Rabbit Biocontrol Advisory Group
Why have a group focusing on
rabbit management needs?
The Rabbit Biocontrol Advisory Group was formed by the Chief Executives of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment, and Research, Science and Technology in July 1995, because many people in New Zealand have an increasing interest and stake in how we go about protecting our important conservation and production values.
New Zealand, unfortunately, has some major pest problems, possums being the "biggie", with rabbits also posing a major threat to farming and conservation.
Our global competitiveness as a high-quality food and fibre producer, and an increasingly important tourist destination, depends on our ability to protect our environment. While control using chemicals, shooting, etc. has been and will continue to be important, every effort must be made to reduce the use of chemicals in our farming and forest systems.
Major investment in complementary biological controls for both rabbits and possums is therefore necessary. Whether or not New Zealand needs new controls, and their safety relative to the risks of the pests themselves or current controls, is something that cannot be left to the debate of scientists and bureaucrats alone. It is important that when hard decisions have to be made about the benefits and risks of any new technology, as many people as possible are able to contribute to an informed debate. It is the need to ensure that there is an informed debate about the way we manage rabbits in New Zealand and the pros and cons of new controls that has led to the formation of the Rabbit Biocontrol Advisory Group (RBAG).
RBAG was formed following wide consultation and a two-day workshop in Alexandra in April 1995. At that workshop, the future needs of rabbit control as part of sustainable land use were discussed and debated, and there were presentations on the progress achieved by the Australian and New Zealand RCD research programme. Workshop participants advised on the interests that should be represented on a group of ten to fifteen people, and how they could go about ensuring that information was widely circulated.
The group has therefore been established to provide guidance to the Ministries on the processes and procedures necessary to ensure that RCD is fully researched and fairly assessed as a potential biological control agent.
The group will not apply to release RCD. This would be done by potential beneficiaries of a release, if and when there is sufficient research data to establish its safety, humaneness and effectiveness.
Members of the Group
Mr Jim Guthrie, Chairman of the New Zealand Conservation Authority; past Chairman of the Health Research Council of New Zealand; Chairman of the Yellow-Eyed Penguin Consultative Group; and senior litigation partner in Anderson Lloyd, Solicitors, Dunedin.
Mr Bob Brown, Chairman of the South Island High Country Committee and former committee member. Has farmed "Glenthorne" in the Raikaia Gorge since 1970 - founding the "Glenthorne" Merino Stud. Formerly a Canterbury Regional Council Constituency Committee member and currently a member of the CRC Central Area committee.
Mr Bill Garland, Chairman of the Meat & Wool Section of Federated Farmers, and a member of the national Meat & Wool Section Executive and former President of Waikato Federated Farmers. He is a member of the Animal Health Board and the Waikato Conservation Board. Thirteen hectares of his 260ha Waikato sheep and beef farm are under a QEII Trust covenant.
Dr John Hellstrom, Site Manager, Mallinckrodt Veterinary Ltd, Upper Hutt. Former Chief Veterinary Officer, MAF NZ; industry representative on AGCARM and Ministerial appointee to the NZ Veterinary Council. John also has extensive counselling experience and a strong Systems approach to his technical and managerial skills.
Mr Jon Jackson, President, Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society; a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand, based in Nelson.
Mrs Peg Loague, National President of the Royal New Zealand SPCA. Long involvement with the SPCA both nationally and as an inspector, member of AWAC, and member of Manaaki Whenua Possum Biocontrol Liaison Group.
Mr Graeme Martin, CEO Otago Regional Council; former CEO of the New Zealand Plunket Society, the Nelson Marlborough R.C. and Otago Catchment Board. He chaired the 1994 High Country Review.
Mr Roger Tasker, Councillor on the Canterbury Regional Council; farmer from Ruapuna, Chairman of the Ashburton Meat Processing Company and Director of the Opahi River Development Company.
Dr Catherine Smith, currently President of the New Zealand Veterinary Association; a veterinary consultant and the Minister of Agriculture’s nominee on the Animal Health Board.
Dr Oliver Sutherland, Group Manager, Landcare Research NZ LTD’s Weed and Pests Division. He has extensive experience in biological control research and development and in working with regional government and communities on its development. He has an excellent understanding of Maori interests and concerns regarding the protection and use of New Zealand’s flora and fauna.
Professor Colin Wilks, Professor of Veterinary Public Health and Meat Hygiene, Department of Veterinary Pathology and Public Health, Massey University. Has a particular interest in infectious diseases, particularly viral, affecting animals and man and their diagnosis and control.
Central government representatives:
Dr Gerald Rys, MoRST
Dr Janice Molloy, DoC
Mr Kevin Steel, MfE
Dr Morgan Williams, MAF: RCD national Coordinator
Mrs Sally Holtham, MAF: Group Secretary.
Mr Maui Solomon and Mr John Kape were also members for a portion of RBAG’s operations.
The group’s Terms of Reference are to advise the Ministries on:
- if any, additional non-target species testing or other research is required in Australia, or in New Zealand under quarantine;
- information gaps which will need to be filled before a full importation impact assessment can be prepared by a future applicant group;
- education programme to aid general understanding of RCD, so that the public at large is able to debate, on an informed basis, the issues surrounding the possible introduction of a virus to control rabbits; and
- legislative/administrative requirements involved in processing an application to release RCD into New Zealand.
RBAG was disbanded when an application to import RCD was received.
Contact for Enquiries
MAF Information Services
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526
Wellington, NEW ZEALAND
Fax: +64 4 894 0721
Contact this person
