Canada geese Hamilton Lake multiple plus a pukeko in background

The

Canada goose The Canada goose (''Branta canadensis''), or Canadian goose, is a large wild goose with a black head and neck, white cheeks, white under its chin, and a brown body. It is native to the arctic and temperate regions of North America, and it is o ...

(''Branta canadensis'') was introduced to New Zealand as a game bird in 1905. They became problematic because of damage they cause to pastures and crops.

History

Canada geese were introduced as a game bird into New Zealand in 1905. They were protected under the Wildlife Act of 1953 and the population was managed by Fish and Game New Zealand who culled excessive bird numbers. The number of birds increased and by 1996 they had reached an estimated population of 40,000 in the

South Island The South Island, also officially named , is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand in surface area, the other being the smaller but more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman ...

. In 2011 the government removed the protection status allowing anyone to kill the birds. In the lead-up to 2011, farmers felt that not enough was being done to control the population. They lobbied the government to have the designation changed so landowners could manage birds on their own properties. The then-conservation minister, Kate Wilkinson, changed its status, putting the birds in the same bracket as sparrows and pigeons. Fish and Game councils lost the authority to manage the species, and requirements for a shooting permit were dropped. An analysis of options prepared by

Department of Conservation An environmental ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for the environment and/or natural resources. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of the Environment, ...

(DOC) considered that changing the status of Canada geese from 'Schedule 1' of the

Wildlife Act Wildlife refers to undomesticated animal species, but has come to include all organisms that grow or live wild in an area without being introduced by humans. Wildlife was also synonymous to game: those birds and mammals that were hunted for ...

1953 (game birds) to 'Schedule 5' (not protected) would provide the best match against the overall objectives of a) ensuring landowners and managers do not bear the unacceptable costs from Canada goose impacts, b) ensure that Canada geese do not pose an unacceptable risk to aviation safety, and c) maximizing recreational hunting opportunities (subject to (a) and (b) being met). Fish and Game and hunters opposed the change, labeling the move 'a costly own goal' and later 'one of the most bizarre government decisions in the history of managed gamebird hunting in New Zealand'. Controversy about management has dated from at least 2006 when it was reported that farmers wanted lower numbers and Fish & Game wanted more financial support from farmers to support control efforts.

Effects

Canada geese are often seen in pastures and in the

braided river A braided river, or braided channel, consists of a network of river channels separated by small, often temporary, islands called braid bars or, in English usage, ''aits'' or ''eyots''. Braided streams tend to occur in rivers with high sediment l ...

valleys of the South Island and damage to pastures was reported as early as 1925. They affect pastures by competing for food with the farmed animals and by leaving droppings. The birds may also be responsible for some damage to crops.

References

External links

Game birds - Canada geese
at Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand *{{commons-cat-inline, Branta canadensis in New Zealand
New Zealand Birds Online: The digital encyclopedia of New Zealand birds
managed by Birds New Zealand, the

and Te Papa *Department of Conservation Te Papa Atauwhai
Change to protection status of Canada geese.
Invasive animal species in New Zealand Introduced birds Branta

History

Effects

See also

References

Further reading

External links