Empowering local action to protect and restore the environment

The moth plant is an invasive weed that spreads very quickly, killing native plants which reduces the food sources for birds and wildlife. Photo supplied

By Damian Light, Howick Local Board chairperson

Moth Plant Competition another huge success!

Last Wednesday, June 5, was World Environment Day and we celebrated this with our taiohi (youth) as we announced the winners of the Moth Plant Competition 2024.

Moth Plant is an invasive weed that spreads very quickly, killing native plants which reduces the food sources for birds and wildlife.

One pod can have 700 seeds and each seed can survive in the ground for up to seven years.

The Howick Local Board is proud to support Pest Free Howick Ward who deliver this award-winning competition with local early childhood centres and schools.

This year we saw a massive increase in the number of seedlings removed which is fantastic and shows that previous efforts have had a lasting impact.

When the number of pods removed is added to the potential pods from the seedlings, they add up to over two billion seeds.

It was also great to see some new innovations including an anonymous hotline and development of an AI tool to help count the pesky pods.

Special congratulations to Cascades Kindergarten (top preschool) with 4,438 pods and small wines, and Pakuranga Heights Pod Squad (top school and overall) with an incredible 35,811 pods and small vines.

We also celebrated the success of our EnviroSchools waste minimisation programme, with 19 local schools and ECEs involved in diverting over 18 tons of waste from landfill. Well done to all involved!

Thank you Howick College who hosted the celebration. It was wonderful to hear about all the student led initiatives they have underway including tree plantings, school garden, and waste minimisation.

If you want to learn more about how you can get involved, head along to the next Pest Free Howick Pestival at 6.30pm on June 25 at Mission Heights Junior College

Protecting and restoring our environment

We consistently hear from locals that they want us to focus on protecting and restoring our natural environment, so we fund programmes to enable this.

Like our stream-improvement programme in Flat Bush that is delivered by the Ōtara Waterways and Lake Trust.

We also fund targeted programmes to educate and inform local industries and construction companies about their obligations.

If issues are found during the site visit, efforts are made to encourage the businesses to address them.

If the issue is serious or the business is uncooperative, enforcement action is taken.

Opportunities to get involved

June is the perfect month for planting and there’s plenty of opportunities to be involved in community planting days.

Friends of Mangemangeroa, Saturday, June 15, 9am

Friends of MacDonald Walkway, Saturday, June 15, 9am

Tūpuna Maunga Authority Ōhuiarangi / Pigeon Mountain , Sunday, June 16, 10am

Friends of Murvale Reserve Saturday, June 29, 10am

Find out more and stay in touch

Website: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/howick