Eastern Tararua 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 Eastern Tararua TMA

Th Eastern Tararua TMA is located on the eastern edge of the Tararua Range and includes some of the Tararua foothills. It runs from the Ruamāhanga River in the north to the Waiohine River in the south. Most of the western boundary is the Tararua Forest Park, and to the east are the Masterton and Carterton townships.

The western side of the TMA lies within the Tararua foothills and has a higher habitat cover, with shrubland and some pine plantations. This cover reaches to the neighbouring Southern Tararua and Northern Tararua TMAs. Towards the east, the land becomes flatter and the farming more intensive. Most of the herds in the TMA are beef herds — approximately 70% are meat production herds. There are also several dairy herds. Most of the herds are in the Holdsworth Carterton Eradication area.

History of TB and pest control in Eastern Tararua

The Eastern Tararua TMA has a long history of TB infection in cattle herds. Historically, infected local wildlife has also been found in, or very close to, this TMA.

Previous possum control and livestock disease management has reduced the number of infected herds in the Wellington region. However, our monitoring has shown that we need to do further control work in the Eastern Tararua 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.

Infection in this TMA has been under control since the 1990s and most areas have had consistent ground control since 2008/2009. We last completed ground control:

• across the TMA in 2014/2015
• in the Holdsworth Carterton (Carrington) area in 2017
• in the Holdsworth Carterton (Carrington), Holdsworth Carterton Buffer, and Mt Bruce to Waipoua (Kiriwhakapapa) areas in 2019/2020 and 2020/2021.

Current state

As of June 2025, there are no infected herds in the Eastern Tararua 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 Eastern Tararua 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.

Map of 2025/2026 pest control operations

The proposed area for wildlife surveillance is marked on the map in blue.

Interactive map showing Eastern Tararua TB management area boundaries, Vector Control Zone, and proposed control areas.

Contacts

Supplejack Contracting Limited manages eradication activities in the Eastern Tararua TMA. Contact them directly if you have feedback or questions about upcoming operations.

Supplejack Contracting Limited

Phone: 06 378 8414

Email: admin@supplejackcontracting.co.nz

OSPRI

PO Box 3412

Wellington 6140​

Phone: 06 353 2710

Email: vector.sni@ospri.co.nz