Animal Threats
Animal threats to New Zealand can be broken down into four main groups:
- exotic animals that cause significant environmental damage
- diseases of animals that threaten species already established in New Zealand
- pests that threaten native and introduced animals
- pests that threaten native and introduced plants
Many of these threats have yet to make it to our shores and there are strict import and quarantine measures to try to prevent their arrival. Others unfortunately have already arrived and various programmes and campaigns are already in place to control them.
You can find a list of some of the main animals and organisms threatening New Zealand's aquatic environment in our saltwater and freshwater sections.
Animals that threaten New Zealand's native or introduced plants are covered in our plant section.
If you want a list of some of the pests and diseases that threaten New Zealand animals and plants click here.
And remember if you suspect you have seen or found an unwanted pest or disease please call MAF Biosecurity New Zealand's hotline on 0800 80 99 66
Exotic animals
Many animal species introduced to New Zealand prey on established plants or animals. These animals have often already been identified as pests and are targeted for eradication or control by MAFBNZ and regional councils. Long term management of many of the species below involves the development of a Pest Management Strategy.
There are a number of pest animals that cause significant environmental damage that are not wanted in New Zealand. This list includes some species known to be ranked in the top 100 of the worlds worst invasive alien species .
- Giant African snail
- Mediterranean snail
- Bull frog
- Cane toad
- Red vented bulbuls
- Brown tree snake
- Red imported fire ant
- Yellow crazy ant
- Crazy ant
- Tropical fire ant
- Little fire ant
Surveillance programmes for exotic animals:
- National Invasive Ants Surveillance
- Surveillance for exotic diseases of honey bees
Animal diseases
Diseases – such as foot and mouth - pose a huge risk to New Zealand's native animals and its agricultural sector.
This list includes some diseases which are notifiable (40 KB) or pose a significant threat to our trade.
- African horse sickness virus
- Anthrax
- Avian influenza
- Bluetongue
- Brucellosis
- Classical swine fever
- Equine infectious anemia
- Equine influenza
- European foulbrood disease
- Epizootic haemorrhagic disease
- Glanders
- PRRS
- Maedi-visna virus
- Newcastle disease
- Peste des petits ruminants virus
- Rabies
- Rift Valley fever virus
- Rinderpest
- Sheep and goat pox
- Simbu group viruses (Akabane and Douglas)
- Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies
- Vesicular stomatitis viruses
The Animal Health Laboratory performs testing for many of these diseases to assure foreign markets that we are free from these diseases and provides support in exotic disease outbreaks.
Surveillance programmes for animal diseases
- Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) surveillance programme
- Avian Influenza surveillance
- Arbovirus surveillance
- Surveillance for exotic diseases of honey bees
- Passive surveillance
Animal pests
These pests pose significant threats to New Zealand because they transmit animal diseases or pose serious problems for their animal hosts.
- Braula fly
- Cattle tick
- Culicoides midges
- Bush tick
- Heartworm
- Hydatids
- Screw-worm
- Sheep scab
- Small hive beetle
- Tracheal mite
- Tropilaelaps (Asian mite)
- Ticks (other)
- Varroa mite
- Warble fly
Surveillance programmes for animal pests
- Surveillance for exotic diseases of honey bees
- Surveillance for Culicoides midges
- Passive surveillance
Animal pests of plants
These animals – largely insects – threaten New Zealand's plants. Some damage our native plants and others can cause widespread damage to New Zealand's horticultural crops or exotic forest plantations.
Surveillance programmes for animal pests of plants
- Fruit fly surveillance
- Gypsy moth surveillance
- High Risk Site surveillance
- Passive surveillance
Page last updated: 9 July 2008