Farmers Say Time Goose Is Cooked

The urgent need for better management of Canada goose numbers has been reinforced by official papers showing a surging geese population in the South Island.



Papers released under the Official Information Act by the Minister of Conservation show numbers of the “grubby goose” at nearly double the optimal population.



“Farmers have long suspected the goose population to be out of control but the latest trend count proves it. Canada goose numbers are at the highest level ever recorded. Action needs to be taken,” said Federated Farmers of New Zealand national board member Donald Aubrey.



Under the South Island Canada goose management plan, approved by the Minister of Conservation after agreement between farmers and hunters in 1995, Canada geese were meant to be capped at a population of a 20,350 in the South Island excluding the West Coast.



“But counts in June this year show 36,597 for that area, a significantly higher number than the agreed level. Goose numbers for the South Island including the West Coast total 39,246,” said Mr Aubrey.



“Geese lower agriculture production and add costs through the need for bird control as well as re-sowing of crops and pasture. Three adult Canada geese eat the equivalent grass that one sheep eats per day. Geese are also chronic polluters of lakes.



“Currently geese are managed by Fish and Game under schedule one of the Wildlife Act which means they can only be hunted by people with licences at certain times of the year. At present farmers have a limited ability to control geese on their own land,” Mr Aubrey said.



“The bird should instead be placed under the Act's fifth schedule – giving it no protection and the possibility of being tagged a pest, allowing more effective culling techniques.



"Losing its protection would allow landowners, councils and others in the community to act more aggressively to bring this pest down to manageable levels," Mr Aubrey said.



The Department of Conservation is currently reviewing the level of protection for some New Zealand wildlife, including the status of Canada goose.



Federated Farmers has said that geese in areas covered by the goose management plan should stay on schedule one only if Fish and Game can reduce the population below 20,350 by May 1, 2008. If not, the bird should be placed on schedule five.



In areas outside the goose management plan, the bird should be moved immediately to schedule five.