PO Box 14001
Christchurch 8544
New Zealand
Telephone (+64 3) 358 5029
christchurchairport.co.nz
26 September 2023
Eiko Jones
Email: [FYI request #24001 email]
Tēnā koe Eiko
OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT 1982 (OIA) – REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION -
CHRISTCHURCH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LIMITED (CIAL)
1.
We write further to our email of 31 August 2023, acknowledging receipt of your OIA
request of 30 August 2023 seeking the following information (if held by CIAL) in
relation to birds:
Request: Received 30 August – Birds
“Could you please confirm your strategy re birds at Christchurch Airport, and report on
how many you have moved, killed or otherwise removed each year for the past five
years?
Please outline how this is done, and provide records of this activity. Please also be
clear about the area this covers in relation to the airport. Please be detailed about
the boundaries.”
2.
CIAL wildlife management addresses two areas – On Airport and Off Airport.
(a)
On Airport Wildlife Management – relates to all aviation activity occurring within
the confines of the Christchurch Airport perimeter fence line in accordance with Civil
Aviation Act Rule 139, which requires airport operators to establish environmental
management programmes for managing wildlife hazards. Wildlife Management is
subject to a number of legislative instruments including the Wildlife Act 1953 with
overall responsibility for the management and control of wildlife in New Zealand,
rests with the Department of Conservation (DOC).
The daily role for the CIAL Wildlife team involves:
•
Active management to deter hazardous bird presence in operational areas and
encourage them to alternative low risk sites, utilising tools of a visual and audible
nature (i.e., sirens, horns, vehicle & human presence, pyrotechnics, stock whip
etc).
•
There have been 5684 dispersals in the last 5 years, consisting of bird and
mammals that have been identified inside the perimeter fence.
•
The following table shows the number of birds that have been culled in the last 5
years:
Species
Number culled
Spur-winged plover
339
Australian Magpie
239
Southern Black-backed gull
186
Paradise Shelduck
35
Feral Pigeon
19
Harrier Hawk
10
Mallard Duck
3
Graylag Goose
1
(b)
Off Airport Wildlife Management – relates to the area outside the perimeter fence
up to a 13km radius from Christchurch Airport (as recommended by the International
Civil Aviation Organisation).
There are 3 elements of Off Airport Wildlife Management that CIAL is involved with:
•
Monitoring – scheduled monthly surveys or as required for data collection.
•
Control - engagement with external agencies and businesses for annual or ad hoc
control on high-risk species.
•
Education/raising awareness – CIAL works with external organisations to educate
and advise them on methods to mitigate bird strike risk when undertaking
activities which attract birds.
Note: CIAL has no jurisdictional authority outside the airport perimeter fence line
so is not the lead agency for any Off Airport Wildlife Management actions. On and
Off Airport Wildlife Management is subject to a number of legislative instruments
including the Wildlife Act 1953 with overall responsibility for the management and
control of wildlife in New Zealand, resting with the Department of Conservation
(DOC).
3.
We trust we have answered your requests for information. If you require any further
information or we have in some way misinterpreted your requests, please let us know.
4.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of the
decisions contained in this letter. Information about how to contact the Ombudsman
or make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone
0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
CIAL LEGAL TEAM
Email: [Christchurch International Airport Limited request email]