WEED CONTROL

A 2012 survey identified 113 different weed species in Abel Tasman – not including gorse and hakea.  Many of these are common garden plants that have jumped the fence and found the national park more to their liking.
The park’s 113 weeds species are mostly associated with former farms and bach areas. They have the potential to seriously compromise native forest regeneration if not brought under control.

Working with DOC, the Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust, bach owners and Project De-Vine  we focused on weeds like grevillea, wattle, holly, old man’s beard, pampas and tradescantia.  In the north climbing vines like Japanese honeysuckle, jasmine, wonga wonga and banana passionfruit, and willows in the wetland area were controlled.

Looking forward, the test will be for DOC to keep on top of these weeds and prevent the introduction of new weed problems from the Park fringes.

Photo credit Wade Million, Project DeVine

Hope natives will beat hakea 

Anyone who has been into the Abel Tasman will have noticed the bright green leaves of hakea, particularly on the ridges behind Anchorage.

Hakea is an invasive weed from Australia which loves infertile or denuded sites. It can’t be easily controlled by cutting or spraying due to its prolific seeding. In 2026 we began seeing some signs that the native regenerating bush might be starting to shade out the hakea.

Hakea seedlings and saplings are highly intolerant of low light so over time if the native plants can overtop them they can starve them of the sunlight they need to grow. It’s going to take decades but there is hope that our natives might win in the end.