East Otago TB Management Area (TMA)
Pest control work planned for East Otago 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.
The East Otago TMA
The East Otago TMA covers 147,000 hectares, extending from Waitati to Palmerston and then inland towards Central Otago.
It is mostly coastal habitat but is wetter and has more vegetative cover than the dry country further inland. There are substantial areas of native and exotic forestry, broken rough scrubland and improved farmland.
History of TB and pest control in East Otago
The East Otago TMA has a long history of TB infection in wildlife and cattle herds. Infection has been present since the 1980s and still persists today. Ferrets and feral pigs are widely distributed, and infection has been common among wildlife. Infection has also been frequent in cattle herds. We last found:
- infected wildlife in 2020
- an infected herd in 2020.
We completed ground control in:
- the Shag Valley in 2015/2016
- Pigroot, Silver Peaks, Sister Peaks, Stoneburn, Waikouaiti Extension, Waikouaiti North, and Waikouaiti South in 2016/2017
- Dunback and Silver Peaks in 2017/2018
- Dunback, Pigroot, Shag Valley, Sister Peaks, Stoneburn, Waikouaiti Extension, Waikouaiti North, and Waikouaiti South in 2019/2020 and 2020/2021
- Sister Peaks, Stoneburn, Waikouaiti Extension, Waikouaiti North and Waikouaiti South in 2021/2022
- Stoneburn, Waikouaiti Extension, Waikouaiti North and Waikouaiti South in 2022/2023.
We completed aerial control in:
- Silver Peaks and Sister Peaks in 2016/2017, and
- Shag Forest in 2020/2021.
Current state
As of June 2023, there are no infected herds in the East Otago TMA.
If you're moving animals
The East Otago TMA is in the Coastal/Central Otago 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 East Otago 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 | 48,400ha | Stoneburn, Waikouaiti Extension, Waikouaiti North, Waikouaiti South |
| Ferret survey | 2023/2024 | 37,300ha | Dunback, Pigroot, Shag Valley, Sister Peaks |
| Pig survey | 2023/2024 | 105,600ha | Dunback, Pigroot, Stoneburn, Waikouaiti Extension, Waikouaiti North, Waikouaiti South, Silver Peaks |
Map of 2023/2024 pest control operations
The proposed area for ground control is marked in green on the map, and the proposed areas for wildlife surveillance are marked in blue.
Interactive map showing East Otago TB management area boundaries, Vector Control Zone, and proposed control areas.
Contacts
Contract Wild Animal Control NZ Ltd manages eradication activities in the East Otago TMA. Contact them directly if you have feedback or questions about upcoming operations.
Contract Wild Animal Control NZ Ltd
Phone: 0800 292 269
Email: lyndon@cwacnzl.com
Nearest local OSPRI office
OSPRI Dunedin office
PO Box 5745
Moray Place
Dunedin 9058
Phone: 03 477 9829
Email: cr_ssi@ospri.co.nz