Each year, we develop a targeted control programme to control these weeds and pests to ensure we meet the Crown’s responsibilities under the Biosecurity Act.
Under the Biosecurity Act, regional councils and unitary authorities are required to develop Regional Pest Management Plans (RPMPs). These plans set out how pest plants and animals are to be managed by landowners, including Crown agencies.
Crown agencies must comply with specific provisions in RPMPs known as ‘Good Neighbour Rules.’ These rules require landowners to actively control pests along property boundaries to prevent their spread to neighbouring land. The level and method of control varies depending on the pest species and its rate of spread – for example, managing rabbits requires a different approach to controlling gorse.
To ensure we comply with these requirements, we hold annual planning meetings with regional councils to review our control programme. These meetings provide an opportunity to gather feedback on new infestations, align priorities and assess the effectiveness of the previous year’s pest control efforts.
Weed management strategies
Rakaia River: An example of our control work
The Upper Rakaia River in a section where no weeds such as gorse and broom are present.
For some of the South Island’s largest braided rivers, we have developed Weed Management Strategies in partnership with other agencies. One example is the upper Rakaia River, where we lead a joint control programme with Environment Canterbury (ECan) and the Department of Conservation (DOC). The survey and control area is vast, covering an area similar in size to Rakiura / Stewart Island.
Braided rivers provide critical habitat for several threatened bird species, including ngutu pare/wrybill, tarapirohe/black-fronted tern and pohowera/banded dotterel. These birds nest directly on open riverbeds, laying eggs that closely resemble river stones as a form of camouflage. This adaptation offers little defence against mammalian predators such as mustelids, rats, feral cats and hedgehogs.
To protect these vulnerable species, we work closely with ECan, and DOC on targeted predator control programmes. Removing invasive weeds such as gorse and broom is also essential, as it reduces cover for predators and helps maintain the open riverbed environments these birds rely on for successful nesting.