WEED WAKEUP: Ex-pat Northland Nicola Wisse came home recently and says noxious weeds spoiled her visit.
WEED WAKEUP: Ex-pat Northland Nicola Wisse came home recently and says noxious weeds spoiled her visit.
Weed invasion spoils expat's return to Northland
I'm an expat Kiwi, now resident in Queensland, who has recently had the pleasure of holidaying with family in Northland. It seems worthwhile to reflect publicly about the declared noxious weeds proliferating in your area, and the effect on both locals and tourists.
Before I could identify the culprit visibly, I soon became very ill with severe asthma after arriving in Paihia. On our mad dash to see Dr Jan at her Kawakawa clinic we saw lots of flowering privet, wild ginger and wild tobacco on the road and hillsides, most of which I feel sure is council-owned land. All four members of our family quickly developed sinus problems, needing antihistamines etc.
The remainder of my trip was spent hiding from the privet, taking a large dose of steroids and feeling frighteningly asthmatic, rather than glorying in the natural beauty of my homeland in the great outdoors.
Isn't it incumbent on our councils to eradicate these pests? Perhaps local Landcare groups and the unemployed could be co-opted to this worthy task.
I had hoped to scope out suitable farms for sale for our semi-retirement plans and return to New Zealand, but simply couldn't risk it now. Health is everything.
