Pest animals and pest plants can threaten agriculture, animal and human health and Taranaki's natural ecosystems.
Rural communities, working with the Council, put in a great effort to bring under control some of the pests such as possums and ragwort that have been a problem for many years.
However, landowners must always be prepared to combat the risk from existing and new pest species.
The Pest Management Strategy for Taranaki: Animals (adopted in 2006) covers all the Taranaki region, apart from land administered by the Crown, and declares 23 animal pests in Taranaki.
The Pest Management Strategy for Taranaki: Plants (also adopted in 2006) provides a strategic and statutory framework for the control and eradication of plants identified as pests in the Taranaki region. The strategy empowers the Council to exercise the relevant advisory, enforcement and funding provisions available under the Biosecurity Act 1993.