NETR Climbing Asparagus
Fortifying Key Terrain: Free The Tree's Innovative & Safe Control of Climbing Asparagus on Rangihoua
The Challenge: Defending a Recovering Sanctuary and Its Ancient Legacy
After successful initial restoration on Rangihoua Maunga, a new ecological battlefront emerged. Hard-won gains on this "key terrain" - a site of immense cultural and archaeological importance, historically a significant Māori pā (fortified settlement) - faced threats from invasive Climbing Asparagus (Asparagus scandens) and other resilient pest plants. This NETR-funded project (commenced 2022, ongoing) was essential to protect and amplify previous ecological victories, establishing deeper "defence in depth" for the Maunga.
The challenge: meticulous initial and follow-up control of these invasives across 28 hectares on Rangihoua’s lower slopes and popular recreational tracks. This demanded:
Protecting Regenerating Natives: Working within a recovering ecosystem required paramount care to avoid off-target damage to nascent native flora.
Specialized Techniques: Addressing Climbing Asparagus in dense bush - often intertwined with other plants - and across rugged, sometimes cliff-face, terrain.
High Public Visibility & Safety: Operating in areas frequented by recreational users necessitated exemplary public safety measures and clear communication.
Building on Success: Leveraging Council's trust and NETR funding to ensure previous investments in the Maunga's health yielded lasting results.
Our Approach: Layered Defence, Local Innovation, and Uncompromising Safety
Free The Tree's strategy to fortify Rangihoua Maunga against Climbing Asparagus integrated our proven local expertise with refined methods and an unwavering safety commitment, reflecting the strategic defence of this historic site:
Strategic Team Expansion & Investment: To meet specific project demands, we recruited, trained, and integrated three additional staff, expanding our skilled local team. We also invested in specialized equipment (water pump, tank, hoses, trailer) to efficiently transport water across rugged, off-track terrain, creating significant time, effort, and budget savings.
Refined "Jungle Box" System & "Catch and Release" Protocol: We further refined our military-inspired "jungle box" grid system for methodical team orientation in dense bush and 100% treatment coverage. Within each "jungle box," we implemented a strict "catch and release" protocol: meticulously disentangling Climbing Asparagus from native plants before herbicide application. This painstaking method yielded multiple benefits: zero off-target damage to native flora, reduced overall herbicide amounts, decreased potential environmental impact, enhanced team health and safety, improved public visual amenity, and better cost-per-square-metre reporting.
In-House Ropes Access Expertise: Richard's specialized Ropes Access skills were deployed for Climbing Asparagus on cliffs and other terrain inaccessible to the ground team. This in-house capability ensured a swift, cost-effective response, eliminating subcontracting delays and expense.
An Overriding Commitment to Holistic Safety: We programmed and executed all work considering three paramount safety factors:
Public Safety: Implementing careful signage strategies, including sentries where necessary, to inform and safeguard recreational users.
Environmental Health: Adhering to stringent methodologies for herbicide application and ecological protection.
Team Health and Safety: Meticulously programming workflow with other projects and adhering to strict chemical handling protocols to manage individual team member exposure.
Key Outcomes & Impact: Rangihoua's Defences Strengthened, Community Trust Reinforced
Our dedicated, innovative approach to the NETR Climbing Asparagus Control project continues to deliver significant positive outcomes, building on past successes and further solidifying this vital Waiheke landmark’s ecological health:
Effective & Ongoing Invasive Species Control: Successful initial and ongoing control of Climbing Asparagus and other high-incidence species across 28 hectares directly safeguards ecological gains from previous restoration on Rangihoua Maunga.
Demonstrated Success of Innovative & Gentle Methods: The "catch and release" protocol and refined "jungle box" system proved highly effective, achieving thorough control with zero off-target damage to native plants and enhanced environmental protection.
Increased Operational Efficiency & Value for Council: Investment in specialized water carriage equipment and in-house Ropes Access skills delivered measurable time and cost savings.
Exemplary Safety Record in a Public Space: Meticulous attention to public, environmental, and team safety ensured operations without incident, maintaining community confidence.
Strengthened Partnership & Continued Trust: Successful management of this ongoing NETR-funded project further deepens our trusted partnership with Auckland Council, reinforcing their confidence in Free The Tree’s ability to deliver specialized, high-quality ecological restoration.
A Living Example of "Success Breeds Success": This project powerfully illustrates how targeted, strategic follow-up protects and enhances initial conservation investments, ensuring the long-term resilience of "key terrain" like Rangihoua Maunga.
The Local Advantage – Responsive, Responsible, Resourceful: This project again highlights the distinct benefits of engaging a committed local contractor: agility, cost-effectiveness via specialized in-house skills, deep understanding of local recreational use and safety needs, and unwavering dedication to protecting Waiheke's unique heritage sites—all delivered with a reduced carbon footprint.
Instrumental Ongoing Work: This ongoing work fortifying Rangihoua Maunga against new biological threats testaments Free The Tree’s commitment to long-term ecological stewardship and our role as a key partner preserving Waiheke Island’s natural and cultural legacy.
