Latest news with #BiosecurityNewZealand
Otago Daily Times
28-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
‘Bat' photo not worth batting an eye over
Bat, leaves, rubbish bag or black undies? PHOTO: SUPPLIED A grainy photo taken in a Dunedin park which sent social media batty was probably just a clump of leaves. Biosecurity New Zealand and the Department of Conservation (Doc) said they were investigating a possible sighting of a native Australian bat in a Dunedin park after a grainy photograph, first published on social media platform Reddit, got a lot of attention online. However, yesterday Biosecurity New Zealand animal health incursion investigations team manager Kelly Buckle said the investigation had concluded and no evidence of exotic bats was found. Staff conducted a search of the park where the suspected bats were observed, Ms Buckle said. No non-native bats were found, neither was any evidence of the presence of exotic bats. Further, the ''poor resolution of the image'' supplied to Biosecurity New Zealand meant bat experts could not identify any visible physical characteristics typical of bats. ''There isn't an obvious pathway for flying foxes to accidentally arrive and survive in Dunedin. ''On balance and given the distance from which the suspected bats were observed, it is possible that the bat-like objects were in fact leaf clusters that resemble the shape of flying foxes.'' When the Otago Daily Times reported yesterday that Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and Doc were investigating the possible sighting, readers also questioned whether the image was indeed a bat. ''Someone has a good imagination,'' one reader said. ''Wonderful artistic use of a black plastic rubbish bag,'' another said. ''Dried-up leaf - it is autumn,'' yet another said. ''Or a pair of black undies, everyone's gone batty.'' Previously, MPI said there had only ever been two exotic bat finds within New Zealand's borders, both were little red flying foxes. One was found dead in 1926 southeast of Hamilton and another in Marlborough in 2024. — APL
Scoop
28-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Bay Of Islands Boat Anchoring Ban Unlikely To Expand Despite Caulerpa Spread
A Bay of Islands boat anchoring ban is unlikely to be extended in spite of exotic invasive caulerpa now being found outside its 1058 hectare restricted area. The equivalent of 1525 rugby fields around the eastern Bay of Islands mainland at Te Rāwhiti is currently locked up to boat anchoring, most fishing and kaimoana gathering under a Government controlled area notice (CAN). But invasive exotic caulerpa has now spread north to infest the iconic picture postcard and international drawcard Ipipiri Islands for the first time - across the equivalent of 180 rugby fields (24ha) outside the current anchoring ban area. At least six of the Bay of Islands tourist hotspot Ipipiri islands seven main islands - of Urupukapuka, Moturua, Motukiekie, Poroporo, Okahu and Waewaetorea Islands, and some areas in between now have confirmed caulerpa. Moturohia or Roberton Island has been previously surveyed. Caulerpa was not found at the time of the survey. Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director-general Stuart Anderson said there was no current plan to increase the Bay of Islands CAN because of the seaweed pest's new locations. His comment comes in spite of the Ipipiri islands being among New Zealand's most popular local and international boating anchorages. Boating has been identified as a major cause of spread for exotic invasive caulerpa. 'The detections of further sites in the Bay of Islands outside the CAN area are obviously disappointing, but unfortunately not unexpected. We are dealing with a challenging pest that readily spreads on vessels and in water currents,' Anderson said. 'For this reason, our current management approach continues to be containing spread while focusing on developing the new treatment approaches. This work continues at pace.' Anderson's comments come four months ahead of a review of the Bay of Islands' existing CAN, which expires in September. It has been in place since May 2023. He said there were no plans to remove the existing CAN at that time, given the pest was now also found beyond its borders. He said local preference since the areas of new caulerpa infestation had been found around the Ipipiri Islands was for a more regional approach, rather than piecemeal extension of the existing CAN. 'The preferred approach has instead been on surveillance of anchorages and removal of small patches where possible to slow the spread – along with continued education of boaties on how they can avoid moving it,' Anderson said The Bay of Islands has one of four CANs in New Zealand, with 12,860ha shut for a mix of anchoring, some fishing and kaimoana gathering – along with Aotea/Great Barrier Island (10,060ha closed), Waiheke Island (1150ha closed) and Ahuahu Great Mercury Island (592ha closed). Anderson said the Bay of Islands' Te Rāwhiti CAN review would be done at the same time as New Zealand's three others, to ensure the most appropriate measures were in place. He said advice was being prepared for Biosecurity New Zealand's chief technical officer who made CAN decisions. 'Criteria are followed when assessing the case for implementing and updating CANs. These include the size of the infestation, location value (cultural/economic/amenity) and volume of vessel traffic. A number of the new Ipipiri Islands locations have been identified as high value boating anchorages. 