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Find out why Rooks are the pest of the month.
Find all the information on pests in our pest plan as well as other pests that are a problem in Otago, right here on our pest pages.
Learn why they’re a pest, how to identify them and what you should do about it to protect Otago from the impacts of harmful organisms.
Otago is the third largest region in New Zealand, and we have a wide range of ecosystems and biodiversity that come under threat from pest plants and animals.
What do you know about the pests that cause problems in Otago? Look through these pages to discover what ORC is doing about the animals that destroy our native habitats and kill our native or endangered wildlife.
Pest plants are non-native plants that cause problems. Some are toxic to humans and animals. Some spread so quickly they smother our native plants and destroy the homes of our native wildlife. Find out what the rules are and how you can help get give of these pests.
Know your hornwort from your lagarosiphon? ORC’s Biosecurity team actively combats freshwater pests to safeguard our waterways, including initiatives such as the Check, Clean, Dry programme. Let’s keep our aquatic ecosystems thriving.
Marine pests are sneaking into Otago’s waters, posing a serious threat to our native species, marine industries, and treasured coastlines. Let’s work together to keep Otago’s waters safe and pest-free!
For help identifying poisonous plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, head to the NZ Plant Conservation Network. If you think you have been exposed to a poisonous plant, please call the poisons centre on 0800 POISON (0800 764 766)
HPAI is a viral disease that primarily affects birds, but can affect marine mammals, companion animals and livestock.
If you spot three or more sick or dead wild birds in a group:
Our Regional Pest Management Plan sets out the rules and requirements for everyone in Otago to manage specified pests.
This is supported by our Biosecurity Strategy which brings together ORC’s statutory and non-statutory functions; it helps us address things that are not covered in the pest plan’s framework.
The Regional Pest Management Plan (Pest Plan) sets out the framework for how pest plants and animals specified in the plan will be managed in Otago over the next 10 years.
This Strategy sets out ORC’s broader role in biosecurity, and a number of important actions and projects to better manage pests and harmful organisms.
We have published threat assessments on several group of species in Otago, including bats, birds, indigenous vascular plants and reptiles. You can read them all on our regional threat assessment page, with more to come.
CHECK your gear and remove pests. CLEAN your gear thoroughly. DRY it for 48 hours before moving to another waterway!
Do you know what’s lurking beneath your boat? The ORC Biosecurity team works hard to stop harmful pests from spreading in Otago’s coastline and helps people learn how to keep these pests out.
Pollution can be many things that are harmful in Otago's air, water, land, or coastal areas. The ORC has rules to prevent pollution and protect our environment. If you see pollution, report it quickly to help us investigate and stop the harm.
November 2019
Otago Regional Council
ISBN 978-0-908324-57-6
PDF | 5 MB
The Otago Regional Pest Management Plan focuses on dealing with harmful pests that impact our environment, economy, and communities. It identifies species like rabbits, wallabies, gorse, and wilding conifers that cause problems on our land. Guided by the Biosecurity Act 1993, the plan works with stakeholders to set rules and controls for managing pests. Through consultation, it aims to protect our region's unique ecosystems and species from the damage caused by these invasive organisms.
October 2019
PDF | 3 MB
