Key Takeaways
- Introduced wallabies pose significant threats to New Zealand’s environment and economy, with estimated costs in the millions of dollars.
- The Department of Conservation and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council are working together to reduce wallaby populations and prevent further spread, with a goal of ultimate eradication.
- Wallabies have adapted to New Zealand conditions and are estimated to number over 1 million in the wild, with no natural predators to control their population.
- The Central North Island containment area covers roughly 260,000 hectares, and efforts are ongoing to target wallaby populations inside the area and prevent spread outside.
- Other animal pests, such as rabbits, stoats, and possums, are also considered threats, and the regional council manages exclusion and eradication plans for these species.
Introduction to the Wallaby Threat
The introduction of wallabies to New Zealand from Australia in the late 1800s has had significant consequences for the country’s environment and economy. Without a natural predator, wallabies have adapted to New Zealand conditions and are now estimated to number over 1 million in the wild. These cute and cuddly animals may seem harmless, but they represent a significant threat to New Zealand’s biodiversity and economy. According to the Department of Conservation Rotorua operations manager Zane Jensen, wallabies eat everything within their reach in native bush, including seedlings that make up future forests, and destroy forest regeneration and productive farmland, equating to a massive financial cost.
The Impact of Wallabies on the Environment and Economy
The impact of wallabies on New Zealand’s environment and economy cannot be overstated. Wallabies cost New Zealanders millions of dollars in lost farm production and lost benefits from the environment, according to Jensen. The Department of Conservation is working alongside numerous entities and the Tipu MÄtoro National Wallaby Eradication Programme to reduce the spread of wallabies with an ultimate goal of eradication. The government has put up $1 million over two years to aid efforts, and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council is responsible for pest control in the region and is part of the eradication programme. The council has changed its Regional Pest Management Plan to contain all wallaby species known to be present in the region as an eradication or progressive containment species.
Eradication Efforts
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council has made significant progress in its efforts to eradicate wallabies from the region. In 2024-25, the council killed or contained over 2000 wallabies as part of its pest control programme. The Central North Island containment area, which covers roughly 260,000 hectares, uses natural features such as rivers, steep gorges, and lakes to form its barriers, with a surrounding buffer zone in place where operational work takes place. Wallaby populations inside the containment area are targeted from the outside in, with the hope of full eradication. Contractors, with wallaby indicator dogs and trail cameras, locate and determine the extent of wallaby populations, and night shooting is undertaken within the containment area at strategic locations to reduce wallaby numbers and prevent spread outside containment.
Other Animal Pests
While wallabies are a significant threat, they are not the region’s only animal pest issue. Twenty pest animals are listed for management in the Bay of Plenty, and the regional council manages exclusion and eradication plans for other pests, like goats, while landowners handle containment species. The regional council received 147 public enquiries for other animal pests in the year to 30 June, including rabbits, stoats, and possums, which are considered advisory threats as they are already well-established. The regional council can assist with control advice, but responsibility lies with the landowners or occupiers. This arrangement caused confusion with a "rabbit plague" at an Okere Falls location in 2025. Nearly 1000 feral goats have also been processed this year, with eight eradicated and 960 contained, in what was the 20th year of the Eastern Bay of Plenty Feral Goat Programme.
Conclusion and Future Efforts
In conclusion, the introduction of wallabies to New Zealand has had significant consequences for the country’s environment and economy. The Department of Conservation and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council are working together to reduce wallaby populations and prevent further spread, with a goal of ultimate eradication. While progress has been made, efforts are ongoing, and the regional council is committed to finding and eliminating all wallaby populations in areas outside the core range. With the government’s support and the collaboration of multiple entities, it is hoped that the wallaby population can be brought under control, and the significant threats they pose to New Zealand’s environment and economy can be mitigated.
