5371 (2026). Celia Wade-Brown to the Minister of Conservation

5371 (2026). Celia Wade-Brown to the Minister of Conservation: What investment, if any, has been made available for research into new methods or tools for monitoring or control for ungulates (goats, pigs and deer)?

Hon Tama Potaka: I am advised that the Department of Conservation has invested in a wide range of control and monitoring initiatives to improve the detection, assessment, and management of ungulate populations across New Zealand. Many of these initiatives are multiyear programmes, and over the past three years the total investment has been approximately $1.5 million. Key monitoring investments include: A three year, camera trap distance sampling trial in Whanganui National Park to establish best practice methods and assess changes in goat density following control; a comparative detection tools trial at Mesopotamia assessing thermal imaging technologies; a GPS collaring study on Resolution Island to understand red deer home range behaviour and future control-tool density; strengthening DOC’s monitoring toolbox through development of new and updated methods, including Seedling Ratio Index protocols, a pig disturbance monitoring protocol, Catch-Per-Unit-Effort camera trap specifications, and distance sampling specifications for camera trap monitoring; independent expert reviews and updates include a review of deer and goat population monitoring methods and development of method review and camera trap index papers; and investment in remote sensing technologies includes a fixed wing thermal sensor proof of concept trial and initial work with the University of Auckland on detecting forest canopy change using remote sensing. Complementing this work, the Department has advanced several new control tools and techniques, including: large scale testing of HOGGONE® pig bait; development of Judas pig methods incorporating neutering and GPS tagging of pigs; redesign of the Pig Brig net trap system to significantly reduce weight; and thermal assisted deer control trials in Fiordland using high resolution helicopter mounted imaging; and a commercial deer recovery incentive trial was also undertaken, to assess whether helicopter-based deer recovery could be stimulated.