Nelson Marlborough > Hunting News April 08

Don’t spread Reed Sweet Grass!

Nelson/Marlborough is fortunate to not yet have its few remaining wetlands inundated with Reed Sweet Grass (Glyceria maxima).  This wetland weed is now present throughout much of New Zealand and poses headaches for drain maintenance, wetland management, and waterfowl habitat.  The plant forms a dense invasive monoculture, out-competing our native sedge species and providing inferior waterfowl habitat.  Present in only a few waterways in Marlborough (notably a wetland near Grovetown Lagoon, and the lower Wairau River), and a few areas near Murchison, both Councils to their credit have agreed to try and contain or eliminate the weed after Fish & Game submissions to the recent pest management strategy review processes.  The plant is easily spread from small fragments and hunters are asked to carefully check waders, camo nets etc before shooting new sites, particularly before entering wetlands.  Any suspected sightings of this weed should also be passed on to Fish & Game (03 5446382).

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