West Coast Divide TB Management Area (TMA)
Pest control work planned for West Coast Divide 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 West Coast Divide TMA
The West Coast Divide TMA covers 167,900 hectares from the Upper Grey River to the Hokitika and Mungo Rivers. The area includes Hochstetter Forest and the catchments of the Haupiri, Waiheke, Tutaekuri, Trent and upper Taramakau Rivers. It also includes the Alexander, Kelly, Aicken, Campbell, Bald, Newton and Toaroha Ranges.
The habitat includes podocarp and beech forests with some patches of scrub, with alpine and subalpine plant types at higher altitudes. Altitudes range from 100 metres to 2000 metres.
History of TB and pest control in West Coast Divide
Wildlife surveys confirmed TB in the possum populations of the Waiheke, Haupiri and Upper Taramakau Catchment areas between 2013 and 2016. We also found TB in wild deer between 2010 and 2014.
West Coast strains of TB have appeared in Canterbury, to the east of this TMA. This suggests the West Coast Divide TMA is a possible TB source for eastern areas.
We completed aerial control in:
- Upper Ahaura South in 2009
- Alexander Range in 2012
- Taipo East in 2013
- Hochstetter in 2014
- Taramakau Valley in 2016
- Otira block in 2022.
We completed ground control in:
- Upper Ahaura and Taramakau in 2019/2020 and 2022/2023
- Upper Ahaura North in 2019/2020 and 2022/2023
- Taramakau Valley in 2019/2020, 2021/2022 and 2022/2023.
Current state
As of June 2024, there are no infected herds in the West Coast Divide TMA.
If you're moving animals
The West Coast Divide TMA sits across the Tasman/West Coast Movement Control Area (MCA) and the West Coast Kahurangi Annual Special Testing Area (STA). Before you move cattle or deer to another herd or farm from an MCA, you must have them tested for bovine TB. If you're in an STA, you don't need to do pre-movement testing.
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 West Coast Divide 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 | 10,950ha | Upper Ahaura North |
| Aerial control | 2024/2025 | 73,000ha | McVicars South, Nancy, Upper Ahaura South and Alexander Range |
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 West Coast Divide TB management area boundaries, Vector Control Zone, and proposed control areas.
Contacts
Rentokil Initial (trading as Vector Free Marlborough) manages eradication activities in the West Coast Divide 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