The following suggestions on possible vertebrate pest content for NETS2012 have been received from agencies involved with vertebrate pest control research. Note: at this stage, these are proposals only and none have been confirmed. We welcome additional suggestions.

DoC suggestions:

  • Presentation on DOC's restructure of Conservancies & National Office, and proposed further restructure of Area Offices. A helpful guide on getting information from and interacting with the Department post the restructure.
  • DOC's Natural Heritage Management System (NHMS); the use of this prioritising programme as a decision making tool and how it will impact on pest control programmes.
  • New toxins work, such as PAPP etc
  • Public attitudes to controls on domestic cat ownership in Christchurch - Euan Kennedy; DoC. Background comment from Euan, "We tend to ignore urban pest animals in our business, perhaps because the issues are likely to become so highly politicised. Nonetheless, the urban environment is a very important frontier for conservation, one which is largely neglected. Work to safeguard ecological values on this frontier will have to integrate social and biological sciences a lot more closely than we do elsewhere. The presentation is based on a study I did at Lincoln University, The domestic cat issue is often seen to be a bridge too far for conservation people like us but it is an issue rolling towards us whether we like it or not."
  • Kea monitoring - an update on research trials.

Animal Health Board suggestions:

Update on the AHB (by Chief Executive or delegate )
  1. Disease update
  2. Strategy update
  3. General Vector Programme update
Changing Goals of AHB Vector Programme
  1. Overview of changing goals of AHB vector Control – Paul Livingstone or Stu Hutchings
  2. TB possum model – Mandy Barron (Landcare Research)
  3. Handheld/VectorTrax update – AHB representative
  4. Possum behaviour at low densities – Graham Nugent (Landcare Research)
Applied Vector Control
  1. Proof of Concept – Central North Island
    1. General overview – AHB representative
    2. A look at the practical learning including low-sow techniques – Graham Nugent (Landcare Research)
  2. Improving the effectiveness of ground-based control in difficult to access areas –Bruce Warburton (Landcare Research)
  3. Halving the cost of ground control – Bruce Warburton, include work on Hawke's Bay bait station trials.
Toxin Related
  1. Update on new toxins – Connovation
    1. Sodium Nitrite – Lee Shapiro
    2. Zinc Phosphide – Steve Hix
    3. C + C – Charlie Eason
  2. Update on 1080 related research
    1. Maori interest in natural occurrence of 1080 – Shaun Ogilvie (Lincoln University)
    2. Aerobic transformation of 1080 in soil – Penny Fisher (Landcare Research)
    3. Ecological outcomes of 1080.
    4. Effect of 1080 aerial operations on Kea.
    5. Improvements to 1080 water modelling.
Other Possible Items
  1. Landcare’s social research into 1080, denialists vs sceptics – Bruce Warburton (Landcare Research)
  2. Communications update from the AHB – John Deal

Lincoln University/Charlie Eason/ Connovation

New Toxin Focused:
  • Charles Eason and Duncan MacMorran - overview regarding progress on the registration and adoption of new toxins.
  • Steve Hix – Post registration introduction of zinc phosphide for possum control
  • Lee Shapiro- An update on sodium nitrite as a VTA for possum and pig control.
Alternative delivery systems and strategies:
  • Shona Sam and James Ross - Testing multi-species baits and strategies
  • Helen Blackie and Des Smith - Resetting toxin delivery systems for stoats and feral cats
  • Des Smith and Helen Blackie - Field application of new predator toxins, long-life baits and resetting systems-striving for practical advances.
  • Helen Blackie and Jamie Mackay - Early experience application of resetting toxin delivery for possums-potential applications for keeping possums at low densities
  • Elaine Murphy- Extending PAPP to ferrets.
Monitoring - Best practise and future thinking:
  • Steve Hix - Developing monitoring tools with different levels of precision to meet the needs of community groups.
  • Steve Hix and/or Peter Sweetapple - Getting the best from chew cards.
  • Kay Sakata - Bite marks for identification of possums overcoming contagion.
  • James Ross - Molecular tools for possum monitoring.
  • Shaun Ogilvie - The potential for camera traps.
  • Helen Blackie- New technologies for monitoring.
Training Workshop on new Toxin for CSL Licensing - possibly early evening session:
  • Steve Hix - Practical use of PAPP Session 1
  • Steve Hix - Practical use of Zinc Phosphide Session 2

Further suggestions? Please contact Carolyn Lewis, NETS2012 Conference Organiser, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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