Some Banks Peninsula farmers say feral goats are becoming an increasingly serious problem, although a new Canterbury Regional Council Plan could help eradicate the pest once and for all.
Some Banks Peninsula farmers say feral goats are becoming an increasingly serious problem. (stock photo) Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
Despite recent efforts, hundreds of feral goats are running wild in parts of Banks Peninsula, causing damage to plants and other vegetation, and farmers have not had any luck completely eradicating them.
Pam Richardson farms a 690-hectare property in Pigeon Bay on Banks Peninsula, and knew what feral goats could do to the land.
Goats were previously a serious problem on her farm and although they were eradicated, they were coming back.
"In 1988 when we first came to our property here we had issues around goats...we eradicated those goats," she said. "Thirty years later, here they are again."
"They are well-known for damaging the bush, they strip the bush, they trample the bush," said Ms Richardson.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) estimated there could be up 1000 feral goats in five hotspots in Banks Peninsula.
Following pressure from locals, the Canterbury Regional Council agreed to add feral goats to its new Pest Management Plan, which was voted on and passed last week.
Councillor Tom Lambie said that meant more power to ensure farmed goats did not run wild.
"We've created some very specific rules for goats on Banks Peninsula - the goats have to be clearly identified and they have to be contained," he said.
Farmers were being warned if the goats did get loose they could either be rounded up and sold or killed.
Local goat farmer Jonathan Carden-Holdstock said he was already making sure his farm's 100 goats were not part of the problem.
"You need to know whose stock is whose, you need to have them well identified - ours are tattooed in the ear," he said.
Mr Carden-Holdstock said pedigree stock would also have an identity collar.
DOC's Christchurch operations manager, Andy Thompson, said the department had a plan in place to get rid of the feral goats.
"This year the focus of our operation is farms in the Little Akaloa area," he said.
"We've got a muster taking place [in April] to take the bulk of the goats, and we've got a very good contract crew who will come in and sweep each area six times to ensure we have got the remaining goats."
Mr Thompson said he expected it would take about five years to eradicate feral goats from Banks Peninsula completely.
The Pest Management Plan is expected to be operational by the middle of 2018.
