Eradicating Bovine Tb from Coastal Karamea June 2019 | Version 2.0

ERADICATING BOVINE TB FROM COASTAL KARAMEA JUNE 2019 | VERSION 2.0

restrictions to control TB. When specific operation. All operation dates OVERVIEW planning for operations wild animal provided are provisional and subject The TBfree programme is delivered surveys, TB history, herd testing to consultation. through TB Management areas (TMAs) results and past operation history and aims to control, and eventually are all used to determine the level eradicate, bovine tuberculosis (TB) of control required to eradicate TB. TB HISTORY The Coastal Karamea TMA has a long from New Zealand by 2055. OSPRI’s The TBfree programme is delivered history of TB infection in both wildlife main goals for TB control in the through TB management areas (TMAs). and livestock. TB infected possums were Coastal Karamea area are: Each TMA has a specific TB control found in 2012 and more were found plan designed to eradicate TB as • TB freedom in livestock by 2023 beyond the extent of the previous aerial effectively as possible. operations. In the past up to 23 of the • TB freedom in possums by 2023 This notice provides an overview 64 herds in this TMA have been infected The programme uses possum control, of TB control work planned for this at the same time. There are currently regular herd testing and movement TMA. It is not a formal notice of any 3 infected herds within Karamea.

OPERATIONAL TIMEFRAME Planned control and surveillance management activities are outlined in the table below.

TYPE OF HOW MANY CONTROL WHEN?* HECTARES? WHERE?

Ground control 2019/2020 19,000 Karamea, Karamea East, Seddonville North

Ground control 2020/2021 19,000 Karamea, Karamea East, Seddonville

Ground control 2021/2022 19,000 Karamea, Karamea East, Seddonville

Hectares under control are indicative only and may change after consultation. * The operational year runs from 1 July – 30 June TMA Location

TBfree is an OSPRI programme ospri.co.nz 0800 482 463 2019/20 OPERATIONS

TBfree is an OSPRI programme ospri.co.nz 0800 482 463

ROAD TO TB ERADICATION

TESTING WILDLIFE We check the wildlife to see if TB is present in an area.

POSSUM CONTROL – YEAR ONE Possums spread TB. Getting numbers low will help stop TB.

KEEPING POSSUM NUMBERS LOW It’s really important to keep possum numbers COASTAL TARGETING low over multiple years KARAMEA POSSUMS to break the TB cycle. The Coastal Karamea TMA covers 47,940 To eradicate bovine TB from possum TESTING WILDLIFE ha north of Ngakawau and encompasses populations, possum numbers need We test wildlife to check if Karamea, Seddonvile and Corbyvale to be kept extremely low – around TB still exists. The animals developed farmland. The area includes one to two animals every ten hectares. will be checked for signs of Market Cross, Little Wanganui, the start Previous possum control and livestock TB. Samples may be grown of the Heaphy and Wangapeka tracks disease management has dramatically in a laboratory. If TB is found, and the Old Ghost Road. The habitat is reduced the number of infected herds you will be told by TBfree. made up of riparian margins, wetlands, on the West Coast. To ensure that the coastal verges and patches of native gains achieved throughout the region forest surrounded by steep faces of are achieved in the Coastal Karamea TB ERADICATED beech. The area includes some large TMA sustained control is necessary private bush blocks, a game hunting estate and numerous lifestyle blocks. in this area. Altitudes range from sea level to 600m. THE METHOD CONTROL HISTORY GROUND CONTROL The area has received both ground and OSPRI contractors will use toxins aerial control for a number of years. and traps to carry out this possum There are areas where possums and control operation. Different toxins disease seem to persist. Ground based are used depending on the size and possum control was last undertaken terrain of the operational area. Toxins in 2019 in the Karamea and the Seddonville West blocks. will either be placed in bait stations, stapled to trees in biodegradable bags or hand-laid. Contractors will consult POSSUM with landowners on which toxin will be POPULATION used to ensure the safety of livestock, pets and native animals. There are many ASSESSMENT different types of traps, such as leg-hold Before control work is carried out, an or kill traps. In choosing the right one, assessment of the wildlife population we will take into consideration ease of may be undertaken. access, set-up and maintenance time, Following control work, the possum animal welfare factors and the potential population density may also be risks to livestock, pets and native monitored to assess the operation’s animals. On occasion our contractors success. From the results, OSPRI can may also use corflute chew cards or wax assess whether further possum control tags to identify possum populations work needs to be done in the area. where control is required.

TBfree is an OSPRI programme ospri.co.nz 0800 482 463 CONSULTATION MOVEMENT OSPRI listens to feedback from CONTROL communities, land occupiers and The Coastal Karamea TMA is in the land users about proposed operations West Coast Movement Control Area. and notifies planned operations well That means TB testing is required for CONTACT in advance so affected parties can cattle and deer before they are moved submit feedback about any possible to another herd or farm. DETAILS risks or sensitive areas that need to be managed. OSPRI will always OSPRI Christchurch Office seek the willing cooperation of land TESTING HERDS PO Box 8674 occupiers when TBfree programme Cattle and deer herds are monitored Riccarton work needs to be carried out on their for TB through a combination of herd Christchurch 8440 land. Before any operation begins, testing and carcass inspection at P 03 363 3090 affected landowners and occupiers slaughter. The frequency of testing will be contacted and visited by one depends on the herd’s location, E [email protected] management and TB history. of our contractors. Depending on the To check the testing frequency for methods used and the location of the The eradication activities in this your property visit ospri.co.nz/dcamap TMA are delivered by specialist operations, consents may be required wildlife and pest control Contractors from the Department of Conservation employed by OSPRI. The contact and Ministry of Health. ACHIEVEMENTS details for the contractor delivering TO DATE are below. WHAT NEXT? OSPRI has made significant progress Vector Free Marlborough Limited Dates and control methods for the towards eradicating TB from vector risk proposed operations are provisional areas (VRA) across New Zealand. Since P 0508 548 008 2011, VRA status has been revoked from and subject to consultation. OSPRI E [email protected] 2.02 million hectares, with 7.78 million contractors will be in contact with hectares in 14 areas still to be cleared affected landowners and occupiers before freedom from disease in wildlife before any work starts can be declared.

TBfree is an OSPRI programme ospri.co.nz 0800 482 463