Far North wilding pines in sights of new partnership

Wilding pines in the Far North can grow faster and bigger than most other species in the same landscape.

Wilding pines are a major biosecurity risk in the Far North, but a new partnership aims to tackle the issue and provide work for residents.

Wilding pines outcompete natives - growing taller and faster than most species in the Far North - and pose a serious risk to the biodiversity and unique landscapes of the area.

The wilding pines, which can mature at five years old in this region, are a $4.6 billion threat to the NZ economy and every year they are left to grow, the cost of controlling them increases 30 per cent.

In response, and with funding assistance from the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme (NWCCP), Northland Regional Council (NRC) has partnered with local iwi, landowners and the Department of Conservation to tackle the problem in the Far North.

NRC biodiversity manager Lisa Forrester said a special feature of the programme is the close relationship that has developed with mana whenua through the shared goal of protecting the land.

"Mana whenua have an investment and long-term enduring relationship to the land that will go well beyond the scale of this project. We have so many vulnerable habitats up there that the wilding pines can move into,'' Forrester said.

These unique environments include gum lands, dune lakes, wetlands and sand spits such as Kokota Spit on Exhibition Bay that would disappear if taken over by wilding pines.

Once identified in a location, a combination of herbicide and felling by local contractors is used to get rid of the problem wildings.

Te Aupōuri, Pou takawaenga taiao (Environmental Manager) Niki Conrad said the programme has also opened up a good stream of work opportunities for rangatahi.

"It's been really good because contractors are local, they are part of the iwi, building capacity and getting all the skills that need to be done for future work and we are working well with them because we already know them."

NRC Wilding Pine Project lead Ceres Sharp said the NWCPP funding has been a "game- changer" for Northland, allowing the team to tackle a problem in unique habitats before it becomes out of control.

"Places like Te Paki dune lakes and Kokota Spit on the North Cape means we've actually got a chance to eradicate wildings, probably within a 10-year period."

The National Wilding Conifer Control Programme is a collaborative cross-sector programme led by Biosecurity New Zealand, part of the Ministry for Primary Industries.

See wildingpines.nz for more information.