Other Pest Animals
There are a number of other declared pest animal species, listed below, where there is no legal requirement for landowners to intervene. However, voluntary action is encouraged.
Below are the species of pest animals where there is currently no legal requirement for landowners to undertake population control.
Two species of magpie, the black-backed magpie and the white-backed magpie were introduced into New Zealand in the 1860s.
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Cats were bought to New Zealand in the ships of early European explorers, from 1769 onwards. They were kept on the ships to control the rats.
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Various species of deer were released in New Zealand between 1850 and 1925 for recreational hunting purposes.
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The feral goat originates from Europe and was released in New Zealand in the late 1700s.
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The feral pig was first released in New Zealand in the late 1700s to act as a food source for castaways.
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Three species of mustelid: the stoat, the weasel and the ferret, were introduced to New Zealand in the late 1880s to control rabbits.
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Some exotic freshwater fish are serious pests within our waterways. Several species are listed as unwanted organisms by Biosecurity NZ.
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There are three species of rat present in New Zealand.
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Varroa mite is established in the North Island and as far south as Canterbury and Westland in the South Island.
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New Zealand has some of the highest density areas of social wasps in the world.
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