The Regional Council is reducing possum pests to low levels in urban areas through the HuB programme - Hawke's Bay Urban Biodiversity. Council and its contractors completed a control project on Napier Hill in 2009 (now being maintained by residents) and started work on the outskirts of Havelock in 2010. The aim? To increase the number and diversity of birds, insects, lizards and plant life currently eaten or affected by possums.
Our Biosecurity team can also assist individual residents to control possums on their property with advice and by making traps available. Contact us on 0800 108 838.
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For more information, refer to the Frequently Asked Questions, the notice provided to Havelock North residents or the notice provided to Napier Hill residents.
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is carrying out possum control over the semi-rural area at the northeast edge of Havelock North around Te Mata Peak, starting in February and progressing through to June 2010.
This operation is one of the Council’s HUB programmes to increase urban biodiversity and improve lifestyles in the cities. It will have a benefit for Havelock North village as the reduction of possums will result in increased native birdlife and tree health over a wider area.
The focus will be on reducing possums to a low level throughout the target area, especially in the gullies, reserves, and areas with well established trees. Council is working with Hastings District Council to support their staff with control work in their parks and reserves.
Read the notice provided to landowners in the target area (November 2009) about the operation; press advertising and newsletters have kept residents up to date with progress on the programme.
Map of control area
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council completed its urban possum control on Napier Hill between February and June 2009. Residents have noticed increased numbers of birds, good tree and plant growth. Results of a bird survey confirmed this in February 2010.
Read the notice provided to Napier Hill residents (November 2008) about the operation.
Map of control area
You can purchase a Timms trap from Farmlands subsidised 50% by the Regional Council. Information on using these is in an Environment Topic.
Urban possum operations use a variety of safe, proven control methods. The success of the operation will depend on community support. The methods used for private properties will be selected in discussion with the owner/occupier. Methods include live capture traps, Timms Trap, Possum Master and bait stations. Traps are checked daily during the operation and contractors remove all possums from the property. Find out more about information on the bait being used in this Greater Wellington Regional Council info sheet.
Ongoing control by residents after the main operation, is organised in consultation with contractors.
Residents with any concern with regard to young children or pets can discuss this with the Regional Council’s contractor when he calls.
The Regional Council contractor is Rural Pest Services. The contractors carry ID cards. They contact all property owners/residents whose land they would like to access and need your signed permission before they do any control work. They advise residents on the control methods and safety aspects. All control methods are locatable by GPS for maintenance and retrieval at the end of the operation.
If you are in a HuB control zone and you have a possum problem now (perhaps a particular tree or route favoured by the possums in your neighbourhood) please let the contractor know when they contact you as the information will be valuable in planning the best placement of traps. Outside any HuB operation, please contact our Biosecurity staff - email below.
The Regional Council aim to maintain possum density at a low level with the assistance of City and District Councils and residents. Residents can assist by regularly servicing a bait station or kill trap on their property. These can be purchased at Farmlands and are subsidised 50% by the Regional Council.
Similar operations will be managed in the future in other urban areas. Look for more answers on the FAQ page.
If you require any further information please contact Biosecurity Officer Dean Roughton by email or phone (06) 833-8088.