Geese

Geese are found in large numbers all over New Zealand. The Canadian Goose was first introduced to New Zealand from the USA as a gift from President Roosevelt. Other geese were bred for meat, fat, eggs and down and also for controlling weeds. They were also useful guard watchers.

They live in open pasture, farmlands, wetlands and grassland and eat grass, herbs, weeds, foliage, insects and grain. An adult goose eats nearly 2kg of grass a day.

Geese were declared a pest in 2011 and are unprotected. They are a pest to the agricultural, horticultural and arable industries as they destroy newly sown crops and graze on grass reserved for other animals, fouling it with their droppings. Geese produce over 1 kg of droppings per day which spread diseases and bacteria, and reduces water quality.