Goats first arrived into New Zealand with the whalers and sealers during the 19th century who used them as a source of food. More goats were introduced as a control for weeds and later for farming. Under the Wild Animal Control Act 1978 feral goats are any goats which are not suitably identified and not effectively constrained.
Goats are notoriously difficult to contain with a fence and many escape from farms to become feral.
Feral goats have long been considered a pest and feral goat control began as early as 1914. Government funding for feral goat control started in 1924. Goat control is still an ongoing issue for landowners and the Department of Conservation today. Feral goats are found throughout the Bay of Plenty with the highest infestations in the eastern Bay of Plenty catchments. Goats eat a wide variety of vegetation.