This story was first published in Open Space issue 107 in November 2024. You can read the full issue, as well as previous issues of Open Space, on our website.

Controlling weeds is a battle that many owners or caretakers of QEII-protected landscapes are fighting around the country. Every place is different, with different weed species to contend with. Sometimes a bit of assistance gives QEII landowners the edge they need to get on top of the issue.

Getting a jump on invasive weeds

‘Weeds’ are essentially plants growing where they are not welcome. These fast-spreading species can change the look and feel of our natural areas, replacing diverse ecosystems with dense, weedy growth. Weeds often create perfect hiding spots for pest animals like rats and stoats – putting pressure on our native fauna, many of which are already struggling to survive.

By working together to remove these unwanted plants, we can restore and protect our native ecosystems. Every effort – big or small – helps to keep invasive weeds at bay and ensure that future generations can enjoy our native bush.

With support from The Stephenson Fund and the Auckland Council Fund, QEII covenantors have been undertaking a variety of weed control projects to remove different pest plants. From wilding pines to creeping ivy, these landowners show that with the right tools, support and determination, even the toughest species can be managed.

Wilding Pines: A growing challenge

Wilding pines have spread rapidly across New Zealand’s landscapes since their introduction. Unlike most native trees, wilding pines grow quickly and spread easily, displacing many slower growing natives. They are fast becoming a problem for many regions and a threat to QEII-protected ecosystems.

Last year, Te Moata Charitable Trust received support from The Stephenson Fund to remove the pesky trees from their covenant along the Coromandel Peninsula.

Since then, their contractor and Te Moata staff have felled approximately 1,140 wilding pines. This involved careful planning to minimise impacts on surrounding trees, huts, tracks and waterways. Where safe to do so, the debris from felled trees was also removed.

Their long-term goal is to restore the native forest ecosystem, which includes kauri, rimu, tanekaha, miro, tōtara, mataī, pūriri and karo, and provides habitat for birdlife such as kiwi, kererū, tūī, pīwakawaka and kākā.

The removal of these pines will allow the regenerating bush space to grow and thrive.

Willows: Troublesome in our wetlands and waterways

Many willow species are invasive and have spread rapidly impacting waterway systems, replacing native vegetation and altering the balance of our ecosystems. They can block waterways, worsen flooding and shade out native plants.

In the Taranaki Region, The Spencer Family Trust recently took on the challenge of removing invasive willows from their QEII covenanted wetland to help restore the ecological health of the area.

In early 2025, with funding support from QEII and the Taranaki Regional Council, they hired a contractor to ‘drill and fill’ the willow population in their covenant. Most of the willows were successfully poisoned during the project, with only a small section requiring some follow-up work.

Leafy greens: Tackling those small but hardy unwanted guests

A range of leafy, climbing weeds such as Cape ivy, climbing asparagus, common ivy and old man’s beard have become common across New Zealand’s landscapes. These fast-growing species spread easily and can quickly smother native plants, preventing natural regeneration. They’re a problem many of our covenantors will be familiar with, often requiring regular control to keep them in check.

Cape ivy be gone

When Denise noticed a new weed species growing along a steep section of her Northland covenant, she knew it had to go. The culprit was Cape ivy, a dense tangly shrub known for smothering other plants. In 2024, with support from The Stephenson Fund, Denise hired a contractor to safely remove the Cape ivy (and some ginger, pampas and woolly nightshade along the way) from the difficult terrain. The next year, a contractor was brought back to physically remove remnants of the Cape ivy. Denise replanted the site with natives to establish the shade necessary to eliminate further Cape ivy spread and prevent reinvasion.

Tackling climbing asparagus (and other intruders)

Similarly in the Auckland Region, QEII covenantor Rosemary was faced with several unwanted guests of her own that had sprung up in her covenant. With the steep terrain, compounded by the wet spring weather, some external help was needed to safely control the weeds.

In 2023, she applied for support through the Auckland Council Fund. During the Spring and Summer of 2023/24, a contractor worked to remove climbing asparagus, ginger, Aristea, arum lily and woolly nightshade from around the property. The project required three rounds of spraying, and by late summer clear progress had been made. As part of the project a weed map was also drawn up to help with ongoing management of the covenant.