There are about 31 species of current and potential vertebrate pests in New Zealand. Responsibility for their management is divided between the Department of Conservation, Regional Councils, the Animal Health Board, and private land owners. Costs of pest control are difficult to ascertain, but are greatest for possums ($8.3 m in 1990/91). Most operations target a single species and a single objective, often using only one technology or strategy, and are usually undertaken by a single organisation. A more integrated management of pests is limited by the tagging of allocated funds, pest management legislation, land ownership and land boundaries, organisational philosophies, and public perceptions of current techniques. New directions in pest management include new strategies for the use of existing technologies, the development of new technologies, and closer operational integration.
