Pest Plants & Weeds

Weeds or pest plants are plant species that have been introduced from overseas, often as garden plants and have adapted to live in the wild. The Bay of Plenty's wild and natural areas and economically important activities can be affected by these invasive weeds known as pest plants.

Weed Index
Go to the weed index for detailed information on individual weeds and how to identify and manage them.

Fact Sheets
Go to the fact sheets page to get information on specific pest plants.

Weed Watch
Go to the weed watch page to read about the weed with the spotlight on it this month.

Biological Control
Go to the biological control page to find out how we're using one living thing to control another.

Most of the 300 invasive species that pose a threat to the environment are garden escapes and the weediest places are those nearest towns. Some of today’s garden plants are tomorrow’s weeds.

Pest plants will establish themselves from discarded seed-heads, clippings or root fragments. They are further dispersed by birds, animals, wind or water movement. Aquatic weeds are often spread between rivers and lakes on boats, trailers or fishing equipment.

Regional Pest Management Strategy
Environment Bay of Plenty’s Regional Pest Management Strategy provides a framework for the management of serious pest plants and animals with the co-operation of land occupiers. This contributes to the long term management of these pests by reducing densities and preventing their further spread.

National Pest Plant Accord
Many more plants are listed in the National Pest Plant Accord and these are banned from sale, propagation and distribution nationwide.

Biological control
We release biological control agents for some weeds.

Care Groups
We support community groups who control pest plants in their local environment.

Environmental Enhancement Fund
This fund may also provide assistance for pest control by community groups.

Environmental Programmes
A scheme to help private landowners manage environmental issues on their properties.
   
Weedbusters
Weedbusters is about working together to reduce the threat of weeds to New Zealand's natural environment. Interested in Weedbusters small scale initiative funding? Assistance to schools? Check this out...
Weedbusters in schools (498KB, pdf)
Weedbusters in workgroups (532KB, pdf)
Application for small scall initiative funding (396KB, doc)

We need your support to make significant progress in the control of invasive weeds.

You can help by:

If you haven't found the information that you're after already, then try one of these: