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The Bay of Plenty Regional Pest Management Plan 2020-2030 has been modified.

In accordance with the Environment Court decision of 23 September 2021 resolving the application by Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society Inc, parts of the plan have been amended to:

  1. Include African club moss, Banana passion fruit, Cape ivy, Cathedral bells, Chilean rhubarb, Chinese fan/windmill palm, Chocolate vine, Coastal banksia, Cotoneaster, Himalayan fairy grass, Male fern, Mile-a-minute, Mistflower, Monkey apple, Moth Plant, Palm grass, Periwinkle, Rough horsetail, Royal fern, Self-propagated Phoenix palm, Strawberry dogwood, Sydney golden wattle and Taiwan cherry in the Sustained Control programme:
  2. Include Kauri die back disease in the Exclusion programme
  3. Insert new Rule 5A, and
  4. Reinstate those advisory plant pests not included in the Sustained Control programme into Appendix 1 Advisory Pests.

The changes to the above parts have been made operative and commence on 7 December 2021.

Pests included in the RPMP are listed alphabetically in plant and animal groups. Each pest can sit in one or more “programme”.

These programmes set out what we want to achieve in managing these pests and how the pests will be managed.

The pest programmes chosen for each pest depends on a number of reasons. Essentially the management goal must be achievable, there must be enough funding to support that programme and the benefits to manage the pest at that level must outweigh the costs.

For some pests, there will be rules that require action from landowners and occupiers. Please contact us if you’d like to know what pest programmes apply to individual properties.

Some rules require immediate action while others might come into force on a ‘need for action’ basis. For example, if in time Council decides a particular pest has become more of an issue or needs a higher level of management, it will provide written direction to relevant occupiers to remove it.

A number of well-established pests that did not meet the thresholds prescribed by the Biosecurity Act 1993 to be included in the RPMP’s pest management programmes have been added as Advisory pests.

Council has a strategic direction for pest management in the region. This sets out Council’s overall biosecurity objectives and aspirations and illustrates how the Council intends to achieve them, including leading pest management responses, supporting other agencies and initiatives and providing advice.

The detail of how pests will be managed will be set out in an operational plan which must be developed within three months of the RPMP becoming operative. This plan allows for adaptive management and innovative solutions.

For a hard copy of the RPMP, please contact Rachel Thaugland on 0800 884 880.
To discuss any aspect of the RPMP, please contact Lisa Power on 0800 884 881 ext 9322.

See more about Council’s role in managing pests within the region.

Annual operational plans and reports

Each year we produce an annual operational plan that sets operational targets and specific performance measures that link to the outcomes and objectives in the long-term Regional Pest Management Plan. At the end of the year we report on the highlights and issues from the previous year as well as progress against the specific targets.

Current Operational Plan

Previous Operational plans

Annual reports

Regional Pest Management Plan Exemptions

The Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP) sets our priorities and goals for managing animal and pest plants in the region. The plan also details rules that must be complied with from the Biosecurity Act.  

Section 78 of the Biosecurity Act allows Bay of Plenty Regional Council to issue exemptions under certain conditions such as undertaking research or to allow for management of pest species.

View a summary of exemptions

A summary of existing exemptions is recorded in the Exemptions Register. To view the Exemptions Register, contact our Contact Centre between 6am – 6pm on 0800 884 880.

Apply for an exemption

To apply for an exemption contact our Contact Centre between 6am – 6pm on 0800 884 880.  

If you are granted an exemption, we will add it to this register, but no personal details will be publicly visible.

Downloads

Bay of Plenty Regional Pest Management Plan 2020-2030

RPMP user guide

Meeting the Biosecurity Act requirements

Summary of cost benefit analyses including additional analyses requested through submission process