Rabbits!

Does anyone know if you can take pet rabbits to NZ. Ours have been fully vaccinated. Have looked at MAF site but still not sure. :hopeso

How can you be called poacher and keep rabbits :laugh

Hi, poacher,

I don't know specifically about pet rabbits, but I can tell you that rabbits in general are considered vermin and a huge pest both in NZ and Aussie. You would need to check this out specifically with MAF: enquiry@maf.govt.nz

My guess is you might be able to bring pet rabbits in provided they are spayed or neutered. Almost certain if they are not, there is no way they will be allowed.

Best of luck! - Rae

Just a nickname - I'm actually vegetarian!

Rabbits, sort of a tough one here. I was in N.Z about 14 years ago, and they were in the middle of a drought, in winter none the less.

The rabbits that were introduced had no natural preditors there, and well rabbits breed like rabbits.

The news coverage was truley bazarre. The unfortunate and hapless rabbits had eaten every last lick of vegetation( cant remember where the coverage was centered) but the rabbits, in a fit of hunger; turned canabalistic.

It was a grusome image to see rabbits with ears bleeding hopping around pushing there noses up and down, as rabbits will do.

The only thing that comes close to this image is the movie of water ship down.

It is images like this, seared in the mind of kiwis that reinforces a fear of introducing foreign animals.

I have african sulcatta turtles that I would love to bring. They are over 80 pounds now, and can grow to nearly 200 lbs.(third largest in the world)

I understand your desire to bring your babies. But like pigs in hawaii, cane toads in australia, kudzu in georgia, and a whole host of other introduced foreign species; introductions can be like oil and water.

They just dont mix well.

Are you out of your mind bringing rabbits to New Zealand??? :eek

Why should someone be out of their mind for wanting to bring their pets with them?

Because it is unethical and utterly stupid to bring any mammal to New Zealand. The whole unique environment is being ruined by them. No offense, though, I really understand. And I feel the same way about people who bring their cats dogs etc to New Zealand. I just hope people, like you, will think twice before doing such a thing. It just isn't right. And very unfair for the birds who are driven to extinction.

Perhaps we should stop people going to NZ - they really do harm the environment! I'll have to keep a close eye on my rabbits from now on - didn't realise they were such a danger towards birds.

All I wanted to know was whether rabbits could be taken - wish I hadn't been so utterly stupid to ask.

I have to admit I was gobsmacked by the reply too poacher - seen lots of posts on here with people asking best way to get their pets to NZ etc and no-one had the reply you did...

Whilst I fully understand the reasons for limiting the introduction of mammals to NZ, I fail to understand why pets should be such an issue. Most responsible pet owners would have their pets neutered. I feel the issue of cats and wild birds is a seperate issue, having had cats in the past I do understand others concerns re wild bird population .... tough one that... perhaps more appropriate on an ornithology forum :laugh

Perhaps the written word in the previous posts came out a little more "sternly" than was intended. Sometimes hard to get across your exact tone in text :?

There are already dogs and cats in NZ so what on earth difference does it make if more are brought in. All new entries have to be neutered anyway so they are not going to increase the population by much. I could understand if it was the introduction of a new type of animal which would disturb the balance of NZ's ecology, but this is not the case.

My new house already has a cat flap in it - so I'm sure I won't be offending too many New Zealanders by bringing my cat with me and the bird population around my new house must be used to having a cat wandering around.

My cat has a bell around his neck and is not very successful in catching birds because of this.

It's not very often that people are lambasted on this forum, it's normally quite polite and I'm sorry that you have been Poacher.

Sandra

evelien, I know nothing about you as you are not open enough to give information about yourself for the profile. the only thing I now know about you is that you are very uncomprimising in your opinions, not always a good trait for people looking to live in another country.

People like myself who are interested enough in their animals to bring them out here are the type of people who care enough to have them trained and not let them run loose, most often they are people who also care enough about wildlife to care for the environment.

My own feelings on the environment are fairly committed too and the thing that causes the most damage is people. so whats your solution for that. Are you prepared to take that principle and stay where you are, or as there are people here does that make it OK. If so, on your principles its ok for me to bring my dogs over, because as someone else said, they are here already. Any introduced species, (sheep being a case in point) even with the best intentions changes the environment it goes to but you can't change history.
Try to be more mellow, I know you have made me step back from you and feel you have hurt Poacher by your strong opinion, please leave room for our opinions too, they are just as valid as yours.

I wasn't expecting a post like that on here, sorry you were at the end of it poacher!

I can't help with your queries on rabbits, but I can fully understand you wanting to bring your beloved pets with you.

We re-homed all of ours with friends in the UK, but they are missed terribly and I am sure the settling process would be far easier if we had them with us :(

Hope I didn't step on anyones toes with bringing rabbits. Evilyn, should try to understand that introducing animals to new countries, continents etc... Does not always have a detrimental effect.

New Zealand is heralded as a Mecca for trout fishing. A true boon for the tourism industry. Wanna guess where the eggs from ALL New Zealand trout came from?

That right, they were (cue hollywood drama music theme) "DUN DUN DUN." INTRODUCED :eek :eek :eek from Northern Ca around the turn of the century.

I for one cant wait to set my line into a five pound rainbow, get that cast iron skillet smoking, roll that baby in corn meal and fry up and camp diner.


:clap

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dave & Sandra

There are already dogs and cats in NZ so what on earth difference does it make if more are brought in. All new entries have to be neutered anyway so they are not going to increase the population by much.

