The RLMP ran for just over 5 years from 1st November 1989 to June 1995. In 1991 over 110 landholders were advised they were eligible for RLMP. Central Govt funded 16.35 million and 9.12 million was funded by regional ratepayers of Otago, Canterbury, and Malborough. RLMP funds were only available through an approved property plans and were capped at a level related to the amount of "extreme" and "high" rabbit prone areas on that property.

Funds were made available for :
Preparation of R&LM property plans
Farm development options
Developing Alternative land use
Rabbit Control
Monitoring the impact of the RLMP

RLMP grants were:
up to 70% of total poisoning costs
up to 70% of follow-up rabbit control
up to 70% of other works
up to 100% of fencing costs.

Additional Money was also made available for properties just outside the RLMP. After the Otago & Canterbury Regional Councils went to the GOVT asking for more funds. Those funds were supplemented by funds raised in both regions.

Grants of up to 50% were made available and participating farmers were required to sign a letter of commitment, undertaking to maintain control programs in the future in the areas that attracted grants.(same applied to farmers on the RLMP) The Additonal grants were spread over two years, $60,000 per year in Canterbury & 150,000 per year in Otago. At the end of the RLMP vegetation cover had increased by up to 70% in many places, before monitoring commenced in 1990/91 vegetation cover was barely 50%. Rabbit numbers had dramatically decreased by up to 80% in parts of the S.I.. All in all rabbit control was reported to be well in hand but many farmers hadn't fundementally altered their approach to farming.

So it just goes to show how much rabbit control these farmers have really done for the rabbit numbers to increase as much as they say they have. The problem with the farmers is they don't want to have to pay for any rabbit control. Apparently, many farmers keep saying they have never had any help for the Government.

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**Comments on the RLMP from personal email received from New Zealand**

We have all tried to get the RLMP information out into the public arena.I personally have spoken to a number of reporters, but as soon as I mentioned the RLMP program, they say that's interesting but the RLMP info never gets published. I even faxed it to Radio Pacific (when they were covering RHD) it never got a mention.

I have a friend down in the South Island who used to work for the Otago Regional Council, he was the one who sent me all the RLMP information. John (name changed to protect informant)has said that many of the farmers that received that grant money spent it on overseas trips, new cars etc, and he said some got rolls and rolls of rabbit proof fencing and the farmers never even put it up. It was just left sitting in the paddocks but of course none of this was documented. The councils were supposed to enforce rabbit control but the likes of the Otago Regional Council never really did.

What annoys me is, rabbit processors offered to go on to these properties and shoot the rabbits for free.They were willing to pay for the shooters, bullets, guns etc. and in return they got to process the rabbit meat. The only time the farmers would have had to pay the processors to shoot rabbits was when the rabbit population reached a very low level. One processor told me he basically had the farm gates shut in his face because the farmer didn't want to reduce the rabbit numbers (which can be done, if shooting is carried out on a regular basis) because he wanted RHD introduced. On some, that have let processors on their properties the rabbit numbers are way down, in fact you have to go looking for rabbits and if your luckly you may find some.