Weedbuster Profile

Profile

The valley behind our properties on Black Jack Rd in Opito Bay is on a section of retired farmland. After some initial coastal revegetation was carried out in the late 90’s by the owners with pohutukawa, flax, karo and ngaio the Opito Bay Environment Group was given permission in 2002 to carry on with the revegetation/restoration project. Since then over 17,000 native trees have been planted. This year we carried on with our programme and planted over 350 kauris, 250 flax’s and an additional 200 trees namely, whau, kowhai, rewarewa, totara, tawapou, taraire and puriri. These have been planted amongst the emerging manuka, kanuka, flax and hebe stricta.

In addition to the planting we have been carrying out an extensive pest plant removal. Cotoneaster has been particularly invasive with seeds being spread by birds from bach owners gardens in the Bay. Funding from the Waikato Regional Council has allowed us to purhase weed control gels and liquids for which we are very greatful. Other weeds managed/controlled are pampas, tobacco weed, wilding pines, ginger and arum lilies.

Wilding pines are an issue along Black Jack Rd and we will organise weeding days to pull out and cut down small wilding pines between the Bay and Kuaotunu before they get too big. A particularly invasive species is Pinus contorta (recognisable because of the long needles).