Plan takes rooks out of the game

SUCCESS: Greater Wellington's Pest Management Strategy is ensuring rook eradication in Wairarapa is well on track.PHOTO/FILE

Almost $5 million has been spent in Greater Wellington Regional Council's Pest Management Strategy for the 2014/15 year.

This money was used in the management of pests including rooks, rabbits, magpies, possums and also for the overall management of the region's ecosystems.

GWRC's Environment Committee reported that the strategy has been successful and in particular they are on track to achieve complete rook eradication in Wairarapa by 2025.

Eleven breeding rookeries were identified in the Wairarapa during 2014/15, however due to nest damage by strong winds only six nests were baited.

This is still a large decrease in treated nests within Wairarapa as compared to the 2009/10 year in which 150 nests were baited.

The cost of rook management including surveys, research, compliance, and education for the region in the 2014/15 year was $37,500.

Also specific to Pest Management in Wairarapa is Mount Bruce Pukaha's predator buffer which cost GWRC $44,900 for the past year.

The 2200 hectare Pukaha predator control buffer was established to help with the survival of reintroduced endangered native bird species such as kaka, kokako and kiwi.

Control is undertaken by kill-trapping and laying toxic baits in bait stations, and the servicing of all equipment was carried out by GWRC staff.

The trapping programme recorded 79 feral cats, 17 ferrets, three stoats, 216 hedgehogs and 495 rats during the 2014/15 servicing year.

A further unknown number of possums and rats were controlled by the use of brodifacoum in bait stations.