By Martin Freeth
South Wairarapa farmers resumed their cull of canada geese this summer _ but bird numbers are ever-increasing and so is the damage they cause to water quality, pasture and other species.
Canada geese are not officially a pest but their extraordinary faeces output can overburden waterways and land with nitrates, phosphorous, e-coli and other bacteria, and they are voracious eaters of grass and feed crops. Four geese are said to eat the equivalent of one sheep each day; they are also depleting nature’s food supply for all other bird species.
Kumenga Farm owner and cull co-organiser Mike McCreary says contractors and volunteers shot some 3,000 geese on and around Lake Wairarapa between Christmas and New Year, after not organising anything 12 months earlier. For years previously, 12 or so farmers had grouped together to organise an annual cull while the birds were in moult and mostly on the ground (late December).
Such has been the growth in the canada geese population since 2022, this summer’s cull had around 30 supporters, all contributing towards the approx. $30,000 cost. But McCreary told The Martinborough Star flock numbers are still expected to bounce back and spread further into the
Wairarapa and throughout New Zealand.
“We’re nervous about what the population explosion is going to be like this year because we never get quite enough traction to bring the numbers right down,” he says.
The cull was done as humanely as possible using ceramic ammunition, while volunteers retrieved as many of the dead birds as possible. “We love to see them in small numbers and when they’re healthy and have bright feathers … but geese in their thousands are just too many,” McCreary says.
Culls have long been planned in consultation with, and the support of, Wairarapa iwi and local authorities. This summer, organisers have additional concerns about the malnourished state of many of the culled geese and the skinny appearance of other birds, notably ducks and swans in the lower valley as all compete for food. Maintaining general health in bird populations is critical to preventing bird flu.
Mike McCreary has no doubt that South Wairarapa farm production is taking a significant hit.
“In big numbers, the geese can turn pasture into patches of bare ground and they love eating the regrowth.”
McCreary says bird faeces might be the biggest problem of all for both land and water. He has seen heavy pollution in the waterways surrounding Kumenga from which stock water has traditionally been drawn. The droppings damage was underscored when, after gaining resource consent in 2017, McCreary opened the largest of his ponds back up to Lake Wairarapa and saw how the restoration of water flows back and forth led to rapid improvement in pond water quality and native vegetation.
“We’re as passionate about the health of Lake Wairarapa as anyone, and that’s why we also do extensive native planting on Kumenga and other farms and constantly work at stopping soil loss into the lake,” McCreary says.
Canada geese were introduced into the South Island from North America in 1905. For decades they were a protected game bird under population control by Fish & Game, with limited shooting by licensed recreational hunters. In 2011, the government responded to farmer lobbying over insufficient control and ended geese protection under the Wildlife Act, so allowing any landowner or occupier, or any organisation with landowner consent, to cull locally. That put this species on the same footing as pigeons or sparrows.
Canada geese have never had any form of central government “pest” designation that would trigger biosecurity action against them by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and/or Department of Conservation. But some regional and district councils are trying to cull as populations spread around New Zealand.
The Martinborough Star asked Wairarapa MP Mike Butterick what the Coalition Government will or might do about canada geese given their damage to farming and environments.
Butterick fully acknowledges the problem, seen also on his own farm near Masterton.
“MPI is aware of the presence of canada geese in the Wairarapa, as am I, with the associated impacts they are causing,” he says in an email, adding: “the coordinated management of pests often requires a collaborative approach between central and regional government, landowners and other stakeholders. MPI is about to initiate a piece of work aimed at better coordination of work to combat wild browsing.”
Butterick notes that New Zealand is beset with many higher priority pests and biosecurity risks.
Pressed on what he will do specifically about canada geese, Butterick commits to talk to the incoming Minister for Hunting and Fishing, James Meager.
“He’s in transition into that role … this (canada geese) is something he will have to front up to.”
Greater Wellington Regional Council takes no action to control the geese. Asked for the current council position, its Director of Delivery Jack Mace emailed The Star:
“Canada geese are not classified as a pest in most regional pest management plans across New Zealand. The species has no protection status in New Zealand and can be controlled by local authorities, private individuals or other interest groups with the permission of landowners.
“Greater Wellington is happy to provide landowners, local authorities, and other interest groups with limited advice on control methods.”
