NEW PUBLICATION
A new publication released this week, developed collaboratively between NZEHA and the CANZ animal welfare team, discusses the critical gap in equine population knowledge in New Zealand and how this hampers emergency preparedness and response.
New Zealand currently has no accurate understanding of its equine population size or location. Estimates vary widely between 66,000 and 123,000 horses, with information scattered across approximately 70 different organisations. Many horses are registered with multiple organisations (creating duplication), while others - including feral and remote populations - are not registered anywhere at all.
This fragmentation creates serious problems during emergencies. During Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023, many displaced horses could not be identified. Traditional identification methods (like branding) were obscured by mud and injuries, and there was no centralised system to match horses with owners. The 2007 Equine Influenza outbreak in Australia similarly demonstrated that inaccurate population estimates and locations stretched resources and delayed response efforts.
Why New Zealand Needs a Modern Equine Identification System
Current New Zealand equine registries have not been designed with emergency management in mind. They often lack up-to-date information, fail to differentiate between active and deceased horses, don't consistently record horse locations or owner contact details, and use inconsistent data formats. With a large number of registration systems used for varying purposes, this presents challenges during an emergency response when rapid access to accurate, current information is critical.
The National Equine Identification and Traceability (NEIT) system addresses these gaps through microchipping and registration in a centralised database. Developed by the New Zealand Equine Health Association (NZEHA) and the backend software provided by Companion Animals New Zealand (CANZ), NEIT uses CANZ's established database infrastructure that already successfully manages 1.4 million companion animal records within the New Zealand Companion Animal Register (NZCAR).
Microchipping was selected because it meets the Biosecurity Act 1993 requirements for identification that is unique, clear, and lasting. The technology has proven safe and reliable: since 2004, over 76,900 Thoroughbreds have been microchipped with only a 0.25% failure rate and 0.0039% adverse reaction rate. Microchips provide unique permanent identification through a 15-digit ISO-standard code that cannot be altered or lost, unlike visual identification methods.
Closing the Gaps in Equine Identification and Emergency Response
New Zealand maintains one of the world's healthiest equine populations, free from most World Organisation for Animal Health-listed diseases and one of only three major populations free from Equine Influenza. With approximately $60 million worth of horses imported annually (primarily from Australia, but also from Europe and USA where many endemic diseases exist), maintaining this disease-free status is economically vital.
The NEIT system aims to improve efficiencies in rapid response through accurate contact tracing, providing data for targeted vaccination strategies and movement restrictions, if needed, through evidence-based epidemic modelling using real population data. Individual identification of horses is essential for providing accurate population data, surveillance, testing in-contact animals, and ultimately proving disease freedom. Economic analysis from Australia's equine influenza outbreak showed that every $1 spent on preparedness saved $63 in response costs.
Horses can be transferred between the NZCAR and NEIT systems at no extra cost, with movement possible in either direction meaning no duplication of effort from horse owners or those implanting/registering the horse. Opting into the NZCAR service offers peace of mind should the animal become lost. When horses are displaced during floods, storms, or other disasters, microchip scanning enables immediate identification and guardian notification. This reduces owner distress (preventing them from entering dangerous areas to search), speeds reunification, reduces burden on emergency shelters, and facilitates faster access to veterinary care for injured animals.
The NZCAR also provides emergency responders with crucial population data to allocate resources and understand the scale of animals affected - transforming emergency response from reactive to proactive.
Background and Collaboration Overview
The system represents a collaboration between NZEHA (which represents all equine organisations on health and biosecurity matters under the Government Industry Agreement) and CANZ (a charitable trust focused on responsible animal guardianship). While racing horses (Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds) already require microchipping, NEIT extends this protection across all sectors: recreational, sport, breeding, and domestic horses. The research acknowledges that full population coverage will take time and that success depends on stakeholder engagement, particularly with veterinary professionals who will perform microchipping and educate owners about the benefits of both the NZCAR and the NEIT system.
To read more and see references to figures cited in the paper, you can find the publication here: A national equine identification and traceability system for emergency preparedness and response in New Zealand: New Zealand Veterinary Journal: Vol 0, No 0
We extend our thanks to Dr Sarah Rosanowski, Hillary Milne, and Dr Patricia Pearce for their collaboration with our Animal Welfare Manager, Dr Nicola McDonald, and Consultant Scientist, Dr Gosia Zobel, along with input from Dr Andrew McFadden. It was a great team effort to bring this literature review to publication.