The role of research

Research and development help us meet TB freedom goals

Research and development play an important role in helping us plan and manage our TB eradication work.

The TBfree programme aims to eradicate TB from:

• cattle and deer by 2026
• possums by 2040
• New Zealand by 2055.

To achieve these outcomes, between $2 million and $2.5 million needs to be invested in research and development each year.

Our research increases our understanding of areas critical to the long-term health of New Zealand’s agricultural and environmental future, including:

• disease diagnostics and management
• epidemiology
• ecology
• pest eradication.

We are particularly focused on research that helps us:

• develop tools and processes for controlling sources of infection
• understand the ecology of wildlife that are sources of infection.

Shared goals lead to collaborative research

Where our research programmes, projects or outcomes benefit other organisations, we share costs, staff and data with them.

For example, much of the Department of Conservation's environmental protection work involves predator control. This links in with our possum control research. A joint project completed in 2019 showed that kiwi chick survival rates improved after aerial 1080 operations to control pests.

Our research also contributes to the goals of programmes such as Predator Free 2050.

Supporting postgraduate research

We invest in relevant postgraduate and postdoctoral study programmes.

Download our annual report to find out more about our research and development projects.