Biosecurity

Updated 20 October 2022 1:40pm

Managing pest animals and plants is essential to help prevent their spread and damage to our region.

It’s one of the ways we protect te taiao - our environment, our economy, and our communities.

Controlling pests is a huge job and we need everyone involved. Find out about these pests and what to do.

Pest animals

Pest plants

The plan

Find out about the strategic plan for the next 20 years:

Work underway

We have teams of Biosecurity Officers focused on controlling pests in the region’s parks and Key Native Ecosystems. We also work with people to control pests on their properties.

Find out about operations to control pest animals and pest plants, or the latest Biosecurity news.

Download the plan of operational activities for this year.

Practice biosecurity hygiene

Biosecurity hygiene plays an important role in reducing the spread of pest plants and animals. Our field officers spend lots of time visiting multiple properties, so we comply with strict practices to mitigate biosecurity risks.

Do your part to stop the spread of pests by following steps when visiting someone else’s property:

1. Assess the risk:

Discuss any biosecurity requirements and risks prior to your visit
Arrange to use an on-site farm vehicle if a site is high risk (e.g. a known disease or argentine ants)
Be extra cautious when travelling to nurseries, depots, or islands as they pose a high risk

2. Plan your day:

If you are visiting more than one property, visit the lowest risk site first and the highest risk site last
Assess what you need to take onto each property, including appropriate personal protective equipment for your task

3. Be hygienic:

Before visiting a property clean and dry your gear
Check your vehicle, equipment and personal protective equipment for dirt or seeds
Keep your vehicle away from high risk areas (e.g. stock yards, dairy sheds and weed infestations)
Always wash-down your vehicle and any equipment

4. Before leaving:

Check your vehicle, boots and gear
Wash-down in an appropriate area

Biosecurity hygiene for pest plants

Biosecurity hygiene for pest animals

Regional Pest Management Strategy - Operational Plan Report

Under the Biosecurity Act, GWRC needs to review the RPMS (now RPMP) Operational Plan annually and adjust it if needed, and we must also produce an Operational Plan Report annually.

It provides transparency to the public by summarising what we've done during the year and the results, and so is also a measure of accountability.

Read the 2020/21 Operational Report of our Regional Pest Management Plan.

RPMP Operational Plan 2021/22

This document outlines the nitty-gritty detail of operations around the region, in line with the direction set by the strategy. Read more here.

Want to be one of our biosecurity contractors?

Contact us if you’re keen to contract your pest animals and plants control skills. Here’s a sample of what a Service Agreement involves.

National Pest Plant Accord

Tradescantia fluminensis is an unwanted organism and banned from sale, propagation and distribution under the NPPA.

Recent genetic analysis has shown that ‘Golden Girl’ and ‘Pink Princess’ are both cultivars of T. flumensis, and are therefore also banned from sale, propagation and distribution in New Zealand.