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Auckland Council conducted a survey, via helicopter, of Puhoi, Wainui and Orewa earlier this month in a bid to confirm wallaby sightings.
Council’s head of natural environment delivery, Phil Brown, says it was in response to four possible sightings over the past five years in the areas.
“While we doubt wallabies are actually present, we are obliged to ensure they haven’t been released into the area,” he says. “It is more cost effective to prevent a pest from establishing than to have to control them later.”
Aerial surveys use thermal imaging, allowing large areas to be covered quickly and more cost effectively than by foot.
No wallabies were sighted, but Mr Brown says further surveys in areas not already covered are possible. Wallabies were introduced to NZ in the late 1800s, mainly for sport and the value of their skin.
They have become a significant pest and damage native plants, according to the Ministry of Primary Industries.
