Bay of Plenty TB Management Area (TMA)
Pest control work planned for Bay of Plenty includes ground control.
Eradicating bovine TB in NZ
As part of our TBfree programme we deliver our pest control operations through a framework of TB management areas (TMAs). TMAs are areas with known TB infection in livestock or wildlife. Each TMA has a specific TB control plan designed to eradicate TB as effectively as possible.
The Bay of Plenty TMA
The Bay of Plenty TMA covers 60,773 hectares, and is located in the south-eastern area of the Bay of Plenty region, stretching from the Kaingaroa forest in the west, to the Whirinaki/Te Urewera forests in the east. The northernmost tip includes Taupiri mountain and the headwaters of the Wheao, Rangitaiki and Waione rivers. The southern boundary is Lochinver Station. From Lochinver, the boundary travels north again across State Highway 5 to include the Matea farmland and Ngapuketurua forest.
The habitat consists of open farmland and pine forests.
History of TB and pest control in Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty TMA has a long history of TB infection in cattle herds and wildlife. We found an infected:
- ferret in the Lochinver area in 2006
- pig in 2008.
We discovered:
- 2 infected cattle herds in 2020/2021
- 1 infected cattle herd in 2022/2023.
These herds are now clear of TB.
Possum control in this TMA has kept the possum population low over the past 10 years. This has prevented TB from migrating out of the uncontrolled land to the south of the TMA, and into TB-free areas.
We completed:
- aerial control in Iwitahi, Ngapuketurua, Waione, Kokomoka and Whirinaki in 2017
- aerial control in Kokomoka in 2022 to protect the herds in the Bay of Plenty TMA from TB migration from the east
- ground control in Matea and Lochinver in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Current state
As of June 2024, there is 1 infected herd in the Bay of Plenty TMA.
Future pest control operations
We plan our pest control operations up to 3 years in advance. The current year runs from July 2024 to June 2025.
Dates and control methods for pest control operations in Bay of Plenty are provisional and subject to change. If you’re affected by any upcoming operations, our pest control contractors will contact you before work begins. They will:
- talk you through the specifics of each operation
- explain what you need to do before the operations start
- get your consent for the work to be done.
| Type of control | When | Coverage | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground control | 2024/2025 | 24,805ha | Matea, Lochinver |
Map of 2024/2025 pest control operations
The proposed area for ground control is marked on the map in green.
Interactive map showing Bay of Plenty TB management area boundaries, Vector Control Zone, and proposed control areas.
Contacts
EPRO Limited manages eradication activities in the Bay of Plenty TMA. Contact them directly if you have feedback or questions about upcoming operations.
EPRO Limited
Phone: 07 378 4852/0800 275 3776
Email: control@epro.co.nz
Nearest local OSPRI office
OSPRI Hamilton office
PO Box 9466
Waikato Mail Centre
Hamilton 3240
Phone: 07 849 8915
Email: vector.sni@ospri.co.nz