Friday, 29 April 2016 08:55

Possum kill planned for Kaweka Range

Written by 
The work is planned for areas of the Kaweka Range where TB-infected wildlife has been found. The work is planned for areas of the Kaweka Range where TB-infected wildlife has been found.

An aerial possum kill using 1080 poison is planned for the high Kaweka Range between Taupo and Hawke's Bay this winter, says OSPRI.

The work is planned for areas of the Kaweka Range where TB-infected wildlife has been found. Consultation and planning has been done with farmers, deer hunters, local iwi and groups which use the tracks in the Kaweka Forest Park.

Consultation has gone on since August 2015 with representatives of DOC, NZ Deerstalkers Association and Game Animal Council, neighbouring landowners, local iwi and residents. The timing has been agreed with DOC to coincide with changes in the winter feeding behaviour of wildlife.

The first drop will target an area of the Kaweka Range north-west of Napier, between the Mohaka River in the north and the Napier-Taihape road in the south. The area has east-facing slopes around the headwaters of the Tutaekuri and Donald Rivers in the south and steep gorges north of Makahu Saddle.

Matthew Hall, chief operating officer of OSPRI, says this is the first kill in this area, and it will help halt the spread of TB into neighbouring farmed cattle and deer, and help conserve native flora and fauna in the high country forest.

He says the steep terrain of the area makes access difficult and supports the use of aerial drops as the most effective method.

The June timing recognises the importance of the Kaweka for recreational deer hunting. "OSPRI has spent a lot on deer repellent bait for the operation," he says, "and the timing avoids the peak deer-roar hunting season."

More like this

Ospri brings Bovine TB testing in-house

The move to bring bovine TB testing in-house at Ospri officially started this month, as a team of 37 skilled and experienced technicians begin work with the disease eradication agency.

TB testing in-house

OSPRI will carry out on-farm TB testing, following AsureQuality's decision not to renew their contract.

Snail mail

OPINION: About as productive as a politician's taxpayer-funded trip to Hawaii, as cost-effective as an OSPRI IT project, and as smart as the power-company pylon worker, the Hound gives you the NZ Post business strategy:

OSPRI's costly software upgrade

Animal disease management agency OSPRI has announced sweeping governance changes as it seeks to recover from the expensive failure of a major software project.

Featured

$2b boost in NZ exports to EU

New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.

US tariffs hit European ag machinery markets

The climate of uncertainty and market fragmentation that currently characterises the global economy suggests that many of the European agricultural machinery manufacturers will be looking for new markets.

Tributes paid to Jim Bolger

Dignitaries from  all walks of life – the governor general,  politicians past and present, Maoridom- including the Maori Queen, church leaders, the primary sector and family and  friends packed Our Lady of Kapiti’s Catholic church in Paraparaumu on Thursday October 23 to pay tribute to former prime Minister, Jim Bolger who died last week.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Fonterra vote

OPINION: Voting is underway for Fonterra’s divestment proposal, with shareholders deciding whether or not sell its consumer brands business.

Follow the police beat

OPINION: Politicians and Wellington bureaucrats should take a leaf out of the book of Canterbury District Police Commander Superintendent Tony Hill.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter