Weed Action Groups

Manaia Bush Recovery Group

The Manaia Bush Recovery Group grew out of a team of locals who have gradually improved the block of Whangārei District Council land opposite the fire station at McLeod Bay, often referred to as ‘The Green’ or ‘The Horse Paddock’. Led by John and Barbara Thompson, the group’s activities included clearing the area by Whangārei Heads’ Road for children’s games, taking out weed trees and plants and planting native species of various types. Since 2020 the team have been working further up the lower slopes of Manaia to try to make inroads into these weed infested areas. The block has been divided into six areas, and the team now led by Mike Urlich meets monthly on the first Saturday of the month at 9am. Volunteers are welcome to assist with maintenance of the Green or get into the gnarly stuff up the slope.
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Ocean Beach Landcare Group

The Ocean Beach Landcare Group has been actively controlling invasive weeds in their area since 2019. Led by John Green, they work in the riparian areas beside the lower Ocean Beach carpark and also across dunelands and around dying pine blocks. This variety of habitats presents a wide range of weed types and challenges. The group meets on the third Thursday of the month at 9am at the lower carpark.
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Reotahi Weed Action Working Bee

The Reotahi Weed Action Working Bee was formed in the summer of 2019 and have been meeting regularly to deal to weeds around the Whangārei District Council owned reserve. The group led by Logan Carter meets in the carpark of the Beach Rd end of the coastal walkway on the third Sunday of the month at 9:30am. The team have identified seven distinct zones along the walkway with the bulk of the work being concentrated in the areas around the Beach Rd carpark. Moth plant, wild ginger, Elaeagnus and queen of the night are the primary threats to this significant 60ha coastal forest area.
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Tamaterau Weed Action Landcare Group

The Tamaterau Landcare Group is the longest running Weed Action team, having begun in 2014. Now led by Jane Barr, they meet on the last Tuesday of the month at 9am at the Tamaterau Reserve carpark. The group made huge efforts in the past to control blue morning glory, jasmine and moth plant, which were literally swamping native bush high into the canopy. They now focus their attention on an open area at the back of the reserve, keeping woolly nightshade, queen of the night and more at bay while recent native plantings establish.
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Smugglers Track Maintenance Crew

The original Smugglers Track Maintenance Crew was formed by Colin and Marjorie Edwards in 2017 and successfully removed weeds and improved the paths along the Smugglers Loop Walkway past Busby Head and Home Bay, part of the Bream Head/Te Whara Scenic Reserve. In fact, the group was so successful that the workload diminished till there was not much left to do. Of course, as we know with weeds, they eventually come back and so in 2024 the group has been revived and co-led by Weed Action and Bream Head/Te Whara Conservation Trust. The main concerns are woolly nightshade in the surrounding farmed areas and moth plant taking hold in grassed areas of Home Bay. The group meets on the first Sunday of the month at 9am at the Urquhart Bay carpark.
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Strategic Weed Action Team (SWAT)

The Strategic Weed Action Team is led by Weed Action’s Mike Urlich and comprises of some of Weed Action’s most enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers. Recognising that there are a variety of reserves and areas that are otherwise unmanaged or are a bit too challenging for our regular groups, this highly trained and skilled group meet monthly on a Monday morning at a new location each time. Previous focus areas have included The Nook, Darch Point, controlling jasmine at the intersection of Reotahi and Darch Point Roads, Kiteone Reserve and Ritchie Road Reserve.
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Kohinui Catchment Landcare Group

Kohinui Catchment Landcare Group is a group of neighbouring properties who share the beautiful Kohinui Stream and are passionate about land conservation and the health of the stream. They have lots of weedy challenges but tree privet, climbing asparagus and moth plant are some of the primary targets. 

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It is incredible what even one person can achieve, and a small group is unstoppable!

Join an existing Weed Action group or start one up with your neighbours.

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More Groups

  • Darch Point Weed Action
  • Ritchie Rd Reserve
  • Reotahi Landcare
  • Manaia Landcare
  • Campbell Rd Landcare