Latest news with #FarNorth
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Toxic 'superweed' spreading across Northland sparks concern for pastoral farming sector
Perennial Madagascar ragwort (Senecio madagascariensis) can grow up to 50cm tall in ideal conditions, and has multiple branches, long leaves and many flowers. Photo: SUPPLIED/Northland Regional Council The Northland regional council and farming groups are developing a plan to try to control an invasive weed known as the "mad rag" or "fireweed", amid fears it could spread to other regions and even into the South Island. Madagascar ragwort (Senecio madagascariensis) is a poisonous and sometimes fatal plant for livestock with bright yellow, daisy-like flowers, now considered widespread in the Far North particularly on cattle farms. Dubbed the "fireweed" in Australia, that originated from southern Africa, adult plants could produce up to 10,000 seeds that could be viable for up to a decade, and germinated in as little as six weeks across most soil types. AgResearch principal scientist and weed management expert, Dr Trevor James said the plant suppressed other pasture species and spread by wind, posing many challenges for farmers and landowners trying to control it. "There is no easy way to manage it once it gets established, but the main problem is its toxicity to cattle and horses," James said. "Poisoning doesn't seem to be the problem per se, because stock don't eat it once they learn that it's horrible. "But poisoning could be a problem if it's made into hay and is fed out as hay or possibly silage and the poison toxins are still there." James said climate modelling showed it had the potential to go further afield of Northland. "And if climates get warmer and drier, definitely it has the potential to move further south ." Some fields along SH10 in the Far North are now dominated by Madagascar ragwort. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf Farmers were being urged to get to know the weed, pull it out by hand and work with their neighbours to keep on top of it. Will Burrett, chief operating officer of Crown-owned Pāmu Farming formerly Landcorp Farming, said Madagascar ragwort was prevalent on its Northland farms. He said it resulted in lost production of up to 35 percent over seven years at its Rangiputa site, where it was costing on average up to $200 per hectare to control, in addition to the increased use of agrichemicals. "We've obviously got herbicide applications and we're trying to limit those as much as we can because we are starting to impact overall pasture production," Burrett said. "It is highly toxic, so we can spray out of paddock and then the fresh seedlings that re-sprout and come back through, if animals do graze those, they're highly toxic to their liver, so that does cause animal health considerations that we have to try and manage as well." He said Pāmu were actively trying to manage it by pulling the weeds out by hand as they came through, but it was such a "fast, prolific grower". "There's no silver bullet for this, and it's got a significant risk across the north in that it's been proven to have the ability to spread to other regions throughout Aotearoa in terms of the cattle systems and the dairy systems out there. It's a massive risk." Burrett said the next steps were about committing industry to a plan, to take to the biosecurity minister in the next month or two. Takou Bay farmer Ian Sizer studies an infestation of Madagascar ragwort. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf Beef farmer Ian Sizer of Tākou River had dealt with the pest for around four years, and said it spread across a whole paddock within just four weeks on discovering the first plant. He spent up to two hours a day hand-weeding it to keep on top of it and maintain his herd's health. "It's everywhere. It's a problem all the way across our farm and of course, neighbouring farms, and we're all trying to do our part on containing it," Sizer said. "Part of my daily routine when I'm moving cattle is one eye is always kept on the Madagascar ragwort, and if I see it, the priority is to get off and hand-weed it." Sizer said it came at a significant cost to the business. "It's costing me probably in the region of $70,000 a year to try and deal with this, but the impact on farmers throughout the whole of New Zealand, it could easily be put into millions," he said. Sizer said there were very few effective herbicide for farmers, which had to change, and a collective, national approach to fast-track the development of longer-term biological controls was vital. The Northland Regional Council led a working group to address the challenge of controlling Madagascar ragwort, including the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Department of Conservation, as well as farming sector groups like Beef and Lamb New Zealand and Dairy NZ. A 2023 Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research feasibility study for biocontrol of Madagascar ragwort found the potential agents used in Australia would be unsuitable in New Zealand. Jack Craw, chairman of the regional council's Biosecurity and Biodiversity Working Party, said it had $20,000 allocated towards developing a business case for its long-term management and further research. He hoped industry groups would help co-fund the programme that would explore the use of biological controls such as beneficial insects for the long-term management. "We've highlighted this to the national level, and we believe it's something that the regional councils, plural, of New Zealand should be funding this, along with all the sector organisations." Madagascar ragwort grows up to 60cm tall and has yellow, daisy-like flowers. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf He said its spread outside of Northland was "inevitable", as the seeds travelled by wind, so a controlled area notice to restrict the movement of vehicles in and out of the region would be "a futile gesture". "There's probably no point in the Ministry for Primary Industries putting a controlled area notice on the upper half of Northland because even if we did, we can't inspect every single vehicle and then water blast them all. It's just not possible. "We need to focus much more on finding a long-term control solution for this weed." Madagascar ragwort was "a national issue," he said. "We've done the climate matching and this thing will grow as far south as Canterbury, and invade most pasture types." Farmers were not currently receiving any financial assistance for its control, he said. Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard said the management of Madagascar ragwort would require a "collective effort", but the responsibility of long-term management of it in the north, where it was well-established, sat with the regional council. "A working group involving regional council and industry sector representatives has been established with the intention of identifying management options to mitigate the risk of further spread and to reduce known infestations," Hoggard said in a statement. "The working group will be developing a Madagascar ragwort action plan for the region. Nearby regions are involved in this too. "Biosecurity New Zealand and MPI's On Farm Support team will support this group." The matter would be discussed at the next regional biosecurity manager's forum, he said. Recent genomic DNA testing revealed the plant that many thought to be the similar endemic Gravel groundsel species, was the faster-spreading Madagascar ragwort. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
27-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Ban on taking crayfish from Northland's east coast on the cards
Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says a ban on taking crayfish from Northland's east coast is on the cards as warnings grow about the species' "perilous" decline. Jones said consultation on the proposal would start soon and would be controversial. The details were still being worked out, but it would likely entail a closure from a point south of Mangawhai to the Muriwhenua area at the top of the Far North. The ban would apply to both recreational and commercial fishers. "I know that closing down crayfish over the Christmas holiday period will be quite a controversial decision, so the engagement is going to be very, very tricky," Jones said. "The challenge will be, if recreational users are denied crayfish as it recovers, then should similar rules apply to tangata whenua through the kaimoana permit system that was agreed to in the Sealord settlement in 1992? I've already attracted quite a lot of adverse commentary from Northlanders about this, but it's a trade off … The resource genuinely is under extreme stress." Crayfish could be off the menu on Northand's east coast this summer as the population plummets. Photo: Supplied The minister said measures to protect the species were necessary both because of "legally adverse" decisions against the Crown, and the dire state of the crayfish population. "The scientists have advised me that it's in a perilous state, and despite my status as an industrial champion of the fishing industry, it does get perilous if we're not following the best scientific advice. But I accept that for a lot of holiday makers and a lot of stakeholders in Northland, it will be a significant change," he said. "These decisions are not for the faint hearted, but sometimes you've got to act and make very harsh calls, and I fear this may be one of them." The inner Hauraki Gulf , just south of the proposed new ban, had already been closed to crayfish harvesting for a period of three years starting from 1 April this year. Jones said local concerns about declining crayfish numbers in the Hauraki Gulf had been backed up by independent research. "A number of recreational stakeholders are fearful that closure will never, ever be removed, but the scientists continually tell me that things are perilous." Jones said the ban would apply to red crayfish, also known as spiny rock lobsters, the species best known to Northlanders. It would not apply to the packhorse cray because its population was not as threatened. It would also not include Northland's west coast, where most commercial crayfish harvesting took place. The "legally adverse decisions" Jones referred to include a High Court ruling in February this year on the government's revised quota management plan for crayfish in Northland. The court found the plan did not do enough to address "an urgent marine crisis" unfolding off the region's east coast. Photo: EnviroStrat_ Kinamonics Jones has also embarked on law changes to encourage increased harvesting of kina, or sea urchins. Kina are an important food source for crayfish and large snapper, but the predators' decline has led to an explosion in kina populations. That has caused the proliferation of "kina barrens", effectively underwater deserts where large numbers of kina have stripped away anything edible and reduced the seabed to bare rock. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
19-05-2025
- RNZ News
Manhunt under way after stabbing in Kaitāia
Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER Police have cordoned off a street in the Far North as they search for the suspect in an alleged stabbing. Both ends of Lake Road, in Kaitāia, have been sealed off after the incident about 11am on Monday Officers have been going door to door. The extent of the victim's injuries are not yet known. More to come... Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
10-05-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Erosion threatens to wash away Russell's waterfront
The erosion is threatening to undermine the Strand, Russell's waterfront road. Photo: Supplied / Sue Fitzmaurice Ongoing erosion, accelerated by Cyclone Tam's big swells and high winds, is threatening to wash away the waterfront of one of New Zealand's most historic towns. Russell resident and former Prime Minister Jenny Shipley said options for protecting Russell's vanishing beachfront were already being investigated when last month's wild weather suddenly gave the project urgency. She said the shore had been receding for about the past 18 months, with erosion starting to undermine the road reserve and a historic cannon. It was also exposing the roots of the pōhutukawa trees that lined the town's waterfront. Erosion is exposing tree roots along Russell's waterfront. Photo: Supplied / Sue Fitzmaurice "Then Cyclone Tam came along and coincided with some very high spring tides and an onshore wind. There's been a very big impact in the last three weeks," she