A few points gleaned from the Te Awa Encyclopedia of New Zealand helps understand its history.
The Rabbit Nuisance Act was passed in 1867 and was the first of many Acts of Parliament to control this animal.
In 1881 an Act established a system of rabbit inspectors with a further Act in 1882 increasing their powers.
By 1946 there were over 100 rabbit boards across the country administering rabbit control over 7.3 million ha.
In 1947 the The Rabbit Nuisance Amendment Act was passed. To enhance their endeavours in controlling this pest, Rabbit Boards were required to adopt a "killer" policy - to kill every rabbit that it was humanly possible to do.
A central advisory body, the Rabbit Destruction Council consisting of farmer and government representatives, was set up.
Rabbit Board staff were made responsible for all the organisation and operation of rabbit destruction. Funding for this work came from a system of rating on landholders paid to locally-elected rabbit boards. Central Government subsidised rates on a one-for-one basis.
The changes bought about by the 1947 Act, along with aerial poisoning and the use of 1080, was highly successful in controlling rabbits, but it was costly.
In 1984 a user-pays policy was adopted and the government's contribution was progressively withdrawn.
The fourth Labour Government in 1989 restructured local government and created regional councils, that were given responsibility for policy and other matters regarding biosecurity including animal pest control.
The illegal release of RHD (calicivirus) in 1996 by South Island farmers frustrated by the rapidly increasing number of rabbits, had a major impact on their population.
The virus was soon available in many parts of the country (including Hawke's Bay) where it delivered a significant beneficial result.
By 2007 it was found that rabbits were developing an immunity to RHD and although this virus (in conjunction with other methods) continues to provide some control. However, rabbits remain a pest, and if pressure on numbers is not maintained (and arguably intensified) they have the ability to again inflict damage to our regional economy.
The dry summer that we have just experienced has been ideal weather for rabbit breeding and it is apparent, even to a casual observer, that there are a lot about.
The media has highlighted an infestation at Frimley Park in Hastings City and I have noticed more rabbits on my small horticultural property and neighbouring blocks than I have seen in any the 30 years that I have resided here.
In my view the Hawke's Bay Regional Council has talented and committed biosecurity staff who, at a reasonable cost, deliver a good service to their ratepayers, and are forward thinking and innovative in their work.
This opinion piece does not offer a view on the proposed amalgamation of Hawke"s Bay councils, but it does proffer the thought that to our region matters of biosecurity are important.
So I do urge people, when deciding on the future of local government in Hawke's Bay, to take into consideration, and if in doubt to seek an answer, to the question: Will pest control best be efficiently delivered and at a reasonable cost to ratepayers by either a "stand alone" regional council, or alternatively by an "all inclusive" unitary council?
The battle against the rabbit is far from over, and much work remains to be done.
-Kevin Rose was a regional councillor from 1998 to 2013 and takes an interest in matters of biosecurity.
-Business and civic leaders, organisers, experts in their field and interest groups can contribute opinions. The views expressed here are the writer's personal opinion, and not the newspaper's. Email: editor@hbtoday.co.nz
