Moth Plant Competition 2024:
A Call to Action for the Waiheke Community
Have you seen this weed?
Waiheke Resources Trust’s
Love our Wetlands
is launching a competition aimed at addressing the Moth Plant outbreak on the island just in time for the Moth Plant pod season.
The Moth Plant has become a serious pest in New Zealand, smothering native vegetation and posing a significant threat to our natural ecosystems. Its rapid growth and dominance over other plants make it difficult for native flora to thrive.
Each seed pod of the Moth Plant produces a staggering 250-1000 seeds, which are easily dispersed by the wind, travelling up to 40 kilometres and remaining viable for years. It is crucial to capture these pods before they split open and spread their seeds further.
The competition aims to support the removal of pods that are still on vines about to burst and ensure their correct disposal. Open to ALL – we particularly encourage families to involve their children in this important effort.
How do we tackle them and how to enter the competition
We invite the Waiheke Community to collect as many Moth Plant pods as possible. We have a prize of $500 cash for the lucky winner.
To enter the competition;
- Share a photo on social media tagging Waiheke Resources Trust
- Or email the photo to [email protected]
The more pods collected, the higher the chances of winning!
For safe disposal, take advantage of the
Weed Amnesty 13th – 28th of April to dispose of pods FREE of charge at the Resource Recovery Park.
If you need assistance removing moth plants or to report, please contact these places;
Private land – [email protected]
Parks and reserves – [email protected]
Join us in protecting Waiheke’s biodiversity and ecosystems from the threat of moth plant invasion.
*Important – When handling the pods, remember to wear long sleeves and gloves, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards. The plant’s milky white sap can irritate the skin, and the seed pods are harmful if consumed by humans or animals.
Pleasae dispose the pods in a plastic bag.
We are immensely grateful for Lady Jennie Fenwick’s generous donation of the $500 prize towards this important cause. She has expressed her excitement about the competition’s relaunch and stated,
“I’m so excited it’s back up and running. I think there is such a willingness to beat this beast. It’s in memory of Rob (Sir Rob Fenwick) and his passion for protecting our biodiversity. Rob was often heard to say ‘Weeds are the new Rats!’ “