Buller TB Management Area (TMA)
Pest control work planned for Buller includes ground control and aerial 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 Buller TMA
The Buller TMA covers 172,900 hectares north of Reefton, between the northern end of the Paparoa Range and the Victoria Range. The area includes parts of the Buller River catchments and Reefton, Cronadun and Inangahua townships. It also includes the Mackley and New Creek control areas.
The habitat is farmland interspersed with stands of kahikatea, willows, scrub and riparian margins. Altitudes range from several hundred metres up to 1500 metres.
History of TB and pest control in Buller
The Buller TMA has a long history of TB infection in local wildlife and cattle herds. Past infection in this area dates back to 2009. The most recent case of TB infection was in 2016.
We completed ground-based possum control in the:
- Black's Point block in 2015
- Cronadun, Inangahua, Iron Bridge, Mackley and the New Creek South blocks in 2016/2017 and 2018/2019
- Inangahua and Iron Bridge blocks in 2019/2020
- Inangahua, Mackley and New Creek South blocks in 2020/2021
- Cronadun block in 2020/2021 and 2021/2022
- Inangahua, Iron Bridge, Mackley and New Creek South blocks in 2022/2023.
We undertook aerial control in the:
- Rahu North and South blocks in 2009
- Inangahua East and Inangahua West blocks in 2011 and 2019
- New Creek North block in 2016 and 2020.
Some areas, such as Victoria Forest Park, have had very little or no control.
Current state
As of June 2024, there are no infected herds in the Buller TMA.
If you're moving animals
The Buller TMA sits across the West Coast Kahurangi Annual Special Testing Area (STA) and the Buller District STA. In these areas, cattle over 12 months and deer over 15 months of age are tested annually.
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 the Buller TMA 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 | 20,800ha | Cronadun, Inangahua, Iron Bridge, Mackley, New Creek South |
| Aerial control | 2024/2025 | 10,000ha | Inangahua West |
Map of 2024/2025 pest control operations
The proposed area for ground control is marked in green on the map, and the proposed area for aerial control is marked in yellow.
Interactive map showing Buller TMA boundaries, Vector Control Zone, and proposed control areas.
Contacts
Rentokil Initial (trading as Vector Free Marlborough) manages eradication activities in the Buller TMA. Contact them directly if you have feedback or questions about upcoming operations.
Vector Free Marlborough
Phone: 0508 548 008
Email: vfm.communication-nz@rentokil-initial.com
Nearest local OSPRI office
OSPRI Christchurch office
PO Box 8674
Riccarton
Christchurch 8440
Phone: 03 363 3090
Email: vectornsi@ospri.co.nz