Environment Canterbury has determined that different types of pest plants warrant different "control regimes". These regimes take into account the most appropriate means of addressing the present and potential adverse impacts of these plants.
The Regional Pest Management Strategy 2011-2015 lists 5 different pest management programmes. They are:
- Total Control programmes
- Progressive Control programmes
- Containment Control programmes
- Restricted Sale programmes
- Biodiversity protection programmes
For plant pictures and control methods, visit the Weedbusters website.
Total Control Pest Plants
Pest Plants:
Strategy Rule for 'Total Control' Pest Plants
Land occupiers and other persons shall not sell, propagate or distribute any plant or part thereof of 'Total Control' Pest Plants.
A breach of this rule creates an offence under Section 154(r) of the Biosecurity Act 1993.
Technical Method: The Regional Council will carry out control operations to eradicate pest plants listed in the 'Total Control' programme prior to seeding in an efficient and cost effective manner. Appropriate physical or chemical means will be utilised.
Progressive Control Pest Plants
Pest Plant:
Strategy Rules for 'Progressive Control' Pest Plants
In relation to the following rules, land occupiers must also comply with these rules on any adjoining roads as described in 
Section 6 (pdf 3.07 MB) of this Strategy.
Nassella Tussock
- Land occupiers shall, on all the land they occupy, complete a control programme to prevent nassella tussock plants from seeding by:
- 31 October every year within the area delineated on Map 1 contained in Appendix 3 (pdf 2.47 MB); or
- 30 September each year in all other parts of the Canterbury region.
- Land occupiers and other persons shall not sell, propagate or distribute any nassella tussock plant or part thereof.
A breach of any of these rules creates an offence under Section 154(r) of the Biosecurity Act 1993 and may initiate the regulatory procedures set out in Chapter 12. An exemption to any of the above rules may be sought by any person in accordance with the procedures set out in Chapter 12 of the Strategy.
Chilean needle grass
Land occupiers and other persons shall not sell, propagate or distribute any Chilean needle grass plant or part thereof.
A breach of this rule creates an offence under Section 154(r) of the Biosecurity Act 1993 and may initiate the regulatory procedures set out in Chapter 12.
In accordance with section 80D(5) of the Biosecurity Act 1993, exemption to rule 6.3.5 may only be granted for the purpose of scientific research.
Containment Control Pest Plants
Pest Plants:
Strategy Rules for 'Containment Control' Pest Plants
In relation to the following rules, land occupiers must also comply with these rules on any adjoining roads as described in Section 4 of this Strategy.
Broom
- Land occupiers shall eliminate broom infestations that cover up to 50 square metres in area and are greater than five metres from other broom infestations exceeding 50 square metres in area on the land that they occupy.
For the purpose of this rule, eliminate means the permanent preclusion of the broom plant’s ability to set viable seed.
- Land occupiers shall eliminate broom infestations on the land that they occupy within 10 metres of any adjoining property occupied by another land occupier where that adjoining property is clear of, or being cleared of, broom infestations within 10 metres of the boundary between the properties.
For the purpose of this rule eliminate means the permanent preclusion of the broom plant’s ability to set viable seed.
- (c) Land occupiers and other persons shall not sell, propagate or distribute any broom plant or part thereof. A breach of any of these rules creates an offence under Section 154(r) of the Biosecurity Act 1993 and may initiate the regulatory procedures set out in Chapter 12.
Land occupiers are exempted from the provisions of these rules for the following:
- the requirement to eliminate broom when present as a hedge within a property; and
- the requirement to eliminate broom when present as a hedge on a boundary provided that the top and sides of the hedge are trimmed each year after flowering but before seed set to minimise seeding.
Land occupiers may apply for an exemption from any of the above rules in accordance with the procedures set out in Chapter 12.
Gorse
- (a) Land occupiers shall eliminate gorse infestations that cover up to 50 square metres in area and are greater than five metres from other gorse infestations exceeding 50 square metres in area on the land that they occupy.
For the purpose of this rule eliminate means the permanent preclusion of the gorse plant’s ability to set viable seed.
- (b) Land occupiers shall eliminate gorse infestations on the land that they occupy within 10 metres of any adjoining property occupied by another land occupier where that adjoining property is clear of, or being cleared of, gorse infestations within 10 metres of the boundary between the properties.
For the purpose of this rule eliminate means the permanent preclusion of the gorse plant’s ability to set viable seed.
- (c) Land occupiers and other persons shall not sell, propagate or distribute any gorse plant or part thereof. A breach of any of these rules creates an offence under Section 154(r) of the Biosecurity Act 1993 and may initiate the regulatory procedures set out in Chapter 12.
Land occupiers are exempted from the provisions of this rule for the following:
- the requirement to eliminate gorse when present as a hedge within a property; and
- the requirement to eliminate gorse when present as a hedge on a boundary provided that the top and sides of the hedge are trimmed each year after flowering but before seed set to minimise seeding.
Land occupiers may apply for an exemption from any of the above rules in accordance with the procedures set out in Chapter 12.
Nodding Thistle
- a) Land occupiers shall eliminate nodding thistle infestations:
- on the land that they occupy within 40 metres of any irrigation race or stockwater race; and
- on the land that they occupy within 40 metres of any adjoining property occupied by another land occupier where that adjoining property is clear of, or being cleared of, nodding thistle within 40 metres of the boundary between the properties.
