Pest control in the Gisborne region: Federated Farmers report

As reported by Charlie Reynolds, Federated Farmers provincial president for Gisborne and Wairoa, the numbers of possums, pigs, and deer in the regions are at extremely high levels. A nationwide report notes that possums act as the primary national threat due to their simultaneous widespread presence and the severity of damage caused. Alongside them, farmers face rabbits, feral cats, stoats, ferrets, deer, wild pigs, wallabies, and Canada geese.

Seven out of ten respondents in Gisborne indicated that the migration of pest animals from neighboring forestry blocks and Crown lands creates more problems than their arrival from neighboring farms. According to Reynolds, parts of the region are seeing a notable increase in the deer population. The main risk in this regard becomes bovine tuberculosis (TB). For instance, in southern Wairoa and the Putorino area, where the disease had been practically eradicated, the infection has returned due to a lack of control over possums and pigs in a certain area. Around six to seven herds were affected, and these holdings faced severe restrictions. Outbreaks were also recorded near Lake Tutira, while Gisborne avoided such problems.

To combat pests, farmers are opening up their land to recreational hunters. In addition, during the first six months of 2026, Gisborne District Council staff and contractors destroyed or trapped nearly 3,500 possums. In Reynolds's view, cooperation between farmers, the Department of Conservation (DoC), and the forestry industry needs to improve.

DoC Tairawhiti Operations Manager Matt Tong noted that a coordinated landscape approach is essential for successful long-term control over mobile wild animals. The department is discussing with farmers, hunters, foresters, the Ministry for Primary Industries, the district council, and venison exporters the establishment of a joint oversight group and ungulate strategy in Tairawhiti. Also, DoC and MPI are developing a national wild animal management framework and leading the National Wild Animal Management Coordination Group, while the National Wild Goat Hunting competition continues to operate in the region.