New Drone and Thermal Tech Revolutionises NZ’s Final Push to Eliminate Bovine TB

Minister Hoggard confirmed that OSPRI has begun trials using thermal-imaging drones across a selected site in the rugged, tussock-lined landscapes of Central Otago.

 

New Zealand’s drive to eradicate bovine tuberculosis (TB) is set to receive a major technological boost, with Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard announcing the deployment of advanced drone and thermal imaging systems to track possum populations—the country’s most significant wildlife carriers of the disease. The effort, led by disease management agency OSPRI, represents one of the most sophisticated surveillance upgrades in New Zealand’s decades-long campaign against TB.

A Technological Turning Point in the Fight Against TB

Minister Hoggard confirmed that OSPRI has begun trials using thermal-imaging drones across a selected site in the rugged, tussock-lined landscapes of Central Otago. The region, known for its steep high country and expansive valleys, has long been one of the most challenging environments for conventional possum control.

These drones are equipped with specialised thermal sensors able to detect the body heat of animals hidden beneath vegetation or in difficult terrain. By mapping the movement, population density, and habitat trends of possums, OSPRI can deploy ground teams and control operations with far greater precision and efficiency.

“I have challenged OSPRI to constantly seek out new and innovative ways to step up the fight against bovine TB,” Hoggard said. “Many farmers today may not remember the terrible situation that existed from the late 1970s through to the early 1990s, when thousands of herds were infected. I recall the anguish and cost my parents faced whenever an infected cow was found in our herd. We cannot return to those days.”

Lessons From Overseas and the Pressure to Finish the Job

Bovine TB remains one of the most persistent animal-health challenges globally. The United Kingdom and Ireland continue to battle widespread infections, with farmers there facing strict movement controls, heavy stock losses, and emotional stress as the disease lingers in wildlife reservoirs such as badgers.

New Zealand’s approach—considered globally successful—has reduced infected herds by over 97 percent in the past few decades through coordinated vector control, surveillance testing, and long-term investment by farmers and taxpayers. Yet Hoggard stresses that the final steps to eradication are often the hardest.

“We only need to look across to the UK and Ireland to understand how significant this challenge remains elsewhere. The mental strain on farmers overseas is immense. That’s why it is so important that we finish the job here,” Hoggard said.

Why Central Otago Is a Critical Trial Zone

Central Otago was chosen for the drone trial due to its reputation as a TB hotspot with possum populations that are both higher-than-average and extremely difficult to monitor. The vastness of the region, combined with its steep bluffs, gullies, and isolated ridgelines, means that traditional trapping, ground-hunting, or helicopter-led control methods are slow, labour-intensive, and costly.

“In terrain like this, traditional methods such as trapping, shooting, and helicopter operations are extraordinarily expensive,” an OSPRI spokesperson explained. “Drone technology allows us to work smarter, not harder. These devices can cover remote areas rapidly, detect possums with thermal sensors, and identify exactly where ground operations will be most effective.”

This targeted approach is expected to significantly reduce the operational costs of vector control while improving the accuracy of population assessments—information that is critical to predicting and breaking transmission pathways.

A Step-Change in Wildlife Vector Management

Hoggard described the introduction of drone-based thermal imaging as a “step-change” in wildlife disease management. For TB to be eradicated in New Zealand, possum populations need to be suppressed to levels where the disease can no longer sustain itself in the wild.

“To eradicate bovine TB, we have to reduce possum numbers to the point where the disease has nowhere to exist within the population,” he said. “This technology could well be the kicker we need to achieve sustainable and enduring eradication.”

OSPRI will analyse the trial’s data to assess detection accuracy, operational efficiency, and how well the drones integrate with existing tools such as ground traps, aerial surveillance, and environmental modelling. If successful, the system may be expanded to other high-risk or hard-to-access regions around the country.

Long-Term National Benefits

The introduction of advanced surveillance technology is expected to deliver broader national benefits. Improved possum control strengthens biodiversity protection, reduces the pressure on native vegetation and birdlife, and supports healthier farm systems.

Moreover, New Zealand’s TB-free status is vital for maintaining access to premium global markets for dairy, beef, and venison. Ensuring that domestic herds remain free of the disease protects the integrity of exports and upholds the reputation of New Zealand’s animal-health systems internationally.

The Final Push Toward TB Eradication

With global attention turning toward the role of new technology in controlling wildlife-borne diseases, New Zealand’s trial is poised to become a model for integrated pest and disease management.

While the final stretch toward national eradication may be demanding, Hoggard remains confident that the combination of innovation, investment, and partnership between farmers and government will see the job done.

“Farmers and taxpayers have invested millions of dollars over the decades,” he said. “This is about ensuring that investment pays off by securing a future where bovine TB is eliminated completely. With tools like these drones, we are closer than ever.”