Auckland Invasive Weeds Group

17/04/2026

The recording of the Council workshop on the RPMP is available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAN156ToLnc

We suggest you listen to council manager Imogen Bassett's introduction prior to the discussion of cats and golden clams.

The presentation and discussion on w**ds management start at about 52m and take up the remaining 40 minutes.

There is reference to the AIWG's submissions to Council and council manager Sam Hill refers to the meetings she has had with AIWG.

However there is still a focus on what Council can and can't do within the existing framework. If I understood the discussion correctly, Council is saying that to avoid the reduction of the 500m scope of the current RPMP buffer zones, would require a budget ot $5m. This is hard to understand. It would be useful to see the information behind this assessment.

While Council says that the w**d control spend by local boards is taken into account in estimating the budget for the RPMP plans, it's not clear how this is done. And there was no mention of the estimated value of volunteer work and their community engagement.

An interesting point raised by one councillor was about keeping the door open for increased fine levels to be introduced under the revised Biosecurity Act and for any revenue from these fines to be applied to w**d control.

The focus of the discussion was on protecting native biodiversity in high value reserves; there was limited reference to the general issues of the nuisance to neighbours and local reserves from "w**d factories" such as abandoned orchards or absentee landlords.

There was also acknowledgement of the fact that paricularly in rural land Council and government are the major offenders in having woolly nightshade, MP etc on pubilc land. And that it's hard to tell land owners to clean up their property if official agencies aren't managing theirs.

There's a trap here which needs to be avoided. If Council takes the approach that it will only address 100m round a small number of reserves with high ecological value, then essentially NOTHING will get done in the long term.

It would be better to start with the proposition of what can be done to work progressively towards a high level of w**d control to protect our ecology, agriculture, horticulture and private land.

Then to develop a plan that works progressively towards those goals on a step wise basis.

If you have the time and interest that you could contribute to the work of the AIWG as we discuss these issues with Council, please get in touch.

Warning: don't rely on the transcript of the conversation - it regularly mis-spells not only te reo words but also words like "w**ds".

15/04/2026

Auckland Council has released its new AI app https://ask.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/

As yet it only answers questions about a small range of topics.

If you want to report a w**d on council land, it still directs you to the old Report a Problem system https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/en/report-problem/report-a-problem.html

However, if asked "How do I report moth plant on Auckland Council land", Copilot Search responded with this:
To report moth plant on Auckland Council land, you can follow these steps:
Contact Auckland Council: Reach out to Auckland Council at [email protected] to report the moth plant.

Provide Details: Include as much detail as possible about the moth plant, such as its location and any other relevant information

Upload a Picture: If possible, upload a picture of the moth plant for identification purposes.

Response Time: Expect a response from Auckland Council within five working days.

By reporting the moth plant, you contribute to the management and control of this invasive species in Auckland. Remember to follow any additional instructions provided by Auckland Council for the best outcome.

Find out how you can help care for your community by reporting a problem to us.

14/04/2026

The Auckland Council Policy, Planning and Development Committee is holding a workshop at 1.30pm tomorrow (Wednesday 15) to receive a presentation on aspects of the next RPMP (Regional Pest Management Plan) for 2020 to 2030.

While many members of the public were hoping that the next RPMP would provide improved controls for invasive w**ds, the officer recommendations propose a reduction from the current RPMP.

AIWG has written to Councillor Richard Hills, John Gillon, Josephine Bartley and other councillors and officers asking that no decision is taken on the recommendation at this stage.

Instead, we are asking that a regional hui is held to consult with community groups and local boards to seek a new paradigm to improve collaboration between the Council and the various communities with an interest in improved w**d control.

If you'd like to work with AIWG to promote new and improved processes, please email us at [email protected]

The meeting will be public and on Teams:
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/41822885698106?p=dLgN5IROaw6gKcFkmM

However, it doesn't sound like there will be the opportunity for members of the public to speak.

The briefing paper can be found here: https://aucklandcouncil.resolve.red/portal/meeting/12632

It presents the same approach as in 2019. But we believe new thinking is needed.

AIWG is hoping to see a new innovative approach that will better engage and support schools, communities, property owners/occupants and volunteers to help control the w**d invasion.

Council can't do it alone. They need to address community concerns with an integrated strategy.

They need to talk with and listen to STAMP, AIWG and other local groups to focus a new w**d management energy.

By the way, there are other parts of the RPMP working paper which we support. It's the w**ds recommendation that lacks a forward looking approach.

12/04/2026

We are advised that in preparation for the Regional Pest Management Plan 2030-2040, a workshop is being held on 15 April seeking elected members'
direction on key policy options for the RPMP.

See: https://aucklandcouncil.resolve.red/portal/meeting/12632

An overview can be found at https://aucklandcouncil.resolve.red/portal/Meeting/12632/78774?type=2&docId=41737 which explains that the
Biosecurity Act also requires council to be satisfied that funding exists to implement the RPMP.

Paper "RPMP 2030-2040 – BP3: pest plant management and land occupier obligations " can be found at https://aucklandcouncil.resolve.red/portal/Meeting/12632/78774?type=2&docId=41740 ( a copy of the PDF can be found at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gRr1O2RtUchdU5t5pSsz-MttfEfbLz-t/view?usp=sharing )

The proposals in this document recommend reducing the RPMP buffer zones.

AIWG had met with council officers to initiate discussions on a new paradigm for collaboration between volunteers, community groups, Council and other agencies.

We are concerned that the proposals in this discussion paper don't provide suffiicient strategies to capitalise on the incredible work being done by STAMP volunteers and many w**ding groups across the region.

We hope that Councillors will encourage the exploration of improved strategies.

If you'd like to help prepare a response to these proposals, please write to us at [email protected]

02/03/2026

We have just sent out invitations to the AIWG discussion at 7pm tomorrow (Wednesday 4 March) to prepare for the meeting with NZTA.

If you are keen to contribute but haven't received an invite and a copy of the email, please email [email protected]

Send a message to learn more

28/02/2026

AIWG is having an online meeting this Wednesday to discuss our response to the NZTA letter.
If you'd like to be involved, please email us at [email protected] and we'll send you the meeting invite.

Send a message to learn more

21/02/2026

The AIWG (Auckland Invasive Weeds Group) wrote to the CEO of NZTA on 6 January about their w**d control on the motorway system. We have now received a very helpful reply from the Regional Manager - National Maintenance and Operations (Northland/Auckland)

If you would like to help AIWG with a developing a structured campaign, please email us at [email protected] and we will arrange an online meeting to discuss a response to the email and to arrange a meeting with NZTA.

Here are extracts from the response: NZT-11403 - Bob Lawton - RESPONSE.pdf:

Dear Bob
Thank you for your email of 6 January 2026 regarding invasive w**ds in Auckland and my apologies for the delay in responding.

We appreciate the constructive feedback you have provided on pest plant eradication and acknowledge the frustration of members of Society Totally Against Moth Plants (STAMP) who have requested access to the state highway network to remove moth plant.

In most locations infested with moth plant, removal can only be carried out within a motorway closure for the safety of our teams and subcontractors. Most of this work is undertaken at night in block closures; the schedule for the first three months of this year is available on ouron our website via the following link:
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/sh-maintenance-programme/auckland-system-management/overnight-motorway-closures

Since December last year, we have increased our efforts to remove moth plant, doubling the number of crews we have working in overnight closures to specifically address it. We have also engaged new subcontractors who are expected to commence work on the network this month and adhere to best-practice pest plant removal. We are going to revisit the possibility of professional support to help us with overall pest plant management, including a more effective way to address moth plant.

Your feedback has been received and will inform our work, which is expected to start within the next two months. In addition to this, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has a separate project focused on the removal of pest species in the Northern Gateway section of the Auckland state highway network which will be delivered over the next 3 years.

