Pest management is important
Pest management helps to:
- protect New Zealand’s biodiversity and environment
- maintain our biosecurity
- ensure food safety.
Pest management is carried out by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), the Department of Conservation (DOC), and other individuals and organisations.
Animal welfare requirements for pest management
Pest control options include traps, devices, and poisons. Find out the legal requirements for:
Animal welfare is part of pest management
Animal welfare is an important part of pest control. Whenever possible, the most humane methods of pest management should be used. However, practicality is also a factor when choosing an appropriate method.
For your pest management programme to be effective, you must consider:
- safety for users
- welfare of target species
- welfare of non-target species, such as pets and protected wildlife
- environmental impacts
- the effectiveness of the control method.
The Bionet website has information on these issues and a range of other topics.
Bionet website links
Information on animal welfare and the ethics of pest management
Results from animal welfare testing of traps and devices
Pest management research
There is ongoing research into pest management tools to ensure humaneness and effectiveness. Technological advances and the desire for more humane approaches are leading to the development of innovative products.
