What's new

Your TB testing

Discover the latest TB testing regime changes and movement restrictions here.

Southland's TB story on TV

TV One's Rural Delivery programme takes a look at the success of Southland's TB control programme, and the challenges ahead. More...

Project Kākā

Eighteen months after the first phase of the joint DOC-AHB pest control project, native birds are thriving in the Tararua Range. More

Quick links

Your stories

Karamea beef farmer Geoff Volckman thought he was finally rid of the disease that had plagued his farm for close to 40 years. Then he got a letter from the works telling him one of his steers was harbouring bovine TB. Read more (pdf 4mb)

Do you have a TB-related story you'd like to share? Email us - we'd love to hear from you.

Our mission is to eradicate bovine TB from New Zealand

The TBfree New Zealand programme, managed by the Animal Health Board, aims to eradicate bovine tuberculosis (TB) from New Zealand by testing all cattle and deer; regulating stock movement; and controlling the wild animals that carry and spread the disease.

The programme is a government-industry partnership. We receive approximately $30 million annually in government funding. Our principal industry funder, DairyNZ, contributes $15.5m from the milk solids levy, and a further $8.5m from its share of the cattle slaughter levy. The beef sector provides $19m from the cattle slaughter levy. The deer sector contributes $1.5m from its levies on venison and velvet. Regional councils provide a further $6m.

More about our strategy, governance and funding

Why worry about bovine tuberculosis?

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is a serious and highly infectious disease. Practically any animal can carry or catch TB, but it is most commonly found in farmed cattle and deer.

This short video explains how TB is spread; how it is diagnosed; how it is treated; and what we're doing to eradicate it.

What progress has been made in managing bovine TB?

Infected herd reduction graph The number of infected cattle and deer herds in New Zealand has been dramatically reduced: from over 1700 in the mid '90s to fewer than 100 in 2011. New Zealand is now recognised as a world leader in TB control.

However, we still have a long way to go. While the disease is maintained in the wild animal population, cattle and deer herds remain at risk of reinfection. More...

How can YOU help to eradicate TB?

Thanks to the success of the TBfree New Zealand programme, the chance of your herd getting bovine tuberculosis (TB) is nearly 30 times lower than it would have been in 1995. But with TB-infected possums still living in over 40 per cent of the country, it still pays to be TB-wise.

Find out your testing and movement requirements

If you have any cattle and/or deer on your land - even just one animal - you have legal obligations under the TB control programme. Find out what you need to do. More...

Keep up to date with TB research

Around $2.5 million of the Animal Health Board's annual budget is dedicated to its research programme. Find out about our research categories, current work, search for abstracts and get research publications. More...

Stay informed

The Animal Health Board produces a number of publications, including Annual Reports, Annual Research Reports, guidelines, manuals, media releases, newsletters, pamphlets and brochures. More...

Meet the people behind the programme

Learn about the Animal Health Board's strategic partners and Board of Directors; meet your local TBfree Committee; and find out how you can get more involved in the TBfree New Zealand programme. More...