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National Wallaby Eradication Programme E-Newsletter
Summer 2025
Welcome
Tēnā tātau katoa,
At the heart of Tipu Mātoro is a collaborative effort, with people from different perspectives and organisations coming together around a shared vision of a wallaby-free Aotearoa.
The document that outlines the work we are doing and how we work together is the Tipu Mātoro Aotearoa New Zealand Wallaby Strategy.
In 2026 we are going to review this strategy, and we will be asking for your input to ensure that any decisions or changes we make are properly informed. You will find further details of what the review will cover and timeframes below.
This newsletter also covers some of the progress that our wallaby control operations are making, some of our recent engagement activities, and findings from some of our recently completed operational research projects. In a new initiative we are also making our research reports available online.
Ngā mihi,
John Walsh
Chair, Tipu Mātoro Governance Group
Wallaby Strategy Review – Looking Ahead to 2026
We're reviewing the Tipu Mātoro Aotearoa New Zealand Wallaby Strategy to ensure it reflects what we’ve learned over the past five years. The goal is to refine the strategy's aim and objectives, so they best support the programme going forward.
What is in scope
- Reviewing the current strategy aim and objectives
- Agreeing, as a partnership, on the best way to achieve them.
What is not in scope
- The long-term vision of a wallaby-free Aotearoa — this remains unchanged and continues to have strong support since the strategy’s launch in 2022.
Timeline for the review
This is an important piece of work which we are expecting will take most of 2026, however some key times include:
- Early 2026: Programme partners provide input.
- April–May 2026: Targeted stakeholder consultation and community meetings in regional locations. (Keep an eye out for invitations closer to the time.)
- Late 2026: Revised strategy developed based on the consultation. This will be reviewed and agreed by the Tipu Mātoro Governance Group, before public release.
A key discussion point will be the current focus on containment — seen by Tipu Mātoro as the first step toward eventual eradication. The review will explore how we build on this foundation and what future steps may look like.
Have ideas already?
We would love to hear from you. Email your thoughts to wallaby@mpi.govt.nz
Some of our previous stakeholder and community consultation meetings in the North and South Islands. Photos: Biosecurity New Zealand and Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
Tipu Mātoro Programme 2024-2025 Annual Report
Now in our fifth year, the Tipu Mātoro National Wallaby Eradication Programme is making solid progress tackling one of New Zealand’s most damaging pests.
Our 2024–2025 Annual Report highlights a 97% reduction in wallabies at targeted North Island elimination sites and ongoing South Island efforts to prevent their spread into new locations.
Crucially, the programme’s operational research is driving innovation – improving detection and control tools to bring us closer to the vision of a wallaby-free Aotearoa.
Check out the full report and our work over the 2024-2025 year.
North Island targeted wallaby control backed by five years of surveillance
In the North Island, five years of dedicated surveillance—using detection dogs and cameras—has significantly improved our understanding of wallaby populations outside of the containment area, i.e. in locations outside of known wallaby populations.
This data now allows us to target control efforts more precisely and effectively.
Cameras have proven especially useful in detecting elusive dama and parma wallabies, giving the team valuable insights into their locations and likely population sizes.
This map shows grey dots for camera placements and red dots where wallabies have been detected—the larger the red dot, the more activity recorded.
Several high-activity sites have already undergone control, with strong reductions achieved. Watch this space for more updates!
Maramataka Research
Rotoiti 15 Ahu Whenua Trust has explored how the moon phase (Tohu maramataka) and environmental signs (Tohu taiao) influence wallaby behaviour.
Key findings from mātauranga-based observations include:
- High wallaby activity was observed during high-energy moon phases, especially the full moon.
- During low-energy phases, wallabies were mainly seen grazing, with less movement.
- Heavy rainfall (10mm+) significantly reduced wallaby activity.
- Family group movements were most common in June–July.
- Increased travel occurred in warmer months, while colder periods saw less movement.
Although trail camera data results were inconsistent with certain observations, the study recommends longer-term research (12+ months) to validate some of the research findings over an extended period.
The programme is reviewing the report’s recommendations to guide next steps.
Double Tap® Field Trials on Wallabies
Effective control tools for wallabies in New Zealand are limited. While Double Tap® is currently registered for possums and rats, it is fast-acting, humane, and cost-effective properties make it a promising option for wallaby control.
Pen trials (2020) showed strong results, with an 88.9% mortality rate for dama wallabies. However, field trials funded by the programme recorded lower kill rates (30–63%), below the 80% required for registration.
Researchers suspect the lower field efficacy may not be due to the toxin itself. Instead, possum interference may have limited wallabies’ access to bait, resulting in sub-lethal doses and potential bait shyness.
The Research Advisory Group is now exploring further research to develop tools that reduce possum interference and support more effective wallaby control in the field.
A possum preventing a wallaby from accessing bait. Photo: Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research.
Our Wallaby Research Is Now Available Online
Research is key to achieving the goals of the Tipu Mātoro National Wallaby Eradication Programme. By developing new tools and improving existing ones, we are better equipped to manage and eventually eradicate wallabies from Aotearoa.
To support greater awareness and collaboration, we have made all programme-funded research available online. This includes published reports, scientific papers, and plans, now accessible via the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) website.
🔗 Wallaby research and technical reports
The online platform is searchable and will be regularly updated as new research becomes available. Making this information easily accessible ensures stakeholders, researchers, and the public can stay informed, contribute to ongoing discussions, and support science-based wallaby management.
We encourage you to explore the website, share insights with your networks, and keep up to date with the latest findings.
Engaging for understanding across the country
For five years we have been keeping the wallaby conversation going. These pests might look harmless, but they are damaging our environment, threatening biodiversity, and costing us all. The more people know—and the more sightings reported—the better chance we have of stopping new populations before they spread
Since June, we have been busy sharing that message with all sorts of communities. At the National Fieldays and the Young Farmer of the Year finals, we connected with rural communities and future landowners—our wallaby module even made it into the Junior Grand Final, which was a wonderful way to get the next generation thinking about the problem.
Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts heard from us too. At the Rotorua Fishing, Hunting & 4X4 Expo, people were keen to learn about the control work regional councils are doing. The same went for the Sika Show in Hamilton and the Agriculture Show in Christchurch—whether young or old, rural, or city-based, people were keen to talk wallabies and learn more.
We also shared updates with the biosecurity community at the NZ Biosecurity Institute’s NETs Conference and even welcomed a delegation from Hawaii’s Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. They came to learn from our eradication work and engagement efforts – and our talented detector dogs were a big hit.
Looking ahead, the conversation continues over summer through our partners at A&P shows around the country. With every chat, event and shared story, more people are aware, more eyes are out there spotting wallabies, and together we are making real progress tackling this pest together.
Contestants complete the wallaby module at the Grand Final of the Young Farmer of the Year in Invercargill in July. Photo: MPI On Farm Support.
Tipu Mātoro senior advisers Kevin Foster and Travis Ashcroft, and Bay of Plenty Regional Council Biosecurity Officer, Dale Williams talked wallabies at the NZ Fishing, Hunting & 4x4 Expo in Rotorua and the Sika Show in Hamilton.
Guus Knoppers explains the role of detector dogs in wallaby eradication efforts to members of the Hawaiian Delegation. Photo: Waikato Regional Council.
Happy holidays! The holiday season is upon us. Wishing everyone a happy and relaxing holiday season. Be safe as you move around over the summer and remember to report wallabies to www.reportwallabies.nz
Ngā mihi nui,
The Tipu Mātoro Programme Team
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