Who Ya Gonna Call? Weedbusters!

It’s been a busy year for the Hurunui Weedbusters, aided by Rima Herber, Water and Land Co-ordinator at Hurunui District Council.

Alongside members of the Hurunui Biodiversity Trust, the Weedbusters ended 2025 with an adventurous two-day weeding expedition in the Hurunui high country. Upstream of the Sisters Bridge, the group weeded hawthorn, willow gorse and broom from the Sisters Stream. The following morning was all about removing Douglas fir seedlings, then an excursion around Lake Sheppard, on The Lakes Station.

The work the group does contributes to Council’s statutory obligation to protect native biodiversity, and to enhance and maintain the quality of the environment and the needs of future generations.

The high country trip was a fun climax to a year of monthly expeditions around the district, tackling small pockets of problem environmental weeds where a concentrated effort by a few people can make an impact.

In 2025 the Weedbuster volunteers completed approximately 472 hours of work. From the high country to Amberley, they covered a range of challenging terrain.

The native dell in the Amberley Domain, Port Robinson reserve, Hutchinson Reserve in Cheviot, Island Hills Station and a bird nesting site on the Waiau Uwha River, are just some of the sites which have benefitted from the efforts of Hurunui Weedbusters this year.

Rima and Belinda Meares from the Hurunui Biodiversity Trust, who run Weedbusters, already have trips planned for the new year, with one of the first forays being into the Clarence Valley.

For more information on the work Hurunui Weedbusters do, please email hurunuibiodiversity@gmail.com