Gorse under control at Whitireia Park

There are very few signs of gorse re-growth in Whitireia Park following last year’s aerial spraying operation, removing the need for follow-up aerial spraying this autumn.

Sixty hectares of gorse burnt in the February 2010 fire was sprayed by helicopter in November-December 2010 using the herbicide metsulfuron. The operation’s purpose was to reduce the risk of fires and assist with allowing less flammable native plants to regenerate.

Murray Kennedy, General Manager of Greater Wellington’s Utilities and Services Group, says that Greater Wellington officers inspected the spray area in March this year and observed very little of either live gorse seedlings or live re-growth from burnt gorse stumps.

“Although we said previously that follow-up aerial spraying would be needed in autumn, the lack of re-growth means that it isn’t warranted at this time. This is a good outcome, as it shows just how effective last year’s spraying operation was in suppressing the growth of regenerating gorse in the burnt area,” says Mr Kennedy.

Greater Wellington officers will check the area again in early spring to re-assess growth and see if a further aerial spraying operation is needed.