'In the case of the Bay of Islands, the existing CAN contains the largest known areas of exotic caulerpa. Other confirmed areas in Northland are generally small patches.' Ministry for Primary Industries figures provided to Local Democracy Reporting show there are now 16.65ha, or the equivalent of almost 24 rugby fields, of caulerpa confirmed at Urupukapuka Island with infestations including in Urupukapuka Bay where hundreds camp annually, Entico/Otaia Bay, Cable Bay and its northern boundary with Waewatorea Channel. Urupukapuka island's Otehei Bay tourism epicentre is scheduled for survey before the end of the month. There are also about 123 rugby field equivalents of caulerpa between Moturua and Motukiekie Islands, with separately a further 32 rugby fields around Motukiekie Island. Poroporo Island has the equivalent of about one rugby field of caulerpa. Waewaetorea and Okahu Islands' caulerpa presence is scheduled to be checked before the end of the month. Anderson said the exact area of caulerpa inside the Bay of Islands CAN could not currently be estimated. This was due to varying densities of the invasive seaweed across its area. It was also because caulerpa growth was dynamic. He said there had been a noticeable reduction in Omākiwi Cove caulerpa since recent storms. CANS were only one way of preventing caulerpa spread. Boaties and fishers also played their part, Anderson said. Boaties travelling within and between major traditional boating spots including Northland and Aotea/Great Barrier Island are regularly flouting anchoring ban rules
Otago Daily Times
27-05-2025
- Science
- Otago Daily Times
Doc investigating possible bat sighting in Dunedin
PHOTO: REDDIT Biosecurity New Zealand and the Department of Conservation (Doc) are investigating a possible sighting of a native Australian bat in a Dunedin park. However, officials say if a bat did arrive in the city, it would not survive overnight low temperatures. Biosecurity New Zealand animal health incursion investigations team manager Kelly Buckle confirmed the two agencies were working together to investigate a reported sighting of exotic bats after this photograph was posted on social media platform Reddit a week ago. "There have been no further sightings since and there is nothing to indicate any exotic bats are here," she said. "If there were exotic bats in the area, they would have likely been unable to survive cold overnight temperatures in Dunedin." There had only ever been two non-native bat finds within New Zealand, and both were a little red flying fox. A little red flying fox was found dead in 1926 at Matangi, southeast of Hamilton, and another was found in Marlborough nearly a century later, last year, she said. Doc referred questions to Biosecurity New Zealand.
Otago Daily Times
27-05-2025
- Science
- Otago Daily Times
That's batty
PHOTO: REDDIT Biosecurity New Zealand and the Department of Conservation (Doc) are investigating a possible sighting of a native Australian bat in a Dunedin park. However, officials say if a bat did arrive in the city, it would not survive overnight low temperatures. Biosecurity New Zealand animal health incursion investigations team manager Kelly Buckle confirmed the two agencies were working together to investigate a reported sighting of exotic bats after this photograph was posted on social media platform Reddit a week ago. "There have been no further sightings since and there is nothing to indicate any exotic bats are here," she said. "If there were exotic bats in the area, they would have likely been unable to survive cold overnight temperatures in Dunedin." There had only ever been two non-native bat finds within New Zealand, and both were a little red flying fox. A little red flying fox was found dead in 1926 at Matangi, southeast of Hamilton, and another was found in Marlborough nearly a century later, last year, she said. Doc referred questions to Biosecurity New Zealand.
Scoop
26-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Northland Webinar To Give Update On Battle Against Invasive Seaweed Caulerpa
More than 300 people are expected to attend New Zealand's first major online caulerpa webinar tomorrow, Tuesday 27 May, evening. The groundbreaking Northland-focused online caulerpa hui had 343 registrations and counting on Monday, May 26, morning in what has become a webinar of significant and increasing size. It has been organised by Northland's Conquer Caulerpa Trust. Conquer Caulerpa chair Verdon Kelliher said the event aimed to update participants on the region's efforts to fight the invasive superspreader exotic seaweed. Biosecurity New Zealand director pest management and the Government's national caulerpa response manager John Walsh will be among those speaking at the hui. He will be there along with Northland Regional Council chair Geoff Crawford, exotic caulerpa national advisory group Tai Tokerau Northland representative Natasha Clarke and Kelliher. Ngāti Kuta trustee Glenys Papuni will speak about the caulerpa fight partnership mahi her Te Rāwhiti hāpu is involved with. Kelliher said topics addressed would include the latest on where caulerpa has been found in Northland. Participants would also be updated on caulerpa elimination efforts. Kelliher said the webinar had been organised to address the most commonly-asked questions about invasive caulerpa and efforts to fight it in Northland. New technologies being developed in Northland and nationally include a large industrial-scale underwater tractor unit, ultra-violet light treatment and a movable underwater chlorine treatment chamber. New Zealand's first commercial rapid response caulerpa dive squad recently started surveying for the seaweed and new elimination efforts. Caulerpa was first confirmed in Northland in 2023 at the major boating anchorage of Omākiwi Cove at Te Rāwhiti. The Omākiwi Cove infestation is New Zealand's only mainland caulerpa infestation. MPI deputy director general Stuart Anderson said at the time of the seaweed's Omākiwi Cove and surrounds find that the Bay of Islands caulerpa infestation was a sizeable problem. as efforts to get on top of the pest continue. Hundreds of people rushed to clear Omākiwi Cove and adjacent Whiorau Bay beaches after 500 tonnes of caulerpa washed up over Easter during ex-Tropical Cyclone Tam. New Zealand has recently been warned invasive caulerpa threatens a $9.4b hit.
