In early 2022, the Otago Regional Council (ORC) initiated the Queensberry Community Rabbit Management Programme. The objectives included identifying areas in Queensberry that are particularly prone to rabbit and why, providing education about roles and responsibilities related to rabbit management, and offering guidance on effective rabbit management approaches. 

In February 2022, ORC conducted inspections and visits on 65 public and privately-owned properties in the Queensberry area to determine which locations are most affected by rabbits, which properties are managing rabbits well, and which require a greater level of control. Included in these inspections were the Central Otago District Council’s (CODC) road reserve and the Department of Conservation’s (DoC) Poison Creek reserve.

A total of 32 properties inspected were assessed as compliant, while 33 were assessed as requiring a greater level of control to be compliant with the relevant rules in the Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP). The owners/occupiers of these properties were asked to submit a rabbit management plan detailing how they would effectively manage rabbit  numbers on their properties.

In September 2022, properties assessed as requiring a greater level of control as well as some previously compliant properties were re-inspected (39 properties). Of these, 9 were assessed as compliant, and 30 were assessed as still requiring a greater level of control to comply with the relevant rules in the RPMP. 

In September 2023, 29 properties were re-inspected, with 9 assessed as compliant and 20 as requiring a greater level of control to comply with RPMP rules.

In September 2024, 20 properties were re-inspected, and an additional 3 properties were assessed as compliant.

At the last round of property rabbit re-inspections in September 2025, a further 7 properties were assessed as compliant, and 10 properties remained non-compliant.

We would like to acknowledge that many of these properties are working towards compliance, and they have made considerable progress by collaborating with neighbours to create long-term rabbit management plans. 

This means that over the last four years of re-inspection, 85% of the 65 properties inspected were compliant at their last re-inspection. There is still work to be done, and the ORC will continue to work with the remaining 15% of non-compliant properties to reduce rabbit numbers.

We have seen some positive outcomes from the community throughout the Queensberry Community Rabbit Management Programme. ORC will review the results of this programme to provide directions for how we can support other communities with similar programmes in the future. We will inform you of any changes or updates as part of the review.

In the meantime, as rabbit management remains an ongoing challenge, we will continue to facilitate the programme and monitor the effectiveness of landowner efforts in managing rabbit populations to a low level.

For more information about rabbits and available management techniques, visit orc.govt.nz/rabbits. 

We have been promoting the installation of rabbit fencing as an effective measure to prolong the impact of any rabbit control work undertaken. These recommendations are supported by our observations in the field, which are that rabbit numbers throughout Queensberry are generally lower in areas where there is more rabbit fencing in place.

We will continue to promote and strongly recommend rabbit fencing as the first step in an effective, long-term, sustainable rabbit management plan. Even if it is not feasible to fence the entire property boundary all at once, strategic fencing along boundaries that are most prone to reinvasion can still go a long way towards keeping rabbit numbers down to a manageable level.

Our work to date has been focussed on properties greater than 5,000 m² in size, but we are aware that rabbits on smaller properties are also contributing to the area’s problem. If rabbits are able to graze, hide or even just pass through these properties then there are measures that the property owner/occupier could take to contribute to the wider collective rabbit management effort. These measures include:

• Rabbit exclusion fencing
• Pruning the bottom of shrubs and hedges to reduce the amount of suitable shelter for rabbits
• Ensuring that any gaps under buildings and sheds are blocked to prevent rabbit access
• Removing any piles of wood, rubbish or vegetation that offer rabbits protection from the weather and predators

Control methods on smaller properties and in urban settings can also include the use of Pindone rabbit pellets in bait stations, fumigation of burrows (using Magtoxin) as well as follow up shooting (in appropriate locations) by experienced contractors. For more information on any of these methods please visit our rabbit page in the first instance and email or call if you have any further questions.

Email: biosecurity@orc.govt.nz

Phone: 0800 474 082

Please note that any toxic agents (i.e. Pindone and Magtoxin) must only be used in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions to minimise the risk of harm to children, pets, stock and native wildlife.

You can find more information aboutrabbits and available management techniques here.

If you would like further information, please contact biosecurity@orc.govt.nz.