- Print Friendly - Help

Hunting and restricted areas due to contamination risk

We identify hunting areas where the chance of contamination from poison residues is high enough to warrant the area being classified as a restricted procurement area (RPA). The Marlborough Sounds is the first restricted procurement area in New Zealand.

There are no immediate plans to establish any more restricted procurement areas or expand the boundaries of the Marlborough Sounds RPA, but if monitoring data indicates the need then we will do so.

Restricted procurement of wild pigs in the Marlborough Sounds

In August 2004 we issued a notice for the procurement of wild pigs taken from the Marlborough Sounds restricted procurement area under section 81B of the Animal Products Act 1999. This restricted procurement area notice applies only to wild pigs. Hunters should heed such a notice to reduce the risk that their food contains poison residues.

The Marlborough Sounds is not necessarily the most contaminated area, but it is the one we have tested the most animal products from.

In relation to the regulated system, the restricted procurement area applies to both certified suppliers of wild game and those who process it for sale. All wild pigs killed in the Marlborough Sounds area that are accepted by a processor must be tested before they can be sold.

Samples are tested to determine the presence or otherwise of the compounds; brodifacoum, bromadiolone and flocoumaphen. Testing procedures for these residues are in place to ensure any wild game supplied for trade does not pose a public health risk.

At present the notice only applies to pigs in the restricted procurement area. Even though deer are similarly affected by vertebrate toxic agents, there is no evidence to suggest high levels of toxic residues are present in deer in this area. The most likely reason for this is that unlike wild pigs, deer do not scavenge on rats and possums that may have ingested some toxic agents.

Notice for the procurement control of wild pigs in the Marlborough Sounds

Why the Marlborough Sounds is a restricted procurement area

We have compiled evidence over the past number of years that indicates a higher chance wild pig meat from the Marlborough Sounds will contain poisons. The risk stems from the use of poisons such as brodifacoum (a rat poison) by individuals for pest control in the area.

Wild pigs become contaminated from scavenging on dead or weak rats and possums that have fed on the toxic agents, or from directly consuming the poison themselves.

Although any game procured from these areas and supplied for trade go through tests for toxic residues, no similar requirement can be made for recreational catch that may be consumed by a hunter, their family and friends. No assurances on the absence of residues can be made without testing the individual animal.

The identification of a restricted procurement area allows recreational hunters to avoid this area of potential risk if they choose to. When hunting other areas they should check with the land owner or manager to see if any poisons, such as those mentioned above, have been used in the area.

Hunting in the Marlborough Sounds restricted procurement area

With the restricted procurement area notice in place, it is legal for certified suppliers to supply wild pigs from the designated area but each pig must be tested.

No part of any pig originating from the area and delivered to the primary processor, may be released by the primary processor and removed from the site without the written approval of one of the residue programme coordinators. The exception is any material required for testing.

As recreational hunting is not regulated, no established residue testing regime is in place for recreational catch and there is no requirement for recreational hunters to hunt only in residue free areas. Recreational hunters should however be aware of the potential health risks that hunting wild pigs in this area may pose to whoever eats recreational catch meat. There are no restrictions on hunters taking wild pigs for their own consumption and any decision to test the meat prior to consumption is for the individual to make. We strongly recommend testing is done with pigs from this area.

Location of the Marlborough Sounds restricted procurement area

The Marlborough restricted procurement area is within the Marlborough Province of the South Island. It is approximately the area of land and sea north and east of the Bryant and Richmond Ranges, north of the Wairau River and the coast line between Cape Soucis and Rarangi (settlement). It includes all the islands of the Marlborough Sounds.

More particularly, the area is the land and sea area bounded by and enclosed within the geographical coordinates of Cape Soucis (173° 36’ east longitude and 41° 2’40” south latitude) and Rarangi. It encloses a sea and land area between Cape Soucis and Rarangi and includes all the offshore islands of the Marlborough Sounds within the described area but excepting Stephens Island.

Regulation of hunted animals in New Zealand

We regulate the supply of hunted animals sold for human or animal consumption to manage the risk of contamination. However, under the Animal Products Act, hunted game (or animals) for your own consumption is not regulated. There is no intention to regulate recreational hunted animal products in the future. Please note that recreational hunted animal products cannot be traded.

The potential food safety risk associated with recreational hunted animal products is something that we would like to raise awareness about.

Hunting, collecting and fishing – recreational catch and for commercial gain

Recommended guidelines for recreational hunting and commercial hunting specifications

Check where pesticides have been used in New Zealand [Department of Conservation]

This page was last updated in June 2008