Environment

Walkers near Mount Kaukau

The large areas of land in the Town Belt and Outer Green Belt are an important resource for Wellington. Most areas are readily accessible and used by many people for recreation. They are also vital for conservation and biodiversity restoration.

Vegetation & Land Use

Vegetation on the Town Belt and Outer Green Belt ranges from exotic pine forest and grassed recreation areas to native bush and regenerating shrubland.

Weed Control

Banana passionfruit

Weeds threaten our natural environment in many ways. They can smother and kill native plants, shade them out and out-compete them.

They alter the habitat and behaviour of native wildlife, reducing food sources and breeding sites.

Weeds can be a fire hazard and interfere with recreational land use.

The Council spends a lot of money each year on weed control. The main focus is on sites of high conservation value in coastal, forest and aquatic habitats.

Japanese knotweed in Tradescantia, Trelissick Park

Weed control is also required for amenity and recreation purposes such as maintaining tracks and parks, sportsfields and play areas. The Council�s other programmes include:

city-wide control of Old Man�s Beard and banana passionfruit
controlling Darwin�s barberry, climbing asparagus, and new / emerging weeds
encouraging community initiatives
rehabilitating sites where exotic trees have been removed
maintaining fencelines and boundaries.

Community Groups

There are almost 50 community groups in Wellington working to restore their local parks and reserves through plant and animal pest control and native planting. The Council is able to assist with pest control and provide free plants. If you are interested in this kind of project, contact the Senior Park Ranger.

Garden Dumping

Rubbish dumped at Otari-Wilton's Bush

Unfortunately, some people use the Town Belt as a dumping ground for garden waste. Garden dumping spreads weeds into parks and reserves and smothers regenerating native seedlings.

Garden dumping is prohibited on the Town Belt - anyone found dumping garden waste will be prosecuted under city bylaws.

The best ways to dispose of garden waste are in compost bins at home, hiring a wheelie bin or bag, and as green waste at landfills.

Composting

Animal Pests

Possum

Possums and their feeding habits are hugely destructive to native flora and fauna.

The Council, in partnership with Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC), runs a significant possum-control programme covering nearly 4,800 hectares of private and public land in Wellington city. This work was started in 1996 and also helps to control rats and mice.

In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of native birds such as tui and kereru seen around the city and recorded in official surveys.

The Council, through GWRC, works with community volunteers in areas such as Makara Peak and Redwood Bush by helping to provide bait and traps.

Wild goats and pigs are controlled in areas such as Ngauranga Gorge, Makara Peak and the Outer Green Belt.

Goats and pigs consume native vegetation, alter habitats, spread weeds and cause erosion.

Mustelid control is now improving, largely due to the efforts of volunteers and additional Council funding. This work is important to reduce the numbers of stoats, weasels and ferrets preying on native animals.

Introduced birds such as rooks, pest fish such as koi carp, feral cats and rabbits are all included in the Council's pest management activities.

A key focus of the animal-pest programme is the reserves around Karori Sanctuary so that there is protection for birds that move beyond the perimeter fence. With the addition of a new possum control project near the Southern Landfill, all reserves around the Sanctuary are now protected.

More Information

Senior Park Ranger

Phone: (04) 499 4444

Pest Management Officer

Phone: (04) 803 8357

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