Site-Led pest plants

Gorse

These plants are so widespread throughout our region that boundary control by landowners is considered the only option. If your neighbour has any of these pest plants try talking to them first about controlling the offending plant or working with them to try and get rid of it before getting Greater Wellington involved. They may not realise that it is a pest plant or that it is a problem to you.

There are two types of pest plants in this category. The main objective of boundary control is an attempt to prevent the spread of the pest plant onto properties that are clear of it. The main objective of the human health category is to minimise the risk to a person's health potentially caused by the specified plant.

When an adjoining landowner lodges a complaint with Greater Wellington, landowners are required to clear the pest plant back to the specified distance from their boundary.

Boundary control pest plants

*Banana passionfruit Passiflora mixta, P.mollissima, P.tripartita       10 metres
*Cathedral bells Cobaea scandens                                                         10 metres
Gorse Ulex europaeus                                                                                10 metres for productive land
                                                                                                                            2 metres for human health
Nodding thistle Carduus nutans                                                                50 metres
*Old man's beard Clematis vitalba                                                           10 metres
Ragwort Senecio jacobaea                                                                        50 metres
Variegated thistle  Silybum marianum                                                     20 metres
Wild ginger Hedychium gardnerianum, H. flavescens                          10 metres

Human health pest plants

Blackberry Rubus spp. (barbed cultivars)                                                 2 metres
Hemlock Conium maculatum                                                                      2 metres

Note: plants marked with an *  are subject to Total Control within the Hutt City territorial authority boundary only