Clarence Reserve 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 Clarence Reserve TMA

The Clarence Reserve TMA covers 127,660 hectares at the northern end of the Canterbury region. It includes:

• the catchment of the Clarence River from the mouth to Spay Stream
• the southern end of the Clarence Reserve between the Seaward and the Inland Kaikoura Ranges, and
• Kekerengu.

The habitat is river flats and rolling hills to high ridgelines, with scrub and bush-filled gullies, as well as areas of continuous bush. Altitudes range between sea level and 2500 metres.

History of TB and pest control in Clarence Reserve

The Clarence Reserve TMA has a long history of TB infection in local wildlife and cattle herds. Possums, ferrets and deer with TB have been found in this TMA.

Previous possum control and livestock disease management has reduced the number of infected herds in the North Canterbury/Marlborough region. However, our monitoring has shown that we need to do further control work in the Clarence Reserve area to reduce the possum population. This will:

• minimise the risk of the disease spreading through wild animal populations into farmed cattle and deer
• ensure further good progress towards eradicating TB.

We completed ground-based possum control in:

• Kekerengu in 2020/2021, and 2022/2023
• Clarence East, Clarence West, Clarence Reserve and Upper Clarence in 2022/2023.

We also completed:

• ferret surveys in Clarence West and Kekerengu in 2018, and
• aerial control in Constitution Hill in 2021
• aerial control through Clarence Reserve South, Mid-Clarence, and Cloudy Range in 2023.

Current state

As of June 2023, there are no infected herds in the Clarence Reserve TMA.

If you're moving animals

The Clarence Reserve TMA is in the Marlborough/North Canterbury Movement Control Area. Before you move cattle or deer to another herd or farm, you must have them tested for bovine TB.

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 Clarence Reserve 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 the proposed area for aerial control is marked in yellow.

Interactive map showing Clarence Reserve TMA 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 Clarence Reserve 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