said. As a short-term measure, the Far North District Council had sandbagged and placed rock fill in the worst area, just below the cannon. Shipley said a working group had already been discussing possible solutions with the council and Far North Holdings. "We thought we had time… and of course it never goes as fast as I would like it to, but this is not a straightforward question. We do need to get best advice, then try and find money to remediate it." If nothing was done, the beachfront road and buildings would eventually be threatened. "With every high tide that's got an onshore wind, it's posing more risk to the road reserve." Erosion opposite Russell's Town hall, before temporary repairs were carried out. Photo: Supplied / Sue Fitzmaurice Shipley said there were many theories in Russell about what was contributing to the erosion. Those theories included rainwater from buildings running across the road instead of going into stormwater drains, or changes to tidal action caused by the wharf's floating pontoons. Expert advice so far was that there was no single significant factor, she said. The erosion is worst around the historic cannon, opposite Russell Town Hall. Photo: Supplied / Jenny Shipley The working group included representatives of the Russell Wharf Trust, the local community board and placemaking group, Kororāreka Marae, businesses, the council and Far North Holdings, with herself as chair representing the Russell Destination Management Team. The hoped to come up with a medium-term solution in July or August, which would then be discussed with Russell residents and stakeholder groups. How quickly it could be implemented would depend on the cost, she said. The council was also investigating whether central government assistance would be available given that it involved storm damage to a road. Ultimately, the working group aimed to restore the gentle slope that used to run down onto the shingle beach. "It is a long term issue. It will be potentially costly, so we have to be mindful that we've got to then find those funds or take our turn," she said. Emergency repairs aim to protect Russell's waterfront from further erosion until a solution is found. Photo: Supplied / Sue Fitzmaurice Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
CBC
10-05-2025
- CBC
Inuit group demands change from Nunavik police after officer kills Inuk man
A political organization that represents Inuit in Quebec says policing in the Far North is "broken" after an officer shot and killed an Inuk man on Tuesday. The shooting by the Nunavik Police Service is the second officer-involved death in the northern region since November, and has reignited anger and trauma in Nunavik. The Quebec coroner's office identified the victim as Mark R Annanack, 35, of Kangiqsualujjuaq. Makivvik, a group that represents the Inuit of Nunavik, said in a scathing statement this week there is a pattern of police using excessive force in the region. "Makivvik is calling for immediate and exceptional measures," the organization said, adding that while an independent investigation is necessary, other actions must follow. "This crisis demands substantial structural change in the way policing is delivered across Nunavik, we cannot wait for another report while more lives are put at risk." Makivvik head Pita Aatami asked how many families must suffer before the province "understands that policing in Nunavik is broken?" "This latest tragedy is not isolated: it reflects a systemic failure in the way policing is delivered in Nunavik," Aatami said. "Despite repeated warnings, commitments, and investigations, police interventions continue to fail our communities. We condemn this fatality, and we demand immediate and measurable accountability." Quebec's police watchdog — Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes — said members of the Nunavik Police Service had planned to arrest someone who was inside a tent in the Inuit village on the eastern shore of Ungava Bay. The police force said in its own statement that officers had a warrant for the man, but the force said he resisted when two officers tried to arrest him about 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The police force said officers used pepper spray on the man, who they say emerged from the tent with a knife. An officer tried to subdue the man with a stun gun, but as the situation evolved an officer opened fire and the victim was later declared dead at a regional health centre. Quebec's police oversight agency announced Wednesday it was investigating the shooting in Kangiqsualujjuaq. Nunavik Police Service has declined to comment further. Nunavik officers are equipped with body cameras, and the police service confirmed video has been shared with the watchdog agency. Makivvik said the latest death reflects a failure of the police force to de-escalate a situation or employ a level of cultural understanding. In November 2024, an officer shot and killed Joshua Papigatuk and seriously injured his twin brother Garnet after police responded to a call about alleged impaired driving in Salluit, about 1,850 kilometres north of Montreal. The Quebec police watchdog is also investigating that killing. Following Papigatuk's killing, Makivvik said it has worked with the Kativik Regional Government to create the Nunavik public safety committee, tasked with reforming policing practices, ensuring better accountability and engaging with local community leaders in the region. "The committee's mandate includes reviewing use-of-force policies, advancing Inuit-led oversight, and co-ordinating with communities directly impacted by police violence," the organization said. Kativik Regional Government said in its own statement the police watchdog needs to move faster on investigations in Nunavik, with a "firm agreement to produce complete final reports within six months." They also want the watchdog agency to convene public meetings with communities and review investigation results with them. They should also publish reports in Inuktitut. A spokesman for Quebec Indigenous Affairs Minister Ian Lafrenière said he was in contact with Makivvik's president. "I offered him my support in these very difficult times for everyone," the minister said in a statement, adding he would keep close tabs on the watchdog agency's investigation.
