Wellington reserves
Kaitiaki o Ngahere implements weed control in key native ecosystems and reserves in Wellington. The job involves the delivery of weed control to protect, enhance and restore Wellington City Council’s high value ecological sites.
The primary outcome is that weed control is carried out to protect, enhance and restore existing ecosystems and habitats.
The secondary outcomes are that existing ecosystems are enhanced to allow for native regeneration; sites are prioritised on ecological value, threat and community need; weeds controlled are prioritised on ecological threat, control feasibility and community need; overall there is a reduction in the number and size of weed sites in existing operational areas, leading to the ability to reprioritise weeds and expand to new operational areas; there is a progressive increase in the sites covered and controlled, as existing operational areas become clear of infestations; and there is accurate reporting of information to allow follow up, auditing and monitoring for ecological enhancement.
The primary outcome is that weed control is carried out to protect, enhance and restore existing ecosystems and habitats.
The secondary outcomes are that existing ecosystems are enhanced to allow for native regeneration; sites are prioritised on ecological value, threat and community need; weeds controlled are prioritised on ecological threat, control feasibility and community need; overall there is a reduction in the number and size of weed sites in existing operational areas, leading to the ability to reprioritise weeds and expand to new operational areas; there is a progressive increase in the sites covered and controlled, as existing operational areas become clear of infestations; and there is accurate reporting of information to allow follow up, auditing and monitoring for ecological enhancement.
Staff member spray-releasing native planting area planted by Wellington City Council Staff, at Te Ahumairangi Hill, above Wadestown. This area is exposed to the north-westerly, so care is required to remove just enough weed coverage for native species to receive enough light, without being stressed by high winds.
Kaitiaki Wellington manager Stu Whiterod surveying for the lone remaining cherry blossom trees within Otari-Wilton’s bush, before using GPS location to control.
Staff controlling invasive pest plants smothering newly planted native trees within Prince Of Wales Park, above Hutchison Road, Newtown. This site was once dominated by old pine trees, which were damaged in the July 2013 storm. These were felled and chipped. This area has since been planted once the wood chips decomposed sufficiently. This site received an additional 4,000 plants in 2018, on top of thousands annually since 2015.
Assisting community groups
The team are pictured during a project to provide assistance to a community planting area in Seton Nossiter Reserve, Paparangi / Grenada Village. This planting has been overwhelmed by blackberry growth over the last few years, requiring power tools and diligent spraying to tame.
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Staff during pest plant surveying within Otari-Wilton’s bush. Old man’s beard has been a major threat to native trees such as this rimu pictured. Alongside Wellington City Council’s Urban Ecology team, Kaitiaki o Ngahere has surveyed most of this remnant forest and controlled the priority weed species discovered within.
Kiri controlling one of the few remaining Mile-a-minute infestations within WCC land on Miramar Peninsula – Overton Reserve.
Staff controlling weeds around native plantings at Finnimore Terrace, above Newtown. This area was until recently an unsightly dry, clay and wood-chip covered slope following the removal of pines, visible from most of the Eastern side of Newtown. The planted trees have established successfully, and will hopefully form canopy in the next few years.
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