Due to health and safety and minimum training constraints, historically it has been difficult to facilitate community volunteer groups having access to the network to support with pest plant removal.

We remain open to working with STAMP and other volunteer groups to help eradicate moth plant, and we are carrying out further investigations into how STAMP volunteers can work alongside Auckland System Management while meeting the Motorways Health and Safety requirements. After this is reviewed, we will be in touch.

In the interim, we are keen to explore how we can coordinate better with STAMP by aligning maintenance areas and sharing data. In order to facilitate this, we’d like to take the opportunity to meet with you and have a conversation about what we’re doing to remove moth plant, and how we might work with you to address the issue.

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18/02/2026

To prepare for the meeting with Auckland Council managers, it would be good to collate feedback from w**ding groups and volunteers about what improvements people think could be made.

This is a great opportunity to talk with Council about the sorts of strategic improvements they could make to ensure that the working relationships between Council, contractors and community are more postive, productive and cost effective.

If you or your group would be kind enough to share your experiences and ideas on how things can be done better in future, that would be great. A few guidelines for input:
* please keep it respectful (talk as if Council and contractors are family friends who you want to persuade to your point of view)
* keep things factual - you don't need to state exact street addresses - but approximate dates and locations can help
* suggest what would work better in future in practical terms - recognizing that Council staff are human, overworked and some are also volunteers in their spare time

We reserve the right to remove anything that is abusive or unconstructive.

If you'd rather not post on Facebook, please email us at [email protected]

Send a message to learn more

12/02/2026

Congratulations to Bob Lawton for his presentation to the Auckland Council "Value for Money" committee chaired by Desley Simpson and attended by Mayor Brown and others.

They passed a resolution to ask the CEO to investigate the questions raised in relation to w**d control across the region.

Send a message to learn more

05/02/2026

Members of the AIWG (Auckland Invasive Weeds Group) Steering Group are keen to ensure that the Biosecurity Act currently being revised provides for a more robust system to ensure compliance - especially by large property owners and absentee landlords.

Bob Lawton will be speaking about this and related topics at the EWC Webinar next Wednesday at 5pm (see meeting invitation on this site or on EWC's page

In association with this, Bob has been alerted to a risk that the new Natural Environment Bill might undermine the pest plant control provisions of the Biosecurity Act.

We are preparing a draft submission on the Natural Environment Bill and encourage AIWG supporters to consider making a submission before the deadline of 13 February 2026; here is a link to our draft:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H3646lvy1KR4a1V6oWt1uCz4Rcboin-IejlO9CwUMQU

If you have any feedback on this draft, please reply here or email us at aucklandinvasivew**[email protected]

260205 Draft Submission on Natural Environment Bill for circulation to w**ds groups Why we think it’s important to submit on the NEB Members of the AIWG (Auckland Invasive Weeds Group) Steering Group are keen to ensure that the Biosecurity Act currently being revised provides for a more robust sy....

03/02/2026

AIWG has just sent an email to Chris Bishop, the Transport Minister, following up one sent to Brett Gliddon, Chief Executive, NZTA on 6 January expressing concern over the amount of moth plant flowers and pods still being seen along the motorway corridors.

We said "In order to reassure the public that NZTA/ASM is doing a cost-effective and professional job, could we respectfully ask that NZTA publishes its programme of work for w**d control on motorways outlining the dates when work will be done on each section of the motorway and the control methods that will be used."

If you didn't receive a copy of this email but would like to in future, please email us at aucklandinvasivew**[email protected]

Send a message to learn more

29/01/2026

Our coordinator will be speaking at the next EWC Webinar - 5pm Wednesday 11 February - for more information, please see: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NAieWhtYzvhU4LYuw0avSoT6T8dbuVjx

Also our steering group has drafted a document outlining AIWG's Aims and Strategies (https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1jUNXWm_7h8j4zaEVKLlMt8eLKBccsiP-ngot8ku9uA0)

We'd welcome your feedback

Please email us at [email protected]