Free weed workshops back again

Popular free annual workshops offering Northlanders tips on how to tackle some of the worst weeds threatening our region will be on offer again shortly.

Pest plant experts will be passing on tips on how to tackle some of Northland’s worst weeds at a series of free winter workshops in Dargaville, Kerikeri, Coopers Beach and Whangarei from June 25 to July 2.

Councillor Jack Craw, Chair of Northland Regional Council’s Biosecurity and Biodiversity Working Party, says the council has held the popular three-hour workshops every year since 2011, except last year when workshops were cancelled due to the pandemic.

“Council holds one pest plant workshop per day at each location based on demand from local communities, which can vary from year to year. This year we’ll be visiting four locations around the region.”

Councillor Craw says roughly 2000 people have attended the workshops over the past decade and it is expected up to 100 will take advantage of the offer this year to learn how to better manage weeds either on their own land, or properties they manage for others. Numbers for the workshops are limited so registration is essential.

“The workshops are hands-on and delivered in a relaxed and fun way to help people learn how best to tackle a wide variety of more than 20 nasties including wild ginger, lantana, moth plant, Taiwan cherry and privet.”

The workshops will include a short presentation, hands-on identification tips and information on control options, including chemicals and other methods.

The first workshop will be held on Friday June 25 in the council chambers at the regional council’s Water St, Whangarei office.

The following week the workshops will be heading north to Cooper’s Beach and Kerikeri, then back in Whangarei on Thursday July 1, before heading west to Dargaville on Friday July 2 to finish the week at the Northern Wairoa Memorial RSA (off Logan St).

Each workshop will run for three hours from 9am until noon, and depending on demand an additional workshop may run in the afternoon from 1pm until 4pm.

Councillor Craw says the winter workshops are a great chance for people to plan well ahead and get ready for the busy ‘weed knockdown period’ once the warm spring growth phase starts.

n Keen to attend? Contact biosecurity officer Bryn Gillard directly on freephone 0800 002 004 to register or learn more about the workshops. General information on pests in Northland is available online at nrc.govt.nz/pestcontrolhub

Free workshops on how to tackle some of Northland’s worst weeds will be on offer in Dargaville, Kerikeri, Coopers Beach and Whangarei.