OSPRI introduces movement control area in Central Otago to protect livestock
From 1 October, new livestock movement restrictions will be introduced in parts of Central Otago dealing with infected possums spreading bovine TB to livestock.
This is good news for farmers as restrictions requiring frequent on farm testing and pre-movement tests come to an end.
For decades, much of the West Coast has operated under Movement Control Area (MCA) rules due to the historic spread of TB from wildlife - especially possums - to cattle and deer.
From 1 March 2026, most of the coast has transitioned to annual on farm testing only, with no pre movement testing required.
Specific MCSs in the Greater Wellington region, Karamea region and the Taramakau/Upper Ahaura region have also gone.
This has been possible thanks to sustained possum control, strong farmer participation, and a steady decline in TB risk across the region, says Ospri.
Ospri chief executive Sam McIvor says anytime they can reduce TB testing "is a good day".
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He says TB testing costs are borne by farmers and the taxpayers.
"There's also the imposition on farmers - when TB is identified in a herd, it causes emotional distress and financial, logistical, and management challenges for farmers," McIvor told Rural News.
If a herd is infected, strict movement restrictions are imposed, preventing the sale of animals except directly to slaughter, which disrupts farming systems and cash flow.
TB testing has been underway for over 40 years while systematically clearing the wildlife of possums, the main vector for the disease which affects cattle and deer.
Ospri's TBfree programme aims to achieve TB freedom in livestock by 2028 and in possums by 2040.
McIvor says the programme is now reaching its "pointy end".
He expects about 10-15 cases of TB infected farms "to be bubbling along in the coming years".
He said there were two remaining "epicentres" of TB among wildlife in New Zealand, namely east Taupo in the North Island and central Otago in the South Island.
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Ospri's TBfree programme aims to achieve TB freedom in livestock by 2028 and in possums by 2040. |
"We look to get the possum population low enough in any given area so that they cannot sustain the disease, then we have follow-up surveillance and monitoring," McIvor says.
However, both remaining TB hotspot regions in New Zealand are remote and difficult to access, due to either having dense vegetation or rocky terrain.
Ospri is using drones to locate concentration of possum populations in these two areas and aerial 1080, is the main method used to cull possums.
The New Zealand Government funds 40% of the TB eradication programme, with the other 60% coming from levies which are paid by farmers on milk collected and cattle slaughtered.
