While Te Mata Park Trust caretakers have removed the plants and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has sprayed the site, landowners are being asked to stay vigilant and report any sightings.
An HBRC council spokesperson said they didn’t know how the needle grass had ended up on Te Mata Peak.
“But there were many possible ways - seeds could easily cling to animals, machinery, equipment, clothing, and boots,” the spokesperson said.
Invasive pest Chilean needle grass has sharp, needle-like seeds.
It had been found across the region before, particularly in Central Hawke’s Bay.
The plant was identified by a regional council works group team member and then confirmed by the biosecurity team.
Biosecurity team lead Matt Short said the regional council had a leadership role in biosecurity and was committed to protecting Hawke’s Bay from the pest.
“Our biosecurity team is actively surveying known sites, implementing a regional control programme, and working with landowners to contain infestations,” Short said.
“We’re focused on containing it, but success depends on partnership with the community – we need landowners to stay vigilant and report sightings to us.”
He said finding the pest in an isolated area on Te Mata Peak showed how easily the seeds spread, sprouting wherever they land.
“Now was the ideal time for landowners to check for signs of the pest,” Short said.
Most Chilean needle grass plants set seed in November and December, when their tall, upright stems produce drooping purple seed heads with long, twisted awns or tails. As summer progresses, the plants turn straw-coloured and blend in with other grasses, making them much harder to identify.
The council said landowners can help by cleaning vehicles, machinery, and tools after working in or near infested areas and avoiding moving hay or stock from known infested properties.
Any suspected infestations should be reported to the regional council biosecurity team.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
