Spanning seven years, Mayoral Award-winning group Whaaingaroa Weedbusters has been bringing the community together to protect Raglan’s unique landscapes, leading efforts to remove invasive pest plants and restore native ecosystems.
We spoke to Sue Wood, who is a Raglan local and one of the community volunteers in the group. Inspired while walking the Kaitoke Walkway near her home, Sue noticing large infestations of asparagus weed, and joined forces with local residents to tackle invasive plant species threatening the area's native ecosystems.
What began as a community effort to control pest plants has evolved into an advocacy group supporting environmental action across the wider Whaaingaroa area. Supported by funding from the Raglan Community Board, local businesses, WERT (Waikato Ecological Restoration Trust) and other partners, the volunteers work to remove invasive species such as asparagus weed, privet, woolly nightshade and pampas grass. The team uses various methods, employing innovative techniques like creating ‘ghost trees’: drilling and treating large privet trees so they die standing, minimising environmental disturbance.
The group is proud of their success so far in reducing weed infestations, securing funding, and helping restore native habitats along the Kaitoke Walkway, in the Waikokowai Reserve and other local sites.
Funding has enabled improved signage, public education, and restoration projects, while partnerships with organisations such as Te Rēkereke Taiao Trust have provided both financial and technical support. Volunteers have also assisted with native planting projects, seed collections and efforts to replace invasive pampas grass with native toetoe along the coastline.
What stands out most to Sue is the strength of the Raglan community. She describes it as highly connected, with many people joining environmental groups not only to protect nature but also to build friendships and contribute to something meaningful. “Community support has been instrumental in the success of Weedbusters,” she says. “Local businesses, organisations, and residents contribute funding, resources, and volunteer hours.” One community event organised by the group attracted more than 70 attendees, demonstrating the growing interest in conservation across the region.
Looking to the future, Sue believes greater personal responsibility from residents will be essential. Encouraging households near walkways and reserves to actively manage pest plants bordering and on their properties is a key priority. Community initiatives such as free green-waste disposal for pest plants and dedicated skips for invasive vegetation will help make participation easier and more accessible.
Volunteer involvement remains at the heart of Whaaingaroa Weedbusters. Through regular working bees, weekly "Privet Fridays," community meetings, and online communication through Facebook and WhatsApp, volunteers continue to restore local sites. The group also uses GIS mapping tools and species-identifying apps to track progress and guide future work such as Kete Taiao and Aotearoa Species.
Sue said the hard work undertaken by the team is visible every time she walks through the local areas that volunteers are restoring. Comparing old photographs of Raglan with the landscape today, the positive impacts are evident.
If you are wanting to keep updated on their work or get involved with the Whaaingaroa Weedbusters, check out their Facebook page.
