Welcome to Hawke's Bay Regional Council website pages on plant and animal pests. This area of work is also known as Biosecurity.
In this section you will find information about animal and plant pests in Hawke's Bay, how to identify them and the role of the Animal Health Board. Check out our 'new' updated Possum Control Area (PCA) pages. Urban biodiversity programmes - or HuB - are underway in residential suburbs.
| The Council has a pest management strategy review discussion document (PDF File - 339Kb) out for comment until 21 April. The purpose of this discussion document is to see initial comment from landowners and others in Hawke’s Bay on the best way to continue to manage and control a range of plant and animal pests. In August/September 2011 formal submissions on a draft strategy will be sought. |
| On this page |  Animal Pest control work being done |
In New Zealand, numerous introduced species of animals and plants have affected our natural environment. Some of them have had a negative impact on our bush, native species and continue to have a detrimental effect on our economy by reducing the productivity of our farm and crop land. Some plants have an adverse affect on human health.
The Regional Animal Pest and Plant Pest Management Strategies have identified the major pests to be controlled in Hawke’s Bay. A combination of Council and Animal Health Board operations using staff and accredited contractors, and landowner work is being done. The Council's Plant and Animal Pest Annual Report shows the progress being made each year on controlling pests and increasing biosecurity in the region.
Animal Pests
The major pests are possums, rabbits, mustelids, rooks.
Plant Pests
Include:
- Plants that affect animals (eg Chilean needlegrass)
- Weeds that reduce pasture productivity (eg thistles)
- Garden plants that thrive too well and kill off native bushtrees (eg Japanese honeysuckle)
- Plants that affect human health (eg privet)
Some must be eradicated, others are required to be controlled.
Hawke's Bay Regional Council has publications on all the plant and animal pests. If you have difficulties downloading from this website, copies are available free on request.
If you need assistance controlling any of these listed pests on your property please contact a Biosecurity Officer. The Council is not responsible for controlling bees, wasps, ants, or other pest insects. For help with these, please refer to Pest Control in the Yellow Pages.