Clutha Buffer TB Management Area (TMA)
Pest control work planned for Clutha Buffer 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 Clutha Buffer TMA
The Clutha Buffer TMA covers over 113,000 hectares. It stretches from the east of Clutha River from Beaumont Station to Crawford Hills Road.
The topography ranges from developed farmlands to steep, scrubby gullies. The habitat also comprises native bush, tussocks, and dense regenerating scrub.
History of TB and pest control in Clutha Buffer
The Clutha Buffer TMA has a long history of TB infection in cattle herds and local wildlife. We found TB-infected:
- wildlife in 2011/2012
- cattle in 2015.
We completed ground control in:
- Speargrass Creek in 2015/2016 and 2024/2025
- Beaumont and Crawford Hills in 2016/2017
- Knobby Range, Manorburn, Teviot River and Timaburn in 2016/2017 and 2024/2025.
We completed ferret and pig surveys covering most of the TMA in 2022/2023 and 2023/2024.
Current state
As of June 2025, there are no infected herds in the Clutha Buffer 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 Clutha Buffer 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 | 74,000ha | Knobby Range, Speargrass Creek, Teviot River, Timaburn |
| Ground control | 2026/2027 | 100,300ha | Beaumont, Manorburn, Knobby Range, Speargrass Creek, Teviot River, Timaburn |
| Aerial control | 2026/2027 | 2970ha | Beaumont |
Map of 2025/2026 pest control operations
The proposed area for ground control is marked on the map in green.
Interactive map showing Clutha Buffer TB management area boundaries, Vector Control Zone, and proposed control areas.
Contacts
Rentokil Initial manages eradication activities in the Clutha Buffer 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