Skip to main content
Last reviewed:

About wallabies

Five species of wallabies were introduced to New Zealand from Australia in the late 1800s. They were brought here mainly for hunting and for people who had private zoos. They do not have any natural predators in this country and have adapted well.

Three of these species have become significant pests:

  • the dama wallaby and parma wallaby in the North Island (found mainly around the Rotorua Lakes area)
  • the Bennett's wallaby in the South Island (found mostly in South Canterbury but spreading to other areas).

Dama wallaby – located in the North Island
Parma wallaby – located in the North Island
Bennett’s wallaby – located in the South Island

Why wallabies are a problem

Wallabies are introduced herbivores. Each year they cost New Zealanders millions of dollars in lost farm production and environmental damage.

They:

  • graze on pasture and browse on native plants
  • eat everything that is at their height in our native bush, including the seedlings that make up future native bush
  • affect commercial forestry by eating young trees
  • destroy productive farmland and forests and reduce biodiversity in our iconic landscapes.

These videos show the problems wallabies are causing

Dama wallabies in the North Island – YouTube

Bennett's wallabies in the South Island – YouTube

The damage wallabies can do

Wallabies can:

  • damage and prevent native forest regeneration – changing forest composition and diversity
  • destroy native species habitat and food sources
  • compete for feed with sheep, cattle, and other livestock – with significant economic consequences
  • damage crops and fences
  • affect commercial forestry by eating young trees
  • increase the risk of erosion and contribute to poor water quality.

Along with other introduced browsing animals like deer and goats, wallabies can kill native forests, and may cause them to release carbon rather than holding it. By eating seedlings and killing young trees, introduced browsers may also consume our future carbon sinks.

A fence that keeps wallabies out shows the damage the animals can do to the native undergrowth on the left.
test
Sheep and cattle will not feed where wallabies have pooed. This can reduce pasture availability on some farms.

Videos and articles about the impact of wallabies

Tackling the wallaby challenge – the national approach [PDF, 1.9 MB]

Pasture fouling and loss due to wallabies – YouTube

Wallabies impacts on native forest – YouTube

A mana whenua perspective on wallabies and their impacts (North Island) – YouTube

Addressing the wallaby problem in New Zealand’s production forest estate – New Zealand Institute of Forestry

MPI business units