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You're not required to neuter your cats and dogs before bringing them to NZ. If they're pets, that's the best thing to do, but it's not mandatory.

(I'll be importing unneutered felines, but that's because I show and occasionally breed cats - they stay strictly indoors, and wouldn't know how to kill a bird even if you gave them directions and a sledgehammer)

The introduction of non-indigenous species to NZ is a very HOT and touchy subject. I can understand this - it IS a beautiful country.

However, Kiwis seem to want their cake and eat it. Non-indigenous means not welcome - unless there is a profit in it. Take sheep, cattle, trout, poultry, flowers, grapes, olives etc. I can perhaps understand why the poor old possum is always under attack but take a look in any tourist shop - there is always plenty of fur around !

Apart from a few birds, NZ had nothing before, not even people. But the country has, as countries do - and not always naturally - evolved. Yet ironically, those complaining loudest about the introduction of new species are themselves the product of a species introduced in the not too distant past.

It makes me laugh the way Kiwis are so protective of the coutryside (or Bush). You should see the way the majority of them treat it. The only reason it isn't noticed so much is that there is a lot of it. Oh yes, and anything that moves is fair game for the shotgun.

So, don't bring your rabbit !

Perhaps Evil Lyn is confusing domestic rabbits with the 20ft Bunnies in 'Night of the Lepus' ??? :laugh

Sorry I missed this one, clicked in expecting a nice fluffy thread and what can I say, except somebody won't be getting any Christmas presents... :no

As rabbits aren't too good with the computer apart from eating the cable on my husband's laptop, Gilbert and Ernest (my rabbits - not my children) would like me to thank all those pro-bunny lot on this site for their support.

As Thumper the rabbit in Bambi says "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all"

Seriously, this was only my second posting and I have realised what a brilliant lot of people are on this site - I can especially relate to the warped sense of humour some of you have got.

Thanks

Ps.

What I really want to know is whether MAF will object to my Reindeer team,

...'you know Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid and Donner and Blitzen

And of course do you recall Rudolph, without whom my Long Term Business Visa is a non-starter...

HO HO HO :laugh

My wife told me I get extra points on my EOI if I get neutered.

:(

Did anyone ever get the answer to the original question? All I can find on MAF's site are the regulations for importing pet rabbits from Australia. In that situation, the regs are similar to those for importing cats and dogs - proof of health required, microchipping/tattooing is required, but neutering is not.

Hi, coastcat,

My original suggestion was for poacher to write to MAF directly. I think that is the only way she'll get a definitive answer. They're very helpful and great about replying promptly.

I had supposed neutering would be required only because I'm aware of their 'pest' status in NZ, as it is in Aussie, but it was only a supposition. And please understand, I don't view them as pests when they're pets -- that's just historically how they've been viewed in NZ! Now, after seeing what youv'e learned, I'd guess that neutering will not be required.

Best of luck to you, poacher! Hope it's the answer you want!

All the best, Rae

Sorry Coastcat - one of the cardinal sins on a forum, writing something that you're sure is correct and you are totally wrong. :oops: Glad you corrected me.



bbq When's the op :laugh

Sandra

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dave & Sandra

bbq When's the op :laugh

Sandra

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It might be quite soon, she is walking about with a funny look in her eye holding two house bricks :no

Ouch :wah Got to be worth at least 100 points :eek

:laugh :laugh :laugh

captainxmas. definately think you should leave the reindeer at home. lots of venison for sale in the supermarket here........Then again perhaps there is a potential profit there. :laugh

bbq .......................Perhaps the ...'I'll hang around a little'.... caption is the wrong one for you in view of the topic content thats been current lately.

Sorry kids, Rudolph can't be with you anymore... :no

:wah :wah :wah :wah :wah :wah

Is he on Rae's menu? :uhoh

Reindeer meat pie, anyone?

Anyone...?

With cranberries :yes

Yum! Venison is tasty! Braised reindeer with cranberries and mushrooms would make the perfect Christmas dinner.

You know, I've always hated the story of Rudolph. First, you have all these reindeer - presumably the adults as well as the youngsters - taunting and ostracizing this young reindeer just because he has a mutation/deformity/whatever the heck his nose is. The big boss recognizes that Rudolph's deformity is actually an asset, and rewards him with a leadership position. And suddenly, all the other reindeer start kissing Rudolph's hindquarters. Hypocritical toady slime. Is this what we want children to learn?

(I ranted about this to my sister-in-law a few years ago. She said it's a good thing I'm not having children.)

:laugh :laugh :laugh

Raindeer pot pies is one thing.

Please keep Raindeer rocky mountain oysters off the menu. :no

Only on this forum could the topic go from bunnies to reindeer... via castration with house bricks and include an evil character from "He-Man"

Mighty good laugh though - just what the doctor ordered :clap

Long live the bunnies (and this from a Conservation Biologist!)

Hi I have just had a quote to take my three dogs with me to NZ and remember reading a letter of thanks in the booklet with my quote about a rabbit that was succesfully transported over. The company is golden arrow and they are not on the net but the tel no is 01588680240. Hope this helps might be an idea to ring them.

Ok what size dogs and can you share the quote with us.

Hi i have one small terrier x sort of jack russell size and two lakeland trailhounds. The trailhounds are about greyhound size now wait for it the quote is 4374 pounds but this includes everything that is needed. My vet says I am mad and it would be cheaper to do it myself but I want it all done properly so I dont have any problems. I also got a quote from airpets but the man that i spoke to at golden arrow seemed such a caring person.