Effective pest control requires a good understanding of the target and the method being used.
Effective pest control requires a good understanding of the target and the method being used.
Before attempting to control anything, ask yourself the following questions:
WARNING: If you suspect poisoning has occurred to a non-target species such as pets or children, seek medical advice immediately. For urgent medical assistance, ring 111, or for animals your local vet. For advice on suspected mild effects, call the National Poison Centre on 0800 764 766.
When using any herbicide or pesticide, PLEASE READ THE LABEL THOROUGHLY to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.
To ensure safety the following principles should be applied:
A professional is recommended if an infestation requires insecticide.
WARNING: If you suspect poisoning has occurred to a non-target species such as pets or children, seek medical advice immediately. For urgent medical assistance, ring 111, or for animals your local vet. For advice on suspected mild effects, call the National Poison Centre on 0800 764 766.
A person who, for the purpose of capturing alive a mammal, bird, reptile, or amphibian, sets a trap or causes a trap to be set must inspect the trap, or cause a competent person to inspect that trap, within 12 hours after sunrise on each day the trap remains set, beginning on the day immediately after the day on which the trap is set.
Caution: When using live capture traps please ensure that all instructions, safety requirements and laws (in particular the Animal Welfare Act 1999) are followed. It is an offence under the Biosecurity act 1993 to release captured pest animals listed in the Regional pest management plan 2020-2030, and these pests need to be destroyed humanely as per the animal welfare act 1999. Non target captured animals need to be released without harm.
CAUTION: NAWAC (National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee) approved kill traps need to be set as per the manufacturers guidelines. When using kill traps please ensure that all instructions, safety requirements and laws (in particular the Animal Welfare Act 1999) are followed.
When using firearms, all users must have a firearms licence and adhere to all acts and laws such as the Arms Act 1983.
The seven rules of firearm use must be observed at all times.
AT ALL TIMES, PEST CONTROL OPERATORS IN CONTROL OF A VTA MUST:
If you are undertaking a pest control operation that requires the use of certain VTAs, you may need a permission from the Department of Conservation and/or the Public Health Unit (PHU) of the local District Health Board.
If you are using a VTA that requires a permission from the PHU, you will need to make an application on the approved application form, available from the Ministry of Health.
You will need a permission from DOC to use any VTA on land administered or managed by DOC. To obtain this Permission, contact your local Department of Conservation office.
Safety precautions for VTA use:
Animals controlled: Feral Cats and Mustelids
You can read further information on predaSTOP and PAPP in the best practice guidelines for the use of PredaSTOP™ for feral cat control.
All specific regulations and laws must be adhered to, all label instructions followed, and permissions and licences obtained to purchase and use Alphachloralose.
Fumigants are considered separately from other VTAs. Fumigants are commonly used in the vertebrate pest control industry for control of rabbits in burrows. If there is more than 3 kg of the substance under the personal control of an approved handler, then notification, storage and signage requirements apply.
You do not require an Approved Handler certificate when you have less than 3kg of the substance under your control. Notification must be given not less than 24 hours prior to the commencement of fumigation to the nearest Communications Centre of the New Zealand Fire Service if:
Signage is required on land where members of the public may lawfully be present and signs must be erected at the perimeter of the risk area that:
Each sign must:
You will need a Location Test Certificate if you are using and/or storing more than 3 kg of flammable fumigants.
WARNING: If you suspect poisoning has occurred to a non-target species such as pets or children, seek medical advice immediately. For urgent medical assistance, ring 111, or for animals your local vet. For advice on suspected mild effects, call the National Poison Centre on 0800 764 766.
Links to information on operational planning for Animal pest Operations:
Further information on animal pest control with firearms, toxins and traps: