Paparoa Range TB Management Area (TMA)
Pest control work planned for Paparoa Range 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 Paparoa Range TMA
The Paparoa Range TMA covers 84,700 hectares from the Buller River to Mt Pecksniff. It includes the Paparoa Range and the catchments of the Otututu (Rough), Ohikanui, Blackwater, Nile, Fox and Pororari rivers.
The habitat is podocarp and beech forest, with some patches of scrub. Altitudes range from about 200 to 1480 metres.
History of TB and pest control in Paparoa Range
The Paparoa Range TMA has a long history of TB infection in cattle herds and local wildlife. The most recent wildlife infection was in 2017, when we found TB-infected possums.
In 2021 the Western Paparoa Range block was controlled through the Department of Conservation’s Tiakina Ngā Manu Programme.
We completed:
- ground control in the Western Paparoa Range in 2021/2022 and 2023/2024
- aerial control in Paparoa National Park in 2018 and 2023/2024.
Current state
As of June 2025, there are no infected herds in the Paparoa Range TMA.
If you're moving animals
The Paparoa Range TMA is in the West Coast Kahurangi Annual Special Testing Area. In these areas, cattle over 12 months and deer over 15 months of age are tested annually.
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 Paparoa Range 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 | 3300ha | Western Paparoa Range |
Map of 2025/2026 pest control operations
The proposed areas for ground control are marked on the map in green.
Interactive map showing Paparoa Range TB management area boundaries, Vector Control Zone, and proposed control areas.
Contacts
Vector Control Services manages eradication activities in the Paparoa Range TMA. Contact them directly if you have feedback or questions about upcoming operations.
Vector Control Services
Phone: 0508 141 268
Email: info@vcs.net.nz
OSPRI
PO Box 3412
Wellington 6140
Phone: 03 363 3090
Email: vectornsi@ospri.co.nz