GotchaPest

Identify common NZ household and garden pests by appearance, droppings and signs of damage. Guidance covers rodents, ants, wasps, cockroaches, bed bugs, flies, spiders and possums.

• Visual identification cues and common confusion species
• Distinguishing harmless from harmful species
• When to act versus monitor

Pest activity changes through the year. A seasonal calendar shows when each pest is most active and when prevention is most effective in each NZ region.

Practical, evidence-based steps to reduce infestation risk: sealing entry points, food storage, waste management, moisture control and habitat modification.

Choose traps suited to the pest and setting — live traps, snap traps, tunnel traps and monitoring devices — with guidance on humane use and NZ legal requirements.

Guidance on when a problem is manageable with DIY methods and when to engage a professional — considering health risk, scale, repeated infestations and protected species.