Total control strategy after new weed found

NASTY WEED: The chinese knotweed has been spotted in Glenfield. The weed has never before been recorded in New Zealand.

A nasty weed never seen in New Zealand before has been found on the North Shore.

The chinese knotweed or persicaria chinensis has been found in Glenfield by Auckland Regional Council weed spotters.

Council biosecurity officer Vivienne Lepper says if it is known where the weed is something can be done about it.

"Chinese knotweed is a known pest plant in the Pacific and we want to stop it spreading any further here," says Ms Lepper.

Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry has no record of it being imported and Landcare Research has no record of the plant ever being in New Zealand before the discovery in Glenfield.

The regional council and MAF will be working together to ensure the invasive plant is carefully managed. A response plan is being prepared. Ms Lepper says it has long horizontal stems that grow deep and wide underground and help it spread quickly.

"It can form dense stands that shade and crowd out other vegetation and displace native species," she says.

The plant is being treated as a total control pest plant. An eradication project has already started on the site where the weed was found.

The council urges people to call them if they think they have chinese knotweed on their property rather then trying to control it themselves.

The work will be done at no cost to the landowner.

The plant is related to other invasive knotweeds found in New Zealand like the japanese knotweed and the gaint knotweed.

For more information or to report suspected sightings contact the Auckland Regional Council on 366-2000, 0800-80-60-40 or biosecurity@arc.govt.nz.