Plant Pests and Weed Control

Waitakere City has over 200 identified Environmental and Invasive weeds, all of which are detrimental to our native bush or grazing areas. There are many resources available to help you get rid of your weeds.

Weed of the Month

Woolly nightshade

Woolly Nightshade

Woolly Nightshade is a very invasive weed that is threatening our native bush. Woolly Nightshade has purple flowers and large yellow berries which are eaten by birds and distributed across the city. Woolly Nightshade can also grow from a stump so it must be dug out or poisoned.

Manual control -pull out small seedlings, or dig out the roots of larger plants.
Using herbicide - Cut and stump paint or frill (100ml/L Tordon BK or triclopyr 100ml/1L or Vigilant gel).

Weed Identification

Below are some good sources of information to help you identify your weeds and how to control them.

	The Auckland Regional Council has a great website to help you identify your weeds and how to control them.
	Weedbusters is an organisation to help you identify weeds, increase your knowledge of weeds, and connect to other people in your neighbourhood who are also controlling weeds.  You can join Weedbusters for free and are entitled to resources and prizes.
	Ecomatters Trust is a Waitakere based operation that can help you identify and control weeds on your property, as well as help you organise neighbourhood groups and apply for grants and subsidies.

Weed Control Projects in Waitakere

There are a number of weed control projects currently underway within Waitakere, ranging from individual land owners doing their own work to large projects that cross Council boundaries and large areas.

Some of these projects are detailed below

For more information of any of the projects you can contact us or email greennetwork@waitakere.govt.nz

Titirangi Resident and Ratepayers Association Project (TRRA)

The TRRA project commenced to address a range of issues in the Titirangi Village Business area. The issues include graffiti, kerbing, litter and the increasing presence of invasive weeds. The TRRA is currently working with Waitakere City Council (WCC) and other groups, including The Weedfree Waitakere Trust to overcome these issues.

The first step to this project is to determine stakeholder support for the project in general, and to progress further the project boundaries.

Through the involvement of the Weedfree Waitakere Trust weeds on all supporting properties were identified, the best control methods determined, the community was coordinated, and financial support was sought from funding agencies.

The Trust then started a programme of weed surveys in the Titirangi township area, and developed weed management plans. This involved continued communication with landowners and with tenants. Weeds were targeted such as wild ginger, Climbing asparagus, Plectranthus and Tradescantia (wandering Jew). Many of the properties have extensive native bush cover and these areas will need to be explored.

Once the survey is complete we will then work out a long term management plan for the area involving all stakeholders; landowners, tenants, Auckland Regional Council and WCC. We will involve all landowners at every step of the way to seek their continued support and guidance.

The Weedfree Trust is an independent Charitable Trust and has operated in Waitakere since 1998.

For more information phone (09) 826 4276 or 021 308 871.

Herbicide  / Agrichemical Reduction

Agrichemical Reduction Policy

Waitakere City Council has developed the Waitakere Agrichemical Reduction Policy in response to many concerns raised by the public in regard to the use of chemicals on city parks.

The Policy addresses the type of chemicals that are used in public areas, methods to reduce their use, and how the Council can better manage public land in a sustainable manner so that chemicals are not needed.

Copies are available free to all Waitakere residents by contacting our customer services, or download your copy here.

Herbicide Reduction Booklet

Herbicide Reduction Booklet (Size 1328K) Click to download

We have also developed the Herbicide Reduction Booklet  to help you reduce herbicide use in your own garden.

It offers ideas about how to manage different types of weeds using manual control and low herbicide use methods. It also contains some helpful hints regarding herbicide use, so that if you have to use herbicide, you can do so in a way that is effective and easier on the environment.

Waitakere residents can order their free copy of this booklet by contacting customer services or download a copy below.

Note: You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to view and print this document.  For help opening PDF files or tips on copying information see Helpful Tips.

Herbicide Reduction Booklet (Size 1328K)