Draft Town Belt Management Plan - Wellington City Council

Regeneration of native vegetation after pine removal
and ongoing weed control, Te Ahumairangi Hill.
Top: In 2005 Bottom: In 2011
can be seen in the
photographs on the left that
show a part of the hill
following tree removal and
then six years later.
Pest animals are also a
problem, particularly
possums, rats and
mustelids (stoats, ferrets
and weasels). Possums are
controlled in the Town Belt
as part of Wellington City
Council and Greater
Wellington Regional
Council’s shared possumcontrol
programme. This
programme is thought to be
contributing to increased
numbers of native birds and
improved forest
regeneration and health.
Mustelids are a particular
threat to native birds
(including eating eggs),
lizards and insects (eg
weta). Mustelid control
requires intensive trap
checking and is most
successful where
community groups are able
to help. Feral and domestic
cats are also a significant
threat to native wildlife,
particularly lizards and
birds.
Wellington City Council’s
Pest Management Plan
(2004) identifies three
kinds of pest control:
species-led, site-led and
amenity.
Species-led programmes are particularly relevant in managing weeds and pest animals in the early
stages of establishment when numbers are low and distribution is limited.
Site-led programmes focus on areas of high biodiversity value and prioritise the control and
management of pests that pose the greatest threats to these values. The Pest Management
Implementation Plan prioritises sites for weed control and pest animal control on a citywide basis.
Priorities for pest control should also recognise specific opportunities for the Town Belt as
resources allow. Key opportunities are to manage pests in parts of the Town Belt that are
representative examples of the biodiversity of the central city area, to prioritise areas important for
ecological connectivity, and to carry out amenity weed control where weeds are impacting on the
Draft Town Belt Management Plan October 2012 37