Rabbit calicivirus 'unlikely to affect pets'

Pets are unlikely to be at risk from an official release of rabbit calicivirus, but owners might want to vaccinate just in case, the Auckland Regional Council says.

The council has teamed with nine others around the country to import and release the Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease, known as RHD or rabbit calicivirus, a process that cost $50,000 through the Environmental Risk Management Authority even though the virus is already here after being illegally released in 1997.

"It wasn't done well. All it did in some cases was confer immunity," said ARC biosecurity manager Jack Craw.

Vegetable growers in Pukekohe and farmers at Karaka were two groups keen to see another release, done properly this time, he said. "It's practically the only tool they have."

Only one commercial rabbit breeder had raised objections, Mr Craw said, but the council didn't carry out wide consultation because RHD was already here.

Most rabbits in rural areas would already be immune, likely to have been exposed through wild rabbits, but vaccine against RHD, Cylap, was readily available and cheap, he said.

Stocks of calicivirus are being bought from Australia and areas targeted for released include Awhitu, Karaka, Omaha and Great Barrier Island.

Mr Craw said rabbits had destroyed Great Barrier's runway through burrowing and locals were keen for the virus to be used.

But because it never reached Great Barrier after the 1997 release, the ARC would carry out full consultation with residents.