4 Aug 2020

Wallaby control - stop them spreading throughout NZ

From Nine To Noon, 9:40 am on 4 August 2020
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Photo: Supplied

Environmental advocates are calling for more research and training to prevent wallabies spreading throughout the south and north islands. 

Two species, 'Bennetts' in the South Island and 'Dama' in the North Island are regarded as a pest. Six Bennett wallabies eat as much pasture as a sheep. 

Forest and Bird describes them as "giant rabbits" in terms of their impact on farmers.  Concerned they'll spread throughout the country, it is calling for investment in community training, special wallaby dogs and a greater awareness of how easily they can move from one region to another.

Lynn Freeman is joined by iwi environmental management consultant Tame Malcolm, who runs school holiday training programmes on Ngāti Tarawhai marae and Forest and Bird Central North Island regional manager Rebecca Stirnemann.