Report any threats you see
Whenever you're outdoors be on the lookout for pest species. If you spot something you think is a biological risk:
- take a photo or a sample
- call our pest-and-disease hotline on 0800 80 99 66 when you get home.
Tips for spotting pests
You can use these resources to help confirm a pest sighting but it's not required. An MPI expert can do the identification for you.
Weeds and bugs
These online databases can help identify pests affecting farms and native environments.
Weeds and pests affecting New Zealand pastures – AgPest website
Key to the weed species of New Zealand – Landcare Research website
Animal pests
The National Pest Control Agency's (NPCA) websites have guidelines for identifying vertebrate pests and controlling them.
Identify the presence of pest animals – NPCA's Pest Detective website
NPCA best practice guides for controlling vertebrate pests – Bionet website
Marine pests and diseases
References to help you identify marine pests and discover where they've been found so far.
New Zealand's marine pest identification guide [PDF, 23 MB]
Marine Biosecurity Porthole website
If in any doubt, call our pest-and-disease hotline on 0800 80 99 66.
Help stop the spread of pests and diseases
While you're in the outdoors, you can take steps to stop the spread of unwanted organisms.
'Check Clean Dry' if moving between waterways
Freshwater pests, including didymo, could destroy New Zealand's rivers and lakes. If you are moving between waterways, you must clean all your gear using the 'Check Clean Dry' method.
Find out how to Check Clean Dry
Download the Check Clean Dry pocket guide [PDF, 328 KB]
Protect kauri when hunting in kauri forest
Kauri trees are threatened by a soil-borne pathogen called Phytophthora agathidicida (PA). PA infects kauri through their roots and restricts their ability to transport water and nutrients between their roots and leaves. This eventually starves and kills the tree.
PA is spread by soil movement, including by:
- footwear, clothing, or equipment that touches the soil
- vehicles that have driven through infected areas
- animals, including wild pigs and stock, that have walked through infected areas.
Ensuring the survival of kauri for future generations depends on all of us taking actions and doing everything we can to stop the PA pathogen from spreading.
Learn more about hunting around kauri – Tiakina Kauri
Hunting in a kauri forest [PDF, 2MB]
Transporting wallabies orphaned by hunting
There are some specific rules to cover the transportation of wallaby joeys orphaned through hunting.
There's a generic permission in place under the Biosecurity Act 1993 to cover wallaby joeys orphaned through hunting. By following certain conditions, hunters can transport Bennett's wallaby joeys to the wallaby park at Enkledoovery Korna, Waimate.
The generic permission document outlines the different conditions you need to be aware of if you plan to transport Bennett's wallaby joeys.
Download the permission document [PDF, 256 KB]
Find out more about hunting wallabies in New Zealand – DOC website
Who to contact
If you have questions about biosecurity when hunting and gathering, email info@mpi.govt.nz