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 Whangārei from Friday 25 June to Friday 2 July.

Free workshops on how to tackle some of Northland’s worst weeds will be on offer in Dargaville, Kerikeri, Coopers Beach and Whangārei from Friday 25 June to Friday 2 July.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 25 June in the council chambers at the regional council’s Water St, Whangārei office.  

The following week the workshops will be heading north starting on Monday 28 June in Cooper’s Beach at the St John Ambulance Hall (7 St John Rd), before moving to Kerikeri on Tuesday 29 June to the St John Ambulance Hall (357 Kerikeri Rd).  The workshop will be back in Whangārei on Thursday 1 July, at the council chambers; before heading west to Dargaville on 2 July to finish the week at the Northern Wairoa Memorial RSA (off Logan St).

Each workshop will run for three hours from 9am until noon; 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.

Those keen to attend should 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 from the council’s website via: www.nrc.govt.nz/pestcontrolhub