Pest plants

• Alligator weed
• Chilean needle grass
• Nassella tussock

• Moth plant
• Senegal tea
• Spartina
• Velvetleaf
• Woolly nightshade

• Purple loosestrife
• Wildling conifers (European larch, Douglas fir and pine species).

• Blue passionflower
• Boneseed
• Climbing spindleberry
• Eelgrass

• Banana passionfruit
• Cathedral bells
• Old man’s beard
• Climbing asparagus
• Pampas grass

We rely on farmers, residential home owners and water sport enthusiasts to help us identify pest species so we can remove them.

If you see one of the pest plants from our management programmes above:

• Note the location
• Take a photo
• Contact us

For all other pest plant species, you can contact us for control advice.

Check, Clean, Dry - is the most effective way of preventing freshwater pests from spreading between waterways, and is recommended across New Zealand by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

On-farm biosecurity - There are lots of resources available to help you prevent these invasive species from affecting your farm, and simple steps you can take to help you manage these risks.

Unfortunately, we can’t control every pest plant in every location. There are some weeds that are so widespread that control by the landowner is the only option. These include pampass grass, blackberry and tradescantia. 

If you live in Hutt City, contact Hutt City Council if you are a landowner whose boundaries are shared with their reserves and any of the five species listed below are encroaching from bush reserves, or have become a fire hazard. In these situations, Hutt City Council will clear the boundary of weeds.

• Banana passionfruit
• Cathedral bells
• Climbing asparagus
• Old man's beard
• Pampas grass

• Weedbusters - list pest plants and how to control them.
• Agpest - identification tool for pests, biology, impact and management for farmers and agricultural professionals.
• iNaturatlist- sharing tool that contributes to biodiversity science for avid nature observers.
• Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research - provides information on weeds and biocontrol 
• NIWA - aquatic weed information

You can also contact us for advice on how to identify and control pest plants on your property - email pest.plants@gw.govt.nz