Rabbits
Rabbits were first introduced to Otago, Southland, New Zealand to provide a means of game for hunters to shoot. Also as a means of food. It is believed that they came from NSW, Australia around 1838 but the exact date is not known.
Although it took sometime for them to adapt to New Zealand, they were not seen as an ecological threat until the 1870′s were their numbers had swelled to plague proportions.
The effects to farmers land and pasture was so devastating that a number of strategies were put in place to try and eradicate the increasing population of the animal. Cats were introduced, as too were ferrets, weasels and stoats around the 1880′s but this did little to affect the rabbit numbers but instead damaged the native bird life.
In 1938 district rabbit boards were set up with the intent to kill rabbits all year round , however these were removed and the rabbit population was placed into the control of the farmers.
A number of methods were introduced for the extermination of the animal with objections from people due to the length of time for the animals to die.
Today RHD a control virus has been approved by the Government to help contain the number of rabbits but there is still a chance that the new generations may have less immunity to the disease. With reduced numbers of rabbits other predators will rely on native animals as a food source.
As you can see Rabbits are considered somewhat a pest to the farmer and provide a great hunting opportunity.