Wilding Pines or Conifers are a national problem, they overwhelm our native landscapes, they suck the soil dry and their mulch and canopy discourages our native plants from growing.
Wilding Pines or Conifers (Pinaceae – Pinus spp. | Douglas fir, Maritime pine or Radiata pine) are a real risk in areas where there is no native bush, they modify the natural ecosystems so much that our unique New Zealand landscape is lost and native plants and animals are evicted or die. Within our native forests they suck the ground dry and their needles form an acidic carpet which inhibits the growth of some of our native plants.
Wilding Pines are Dirty Dozen because they change our native habitats forcing plants and animals out and inhibit the growth of our native forests.

Wilding Pine Close Up

Wilding Pine on Ngunguru Sandspit
How you can help…
You can remove it by hand pulling small seedlings or you can apply herbicide to remove them. You can find out how best to control Wilding Pine and what to use on NRC’s Pest Control Hub (click here)
Need help?
If you are in the Tutukaka area and need help or access to herbicide and tools please contact us on text 022 526 1972 or email s.w.a.tutukaka@gmail.com – our team of weed surveyors and slayers are only too happy to assist!
For more information check out Northland Regional Council’s Pest Control Hub (click here) or Weedbusters (click here)