Regional Pest Management Plan

RPMP 2019 cover The Regional Pest Management Plan aims to limit the adverse effects of unwanted plants, animals, horticultural and marine pests. These invasive species can have wide ranging effects on human health, indigenous flora and fauna, our heritage, or the economy. This Plan supercedes the previous Regional Pest and Phytosanitary Management Strategies.

Regional pest management operates within a biosecurity framework for the Hawke’s Bay region, which includes:

Regional Pest Management Plan
Hawke’s Bay Biodiversity Strategy
the Regional Council Strategic Plan
neighbouring Regional Pest Management Plans
national legislation, policy and initiatives.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Pest Management Plan

The Plan

Over the past 15 years, approximately 80% of the regional council’s biosecurity budget has focused on pests affecting agricultural production. There is now a growing community expectation for a greater focus on protecting our native species and habitats and to recognise the biodiversity gains achieved from our current programmes. The plan reflects this change in attitude with the focus on:

Inclusion of marine pest management programme.
Reduction of the catch trap (RTC) rate in Possum Control Areas from 5% to 4%.
Addition of a ‘good neighbour’ rule for possums - possums will need to be controlled to 5% RTC within 500m of a boundary of a neighbouring property where a possum control operation is in place.
Inclusion of a Feral Goat Coordinated Management Area (CMA) programme based on the same principles as the successful Possum Control Area (PCA) programme.
Addition of wallabies as an exclusion pest. These are found in neighbouring regions and the Council wants to keep them out of Hawke’s Bay.
Inclusion of an Old man’s beard programme along the Kaweka and Ruahine Ranges to support the Department of Conservation’s programme in preventing it establishing within the ranges.
Addition of 5 pest plant species to an exclusion programme, with the aim of preventing them establishing in the Hawke’s Bay region - Noogoora bur, Alligator weed, Marshwort, Senegal tea, Spartina. These are currently not found in Hawke’s Bay. Cathedral bell and Darwin’s barberry which are in the region have also been included in the plan for the first time.
Inclusion of a Wilding Conifer programme.
A new programme that allows Possum Control Areas to be converted to Predator Control Areas or Possum Eradication Areas.