The Biosecurity Act 1993 (the Act) and the Otago Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP) have strict rules to manage the harmful effects of pests and unwanted organisms on our environment and economy. However, in limited circumstances, it is possible under the Act to apply for an exemption to the rules of the RPMP.
Please read the Biosecurity Exemption Information before completing the Biosecurity Exemption Application Form.
September 2024
PDF | 210 KB
Section 78 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 (the Act), and Rule 8.3 of the Otago Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP), provide the Otago Regional Council with the power to issue exemption from RPMP rules in limited circumstances. The Biosecurity Exemption Information explains the applicable law, application process, assessment and approval procedures, and consequences of exemptions at the Otago Regional Council. Please read this information before applying.
September 2024
PDF | 251 KB
Use this form if you want to seek an exemption to a rule in Otago’s Regional Pest Management Plan. Successful applications must meet the strict criteria for exemptions in the Biosecurity Act 1993.
| Exemption Code | Description of exemption: | Reasons for the exemption | Period for the exemption |
| 2024/001 |
An exemption (with conditions) was granted to Rule 6.2.3.4 which prevents anyone other than an authorised person to keep, hold, or otherwise harbour any Bennett’s wallaby. The exemption relates to the translocation and release of 2 wallabies from Canterbury to the Little Kyeburn area of Central Otago as part of a Judas Wallaby Research Project. The project has MPI permission to communicate wallabies for this purpose under section 52 of the Biosecurity Act 1993. |
The exemption was approved for the following reasons: -Under section 78(2)(a) Council is satisfied that granting this exemption will not significantly prejudice the attainment of the RPMP objective for Bennet’s Wallabies, and -Under section 78(2)(b)(iii), Council is satisfied that the requirement is unreasonable in this particular case. The risks associated with holding 2 sterile Judas wallabies for the limited time needed to transfer them to Central Otago for release and research purposes are negligible and outweighed by the benefits to be gained from the research; therefore, enforcing the requirement was considered unreasonable in this case. |
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