Northland is one of the few places in New Zealand that’s never had wallabies, and we want to keep it that way.

But we need your help! We’re asking all Northlanders to stay vigilant and report any wallaby sightings – or signs of their presence – to Northland Regional Council.

Five species of wallaby were brought to New Zealand from Australia in the late 1800s. These marsupials have adapted well here. With no natural predators in Aotearoa, they are spreading from known locations in the Bay of Plenty and Canterbury to become significant pests. Three species – the Bennett’s wallaby, found in the South Island, and the dama and parma wallabies, mainly around Rotorua in the North Island – are the culprits.

Wallabies are nocturnal. Shy and elusive, they are often mistaken for hares, large possums, or even feral cats. 

They cause major damage to farmland, commercial forestry and native forests, costing New Zealand millions in environmental and economic losses every year. Wallabies compete with livestock for pasture and devour crops. 

For these reasons wallabies are classed as an Unwanted Organism under the Biosecurity Act 1993. This means that it is illegal to have, hold, move, transport, display, sell, or release wallabies without specific permits. Penalties include fines of up to $100,000 and/or five years jail.

Wallabies breed quickly and can easily establish new populations. The illegal release of a single pregnant female can easily create a whole new population, which would be a significant threat to Northland’s biodiversity and economy. Depending on the species, wallabies can live up to 10-12 years in the wild.

The Tipu Mātoro National Wallaby Eradication programme is working hard to control wallaby populations in the Bay of Plenty and Canterbury. In Northland, our focus is on prevention. We want to stop wallabies from entering our area in the first place – and your involvement is key.

If you spot any unusual animals or signs such as footprints, droppings (scat), or other wallaby markings, please let us know immediately. Report what you see – with a photo if you can – to www.reportwallabies.nz
Your vigilance can help protect Northland from these invasive pests. Stay alert, report sightings, and together, we can keep Northland wallaby-free.

For more information, visit Wallaby - Pest control hub - Northland Regional Council