Purple intruder

Ronnie Priest

Senior Community Ranger

DOC biodiversity ranger

Ian Brown has warned of an aggressive invader of wetlands, purple loosestrife.

“We need act now to stop it spreading into Lake Wairarapa and the wider Wairarapa Moana area.”

Wairarapa Moana incorporates Lakes airarapa and no e, their neighbouring wetlands, Lake Domain, the Wairarapa Lake Shore cenic eserve and no e Spit.

“The wetlands that make up Wairarapa Moana are extremel signifi cant ̀ for local iwi and our region,” said Brown.

Wairarapa Moana has also been recognised as a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Wetland Convention. It is home to 96 bird species and native fish species.

“There’s an incredible amount of birdlife there including the criticallyendangered bittern. If this weed was to take hold it could ruin the habitat for these species and the noc on effect could be devastating.”

DOC Wairarapa have been carrying out