For the purpose of this rule eliminate means the permanent preclusion of the nodding thistle plant’s ability to set viable seed.
- (b) Land occupiers and other persons shall not sell, propagate or distribute any nodding thistle plant or part thereof.
A breach of these rules creates an offence under Section 154(r) of the Biosecurity Act 1993 and may initiate the regulatory procedures set out in Chapter 12.
Ragwort
- a) Land occupiers shall eliminate ragwort infestations:
- on the land that they occupy within 40 metres of any irrigation race or stockwater race; and
- on the land that they occupy within 40 metres of any adjoining property occupied by another land occupier where that adjoining property is clear of, or being cleared of, ragwort within 40 metres of the boundary between the properties.
For the purpose of this rule eliminate means the permanent preclusion of the ragwort plant’s ability to set viable seed.
- (b) Land occupiers and other persons shall not sell, propagate or distribute any ragwort plant or part thereof. A breach of these rules creates an offence under Section 154(r) of the Biosecurity Act 1993 and may initiate the regulatory procedures set out in Chapter 12.
Variegated Thistle
- a) Land occupiers shall eliminate variegated thistle infestations:
- on the land that they occupy within 40 metres of any irrigation race or stockwater race; and
- on the land that they occupy within 40 metres of any adjoining property occupied by another land occupier where that adjoining property is clear of, or being cleared of, variegated thistle within 40 metres of the boundary between the properties.
For the purpose of this rule eliminate means the permanent preclusion of the variegated thistle plant’s ability to set viable seed.
- (b) Land occupiers and other persons shall not sell, propagate or distribute any variegated thistle plant or part thereof.
A breach of these rules creates an offence under Section 154(r) of the of the Biosecurity Act 1993 and may initiate the regulatory procedures set out in Chapter 12.
Restricted Sale Programme
A large number of organisms have now been designated by central government as “unwanted organisms”. This means that it is an offence under sections 52 and 53 of the Biosecurity Act to sell, propagate or distribute those organisms anywhere in New Zealand.
Restricted pest plants are restricted in a similar way to “unwanted organisms” in that land occupiers and other persons are not able to sell, propagate, or distribute them. These are listed in the Canterbury Pest Management Strategy under the Restricted Sale Programme.
Common Name (Scientific Name):
* = Known to be present in Canterbury as at 1 July 2003
Strategy Rule for Restricted Pest Plants
Rule 9.3.3
Land occupiers and other persons shall not sell, propagate or distribute any Restricted Pest or part thereof.
A breach of this rule creates an offence under Section 154(r) of the Biosecurity Act 1993 and may initiate the regulatory procedures set out in Chapter 12.
Biodiversity Pest Plants
Strategy Rules for Biodiversity Pests
Land occupiers and other persons shall not sell, propagate, or distribute any banana passionfruit, bell heather, Darwin’s barberry, egeria, lagarosiphon, and phragmites or parts thereof.
A breach of this rule creates an offence under Section 154(r) of the Biosecurity Act 1993 and may initiate the regulatory procedures set out in Chapter 12.
Strategy rules for old man’s beard
Land occupiers shall destroy old man’s beard infestations that cover up to 100 square metres in area and are greater than 20 metres from other old man’s beard infestations exceeding 100 square metres in area on the land that they occupy.
Land occupiers shall destroy old man’s beard infestations on the land that they occupy within 20 metres of any adjoining property occupied by another land occupier where that adjoining property is clear of, or being cleared of, old man’s beard infestations within 20 metres of the boundary between the properties.
Strategy rules for self-seeded wilding conifers
Land occupiers shall take all steps, in relation to self-seeded wilding conifers on their land, as are reasonably necessary to prevent the communication, release or other spread of those self-seeded wilding conifers.
For the purposes of this rule, communication means passing on, transmitting or transporting in any way
Land occupiers may apply for an exemption from the above rule in accordance with the procedures set out in Chapter 12. Applicants shall provide evidence to Environment Canterbury in support of an exemption application. Such evidence should at least provide a risk assessment of the spread from any retained area of wilding conifers, the risk of wilding establishment in the surrounding areas and neighbouring properties and a proposed control programme including methods and timelines.
For further Strategy rules detail please refer to the current Canterbury Pest Management Strategy.
The National Pest Plant Accord
For New Zealand to be able to trade internationally, Biosecurity New Zealand must be confident that the products associated with agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture and apiculture are free from unwanted pests and diseases.
The National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) is a cooperative agreement between the Nursery and Garden Industry Association, regional councils and government departments with biosecurity responsibilities.
All plants on the NPPA are unwanted organisms under the Biosecurity Act 1993. These plants cannot be sold, propagated or distributed in New Zealand.
For information on what plants are on the NPPA (pdf 5.87 MB) or to find out the process of plants being added or taken off the NPPA, visit the MAF website.
A great resource for identifying National Pest Plant Accord species (NPPA) has been released on-line at: http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/biosystematics/plants/nppakey/
Factsheets
Gorse and broom (Ulex europaeus and Cytisus scoparius) (pdf 653 kB)
Nassella tussock (Stipa trichotoma) (pdf 4.06 MB)
Old man’s beard (Clematis vitalba) (pdf 1.6 MB)