South East Wairarapa 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 South East Wairarapa TMA

The South East Wairarapa TMA is on the southern tip of the North Island. The geographical features that define this TMA are:

• the Kaiwhata River in the north
• the Wairarapa Valley to the west
• Cape Palliser in the south, and
• the east coastline.

Land in this TMA is used for extensive sheep and beef farms, and large pine plantations. The Department of Conservation reserves Rocky Hills Sanctuary, Tora Bush Scenic reserve, and Aorangi Forest Park are all included in the boundary of this TMA.

History of TB and pest control in South East Wairarapa

The South East Wairarapa TMA has a long history of TB infection in cattle herds and local wildlife. We last found infected herds in 2010/2011, close to the Aorangi Range. We've detected TB in possums, ferrets, deer and pigs. We also caught TB-infected wild cattle in the foothills of the Aorangi Range.

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 South East Wairarapa 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.

We completed aerial control in South East Wairarapa Stage 3 and Haurangi Crown in 2014, 2017 and 2022.

We completed ground control in:

• South East Wairarapa Stage 1 and Te Wharau Buffer in 2019/2020
• South East Wairarapa Stage 2 and Te Wharau Buffer in 2020/2021
• South East Wairarapa Stage 3 in 2021/2022
• South East Wairarapa Stages 1, 2 and 3 in 2022/2023.

Recent ground control has focused on areas around the aerial control to prevent possums moving into the aerial control blocks.

The possum control programme for TB eradication is close to completion. We began pig surveillance across the TMA in 2022 to gather evidence that control has successfully eradicated TB from the possum population.

We completed pig surveys in South East Wairarapa Stage 1, South East Wairarapa Stage 2, South East Wairarapa Stage 3, Te Wharau Buffer, Te Wharau Core, and Haurangi Crown in 2024/2025.

Current state

As of June 2025, there are no infected herds in the South East Wairarapa 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 South East Wairarapa 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 South East Wairarapa TB management area boundaries, Vector Control Zone, and proposed control areas

Contacts

Supplejack Contracting Limited manages eradication activities in the South East Wairarapa 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