Bay of Plenty's Wallaby Infestation: A Million Creatures, A Million Problems
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is in a constant battle against an unexpected invader: the wallaby. In 2024/25, they managed to control and contain over 2000 of these marsupials, a significant step in their ongoing pest control program. But why are these seemingly adorable creatures such a threat?
Wallabies were introduced to New Zealand in the late 1800s for hunting and the value of their hides. Without natural predators, they've thrived, adapting to the local environment and now number over a million across the nation. While their cute appeal might be hard to resist, their impact on New Zealand's biodiversity and economy is devastating.
Zane Jensen, the Department of Conservation's Rotorua operations manager, highlights the wallaby's destructive nature. They devour everything in their path, including young plants that could one day become forests. This leads to the destruction of forest regeneration and productive farmland, resulting in substantial financial losses for New Zealanders.
The Department of Conservation, in collaboration with the Tipu Mātoro National Wallaby Eradication Programme, is working towards the ultimate goal of eradicating wallabies. The government has pledged $1 million over two years to support these efforts. The Bay of Plenty Regional Council, responsible for pest control in the region, is a key player in this program.
In June, the council updated its Regional Pest Management Plan to include all wallaby species known to inhabit the region, aiming for either eradication or progressive containment. The Central North Island wallaby containment area, spanning approximately 260,000 hectares, is a challenging task, comparable in size to the country of Luxembourg.
The council's efforts have been ongoing, with 15 wallabies eradicated and 1988 contained in 2024/25. Their strategy involves using contractors with wallaby indicator dogs and trail cameras to locate and assess wallaby populations. When wallabies are found outside the containment area, the council works with landowners to plan and execute control measures.
The focus is on finding and eliminating the last wallaby in an area, making the number of wallabies killed secondary to ensuring none survive. Night shooting is employed within the containment area at strategic locations to reduce wallaby numbers and prevent their spread.
However, wallabies are not the only animal pest issue in the region. The Bay of Plenty faces threats from 20 different pest animals, with the regional council managing exclusion and eradication pests like wallabies and goats, while landowners handle containment species. This dual responsibility can lead to confusion, as evidenced by a 'rabbit plague' incident in 2025.
The regional council also addresses other animal pests, such as rabbits, stoats, and possums, which are considered advisory threats due to their well-established presence. While the council can provide control advice, the responsibility ultimately lies with the landowners or occupiers.
In the 20th year of the Eastern Bay of Plenty Feral Goat Programme, nearly 1000 feral goats have been processed, with eight eradicated and 960 contained. Over two decades, approximately 35,000 goats have been controlled, covering an area equivalent to more than a million rugby fields, at a cost of $10 million.
This ongoing battle against pests highlights the complex challenges faced by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council in preserving New Zealand's natural environment and economy.
