The Auckland Council has partially backed down on a proposed ban on several types of exotic parrots that had ruffled the feathers of professional bird breeders.

Last year. Auckland Council had announced its 2019 - 2029 Auckland Regional Pest Management Plan (“the Plan”). The Plan proposed banning the trade of a range of parrots by 2022, including the sulphur crested cockatoo, Eastern rosella, galah, and monk and rainbow parakeets, and classifying them as pests. The plan also includes new prohibitions on the breeding and distribution of certain reptiles, including the red-eared slider turtle, and a species of bearded dragon.

The Plan had describes several animals as “sustained control pest animals”, with the Council saying that such species have pest potential. Reptiles and birds have long lifespans and if released into the wild, could damage native habitats, spread disease and compete with or even kill native species.

In April, the society and the council resolved a judicial review proceeding in the High Court, with three species of parrots being exempted from the list - until 2025. The exemption for Indian ring-necked parakeets, monk parakeets and rainbow lorikeets will expire in September 2022. However, the Plan related to reptiles will stand.

Auckland Council’s biosecurity principal adviser: Dr. Imogen Basset said the pest management plan was to take a precautionary approach. “Most biosecurity issues are best responded to early” she said. “Imagine if we could go back to 1858 and prevent possums from being introduced for the fur trade, We can’t do that, but we do have an opportunity to prevent new species becoming problems in the future,.”

Vice President of the Parrot Society of New Zealand, Hayden Van Hoff calls it a win, “We didn’t achieve what we wanted to achieve but we got as far as we could with the funds that we have, and fighting a Goliath like Auckland Regional Council.”

Van Hoff has acknowledged that birds do occasionally get out but strictly imposed measures mean its’' only in the “ones and twos”. He also said: -

“Sulphur-crested cockatoos have had a population in New Zealand for well over a hundred years…there’s even records of them being blown over from Australia.”

A lot of the Parrot Society’s ire stemmed from the fact that the bylaw was passed without consulting bird owners. “We were all blindsided” he said. “There are people that are saying if they can’t get vet care, if they can’t breed them, they may end up moving [out of Auckland]”

One Auckland-based exotic vet said rabbits were the most commonly seen “exotic”, but parrots and budgies were next on the list. The phase-out would certainly mean fewer patients for exotic vet care specialists.

When asked for clarification around vet access, Bassett confirmed the bylaw would not impact pre-existing exotic pet owners. “Pet owners will still be able to take pets to the vet when the new rules come into effect, however affected parrots and reptiles will need to be properly contained at all relevant times to prevent escape.”

Courtesy of HKALPO