mackenzie East, Waitangi, Mackenzie basin |
| Ferret survey | 2024/2025 | 162,000ha | Haldon 1, Haldon 2, Mackenzie East, Waitangi, Mackenzie basin |
| Pig survey | 2023/2024 | 105,000ha | South Canterbury Core |
| Pig survey | 2024/2025 | 105,000ha | South Canterbury Core |
Map of 2023/2024 pest control operations
The proposed area for ground control is marked in green on the map, and proposed areas for wildlife surveillance are marked in blue.
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: info@highcountrycontracting.co.nz
Nearest local OSPRI office
OSPRI Dunedin office
PO Box 5745
Moray Place
Dunedin 9058
Phone: 03 477 9829
Email: cr_ssi@ospri.co.nz