Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference

With the enactment of the Biosecurity Act 1993, New Zealand obtained enabling legislation which makes it possible to develop and implement regional pest management strategies (RPMSs) which are integrated in terms of multi species approach, funding, and outcome objectives. Up until this time local authorities, government departments, and landowners had mixed signals in terms of resource versus pest values, dated legislation, no long-term strategic approach to pest control, and certainly no guarantees for funding. The Waikato Regional Council (Environment Waikato) experience in developing and implementing a regional pest management strategy under the Biosecurity Act is studied and reported on for this paper.