Award Nominee

The Rangitoto Island Bach Community Association (RIBCA) is involved in weed control on Rangitoto Island in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf, where members have baches. The work involves dealing with weeds not only on the bach properties, but also on the public areas adjacent to the baches, including abandoned bach sites and the paths. These areas are where weeds are most visible to the visiting public. The Association first got involved in January 2008 through asking the Department of Conservation, which administers the island, if members could assist with the huge weed problem on the island. In 1990, DOC started a programme of eradicating possums and wallabies fromt he island. At the end of a successful ten year campaign, it was apparent that the wallabies in particular had been keeping many weed species at bay! Weeds quickly flourished and DOC contractors were faced with an immense task of weed control.

In 2008, the members of RIBCA offered their services in weeding the land plots around the baches. DOC provided a Weedbuster kit of resources for each of the 3 settlements, and organised Weedbusters seminars for the group. Work was undertaken on a range of weed species around the baches, some abandoned bach sites, at the Rangitoto Wharf settlement and at Islington Bay.

The outcome we are after is to take responsibility for weeds on our bach properties in order to prevent these species from spreading further over hte island, and to assist DOC where practical to control weeds on other parts of the island. Part of our mission is to take a proactive role in assisting DOC to manage the island. Most of our members have had a long association with the island andshare a passion for its welfare.

DOC has been very supportive, with providing resources, food and transport. Member of the public as well as people from the Rangitot Island Historic Conservation Trust have joined in our working bees.

Two highlights of the programme have been the way the communities in the 3 different settlements on the island have worked together and being able to assist the development of native plant species. As well, the programme has provided specialist weed knowledge to the bach community.

The RIBCA looks forward to continuing the weeding programme on an annual basis, working on one new weed species a year, while continuing to work on species targeted so far.