Taranaki landowners told to destroy pests in property

Taranaki landowners are being tasked with tackling pests that destroy native flora and fauna in the region.

Taranaki landowners and occupiers are being urged to destroy pest plants and possums, which threaten the region's native flora and fauna.

Taranaki Regional Council has identified 11 pest plants which it is urging land owners and occupiers to destroy. These include giant buttercup, giant gunnera, gorse, kahili ginger, nodding thistle, old man's beard, plumeless thistle, variegated thistle, yellow ginger and yellow ragwort.

TRC Operations Director Stephen Hall says the rules form part of Taranaki's Regional Pest Management Plan, which the council adopted in February and builds on the continual efforts of landowners.

"There's not many places in New Zealand where you can knock off work, return home to hear kiwi calling at night, before waking to the sound of tui. We risk losing this, unless we remove these pest plants and possums which threaten our native environment and Taranaki's economy."

"Many are already working hard caring for their environment, with a strong sense of environmental stewardship."

Stephen says this can be seen through the progress made through the council's flagship Self-Help Possum and Key Native Ecosystem programmes. Since 1992, the possum programme has helped 4374 Taranaki properties covering 235,000ha maintain low possum numbers.

"Many in our community are already doing great work, removing pest plants and destroying possums, but it's vital everyone is vigilant against these pests and possums. It doesn't matter whether you live in urban or rural areas, they need to go. We need people to look after their own backyard."

Stephen says if landowners or occupiers fail to destroy the 11 plants or possums found on their property, they could be prosecuted by the regional council and or billed for removal of the pest plants.

A new "good neighbour rule" in the Pest Management Plan also means landowners and occupiers must ensure pests and possums on their property don't spread to their neighbours.

The plan also identifies five pest plants that the council will eradicate. These are climbing spindleberry, giant reed, Madeira (mignonette) vine, moth plant and Senegal tea. Stephen says these plant species are not well established in Taranaki and the council aims to keep it this way.