"We will fight them on the Peninsula's beaches"

Battle against environmental invaders taken to beaches in Whitianga and Thames this weekend

A war against weeds is being taken to the beaches in Thames and Whitianga this weekend in a joint offensive by Thames-Coromandel District Council (TCDC), Environment Waikato (EW) and the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Residents are urged to bring a rubbish sack or two of weeds from home to Whitianga's Buffalo Beach Reserve on Saturday or Thames' Kuranui Bay Reserve on Sunday and swap them for native plants. TCDC contractors will dispose of the weeds.

EW's Matthew Highway says "so-called environmental weeds such as wild ginger, woolly nightshade and climbers such as honeysuckle and climbing asparagus choke natives of light and change forest composition."

TCDC Parks and Reserves Team Manager Derek Thompson adds, "Invasive weeds in the Peninsula's reserves and environmental estates are one of the main threats to the survival of 61 threatened native plant species; and impact on another 16 species. Many of the pests come from people dumping garden waste over the back fence."

"This weekend we will fight them on the Peninsula's beaches in Whitianga and Thames," said DoC's Rebekah Caldwell.

While stocks last, every resident can swap a bag or two of garden weeds for up to five native plants.

Where and when:
Saturday - Whitianga's Buffalo Beach opposite Jackman Ave from 10 am to 2 pm
Sunday - Thames' Kuranui Bay from 10 am to 2 pm.