Privet blitz gains momentum

GOOD RESULTS: From left, Terry Hanna, Rotarians Colin Smith and Dave Orford, and local landowner Stuart Brown get ready to hunt privet.

New Zealand is home to predominantly three privet species and though not strictly ‘noxious’ are considered invasive, difficult to control and a pest to farmers, landowners and the council.

Their toxicity to allergy and hay fever sufferers is well-known as their abundant flowering ability can permeate the airwaves for many miles, and is easily spread by birds.

The privet control initiative is the brainchild of Terry Hanna who is driving the programme which covers from the Brynderwyns to Matakohe and as many side roads as possible.

The scheme has the blessing of the Northland Regional Council and is also getting great assistance from both the Kaipara District Council, Paparoa Lions and the local Rotary Club as well. NRC has provided the selective herbicide for the job. 

As the idea gathers momentum a considerable number of landowners are either joining in the working bees or in some cases doing their own thing on their own land. Volunteers from the Kauri Museum are doing their bit too, attacking the pest in the Matakohe area.

A similar programme was started years ago aparently, but a lot of trees were missed, spreading again virtually unnoticed.

“Results have been very good thus far,” says Terry Hanna. “Initially we drilled a hole in the trunks and squirted in the herbicide then sprayed round the bottom of trees giving long term protection, also killing off any saplings or suckers which may be growing from roots. But cordless drills only last so long, so now we put a scarf around the trunk with a chainsaw and squirt the chemical into the wound and it’s a much quicker operation.”

The job is continuing with working bees being held on the second Wednesday of each month. Co-ordinator Terry Hanna can be contacted on (09) 431 8354.