Biosecurity in Hawke’s BayWhakamarumarutanga koiora ki Te Matau-a-Māui

What is biosecurity?

The NZ Biosecurity Institute defines biosecurity as “the protection of an environment from biological threats. In New Zealand action is taken to prevent unwanted organisms from damaging the economy, natural biodiversity, or the health of the New Zealand public.”

Hawke's Bay Issues

Keeping the farm gate closed is not practical, so constant work is needed across the whole community. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council focuses on the particular biosecurity demands of the region and we manage animal pest programmes in rural and urban areas, and target specific plant pests for control or eradication.  These are detailed in the Pest Management Plan.

Farmers are helping by managing possum control on their land, controlling noxious weeds and ensuring good land management practices to ensure unwanted pests don’t reinfest their land.

In urban areas, councils control weeds and animal pests on reserve land, while residents  help by controlling pests on their properties and ensuring that these don’t spread to neighbouring areas.

One of our greatest successes in Hawke's Bay has been in working with property owners - both in the country and in our towns - to significantly reduce the possum population. Possum control remains the responsibility of landowners until the Possum Control Programme (PCA) transitions to being delivered by professional possum contractors.

Note that the Regional Council does not provide services for controlling wasps, bees, flies etc. You can find more about bee swarms here, or please contact a local pest controller service.

Who else do we work with?

As well as other regional councils throughout New Zealand, we work with other organisations involved in biosecurity:

• Ministry of Primary Industries – protecting people, environment and primary sectors is a priority for MPI. They have a leading role in watching for harmful pests and diseases entering New Zealand and managing their control or eradication if they do get in.
• Department of Conservation - DOC manages 8 million hectares of land, about 30% of New Zealand's land area, and is responsible for preserving and protecting these areas, including managing threats from invasive pests and diseases. 
• New Zealand Biosecurity Institute – this organisation has open membership for anyone interested in biosecurity issues, and works to raise awareness of biosecurity issues, encourages the development and application of best practice in biosecurity and connects people and organisations to share knowledge.