South Canterbury High Country 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 and wildlife. Each TMA has a specific TB control plan designed to eradicate TB as effectively as possible.

The South Canterbury High Country TMA

The South Canterbury High Country TMA covers 232,042ha extending from the main divide to between the Two Thumb Range in the north and the Ahuriri River catchment in the south.

The habitat includes high country river valleys with a mixture of rocky and scrubby habitat, extensive native forest ecosystems in some major valley systems, and more improved and intensively farmed flats.

History of TB and pest control in the South Canterbury High Country TMA

TB has been found in wildlife throughout the South Canterbury High Country TMA for many years with sporadic infections in herds.

We have completed Ground-based possum control throughout the majority of this block, including:

• the Wairepo Creek block in 2011/2012, and
• the Ahuriri, Dobson, MacKenzie North, Ohau Pukaki and Tasman blocks during 2015/2016.

We did ferret surveys in:

• the Dobson block during 2011/2012, and
• the Wairepo Creek block during 2015/2016.

Some areas such as Hopkins and Huxley have had very little or no control.

Current state

There are currently no infected herds in the South Canterbury High Country TMA.

Future pest control operations

We plan our pest control operations up to 3 years in advance. The current year runs from July 2021 to June 2022.

Dates and control methods for pest control operations in [TMA] 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.

Contacts

Excell Limited manage eradication activities in the South Canterbury High Country TMA. Contact them directly if you have feedback or questions about upcoming operations.

Excell Limited
Phone: 0508 EXCELL (0508 392 355)
Email: ssi.excell@excell.co.nz

Your nearest local OSPRI office is in Dunedin.

OSPRI Dunedin office
PO Box 5745
Moray Place
Dunedin 9058
Phone: 03 477 9829
Email: cr_ssi@ospri.co.nz