Pest animals may make it into management plan
Media release
Possums, rats, weasel, stoats, ferrets and feral cats may be included in WCRC’s next Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP).
At a recent workshop to discuss community feedback, councillors agreed with a staff recommendation to do more work on including possums, rats, mustelids and feral cats in the next RPMP. This will involve investigating targeted rules - where these can be justified - alongside non-regulatory partnership approaches.
The current RPMP has been in place since 2018 and includes 42 pest plant species but no pest animals. It’s now being reviewed to look at potential changes in managing predator species, feral ungulates and pest plants.
Over 100 responses were received during initial engagement on the review along with feedback from key stakeholders and organisations.
Group Manager Environmental Science Shanti Morgan says it’s given WCRC a clear message.
“Our community and stakeholders have said we need to recognise pest animals in our plan. However, that doesn’t mean introducing blanket new control programmes or costs. Now we need to assess the costs and benefits of different management approaches to ensure any intervention is justified, practical and targeted to where it will make the greatest difference.”
Between 85% and 95% of Westland respondents supported including possums, rats, mustelids and feral cats. Support from Grey and Buller was not as strong.
Views on feral ungulates were mixed. There was stronger support for including feral pigs but less agreement on goats and red deer.
Councillors agreed there should be more assessment of feral pigs and goats with any potential rules focused on defined priority sites, or outcomes, rather than blanket region-wide regulation.
Red deer won’t be included in the RPMP at this stage. Instead, they will be considered as part of the development of a broader regional ungulate management strategy involving WCRC, DOC, landowners, iwi and hunters.
Feedback indicated a preference for regulatory and partnership approaches rather than establishing new WCRC-funded control areas, says Shanti Morgan.
“Strong coordination is critical to any future pest-animal programme. Coast pest management can’t sit with WCRC alone. We have to partner with agencies such as DOC and alongside iwi, landowners, industry, hunters and community groups.”
The engagement also sought views on potential changes to managing white pampas, purple pampas, knotweed and willows.
“The feedback made it clear pest management doesn’t need to look the same everywhere. Where communities support stronger intervention, we can explore that, but where there is a preference for a different approach we need to recognise that as well,” she says.
Eradication of purple pampas isn’t considered feasible, for example. Most respondents supported retaining the current approach in which purple pampas remains in the RPMP and continues to be managed through progressive containment.
District views differed about white pampas. Councillors agreed staff should develop a site-led programme targeting locations where eradication, or other defined outcomes, are achievable and supported by the community. This won’t apply to Grey District as the community prefers a non-compliance-based approach to management.
Councillors agreed pest plant programmes should now be progressed through the next stage of the RPMP review in alignment with the community feedback received, developed and tested.
They supported WCRC continuing to explore opportunities for greater Crown and partnership investment rather than assuming new pest-management programmes should be funded by Coast ratepayers.
Staff will now work through the detail, what’s technically achievable, what it would cost, who should be responsible for delivery, and where regulation is actually necessary.
The results will inform drafting of the new RPMP. This will go through formal public consultation, submissions and hearings before WCRC makes final decisions.
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