Across South Auckland, communities are coming together to tackle one of the region’s most persistent environmental pests — moth plant — and WM New Zealand is proud to support the effort.
Moth plant is an invasive species that spreads quickly, smothering native ecosystems, choking waterways and preventing the growth of other plants. Its climbing vines tangle through vegetation, while its seed pods disperse easily on the wind, making it difficult to control.
Volunteers empty buckets of Moth Plant seed pods into the WM skip
To combat the problem, community-led moth plant competitions have become a powerful way to drive action. Local residents, schools and volunteers work together to collect seed pods, helping reduce the spread while building awareness and community connection.
In Ōtara, the Ōtara Waterways group has taken this approach further — with a strong focus not only on collection, but on ensuring the plants are disposed of safely and responsibly.
Finding a solution that prevented seed spread was a key priority. WM New Zealand worked closely with the team to provide a covered, lockable bin, helping keep collected material secure and reduce the risk of contamination or illegal dumping.
But it didn’t stop there.
To ensure the collected pods don’t re-enter the environment, the material is transported to Living Earth for hot composting. The high temperatures used in the process destroy seed viability, providing a safe and sustainable disposal solution while keeping organic waste out of landfill.
The response from the community has been significant. Just one month into the competition, more than 3.3 tonnes of moth plant pods had already been collected — a clear sign of both the scale of the issue and the commitment to tackling it.
Efforts like this show what can be achieved when communities, organisations and partners work together toward a shared goal.
At WM New Zealand, taking care of it means supporting practical solutions that protect the environment — and backing the communities leading the way.
With plans to expand the competition further across Auckland, there are more opportunities ahead to continue this important work.
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WM New Zealand supports South Auckland communities tackling moth plant, providing safe disposal solutions that protect waterways and prevent environmental spread.
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