Media release
5 May 2011

Farmers target annual plan hearings

The Animal Health Board (AHB) is urging herd owners to attend their upcoming regional council annual plan hearings.

Farmers and herd owners in the Waikato, Canterbury and Horizons regions are encouraged to be visible in their local public gallery to express their support for the AHB’s bovine tuberculosis (TB) control programme.

AHB Chairman John Dalziell said a potential shortfall in the regional councils’ contribution to the TB control programme would significantly reduce government and industry investment as well.

“For every $100,000 invested by a regional council, the farming sector and central government contribute an average of $1 million,” said Mr Dalziell.

“As a result of this matched funding, any cut to the regional council contribution would seriously compromise our ability to eradicate TB in the region. Our work in controlling the disease also has direct biodiversity benefits for our native plants and birds,” said Mr Dalziell.

In 2010, Horizons and Environment Waikato both proposed cutting their contribution to the TBfree scheme. Last year, Horizons listened to its ratepayers and opted to maintain full funding of the TB control programme, while Environment Waikato chose to cut its contribution.

“This year, we are again urging Environment Waikato to take notice of those ratepayers in favour of fully funding the TB control programme, which undoubtedly represents the best return on investment for any council,” said Mr Dalziell.

Regional funding has been a key part of the significant gains made by New Zealand’s TB control programme over the past 15 years. Infected herd numbers have dropped from more than 1700 to fewer than 100 today.

But possums continue to be the main source of TB in farmed cattle and deer. Eliminating this disease source will potentially lead to less TB testing and fewer movement restrictions for farmers.

The AHB will implement its updated national TB control strategy later this year, with the aim of moving New Zealand closer towards the total eradication of TB from both wildlife and domestic livestock. Over the coming 15 years, the strategy will aim to eradicate the disease from 2.5 million hectares of New Zealand known to contain TB-infected wildlife.

Note to editors

Draft annual plan 2011/12 public hearings will take place on the following dates:

Environment Canterbury: Monday 9 May to Wednesday 11 May.
Horizons: Monday 23 May, Wednesday 25 May and Thursday 26 May.
Environment Waikato: Monday 16 May to Wednesday 18 May.

ENDS

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