Northern 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 and wildlife. Each TMA has a specific TB control plan designed to eradicate TB as effectively as possible.

The Northern Tararua TMA

The Northern Tararua TMA is between the Wellington and Manawatū-Whanganui regions. The northern section of the Tararua Range is included in this TMA. Much of the TMA lies within the Tararua Forest Park in the Tararua Range.

The area that is not included in the Tararua Forest Park has a range of land uses including:

• farming
• lifestyle blocks, and
• forestry operations.

History of TB and pest control in Northern Tararua

This TMA has a long history of TB infection in cattle herds and local wildlife. We found a cluster of infected herds in the Panatewaewae area in the 1990s. TB infected ferrets and possums were also found in the area. We also caught TB infected pigs in the Otaki Buffer in 2008, and the Mt Bruce to Miki Miki Crown areas in 2012.

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 Northern 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.

Since 2015, we've completed aerial and ground control in:

• Otaki Buffer
• Panatewaewae
• Mt Bruce to Miki Miki Crown
• Tararua Range, and
• Tararua Range North.

We've also completed wildlife surveillance of:

• pigs, in the Mt Bruce to Mikimiki Crown, Otaki Buffer and Panatewaewae areas
• deer, in the Tararua Range and Western Tararua areas.

Current state

There are no infected herds in Northern Tararua.

Future pest control operations

We plan our pest control operations up to 3 years in advance. The current year runs from July 2021 to June 2022.

Dates and control methods for pest control operations in Northern 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.

Contacts

Supplejack Contracting Limited manages our ground control operations in Northern Tararua, and EPRO Limited manages our aerial control operations. Contact them directly if you have feedback or questions about upcoming operations.

Supplejack Contracting Limited
Phone: 06 378 8414
Email: admin@supplejackcontracting.co.nz

EPRO Limited
Phone: 07 378 4852 / 0800 275 3776
Email: control@epro.co.nz

Your nearest local OSPRI office is in Palmerston North.

OSPRI Palmerston North office
PO Box 9078
Terrace End
Palmerston North 4441
Phone: 06 353 2710
Email: vector.sni@ospri.co.nz