Community’s war on weeds This core group of volunteers is undertaking weed and pest control in their neighbourhood. Sea Cleaners removed rubbish from under the Weiti River dock. A group of residents of Riverhaven Drive in Whangaparāoa are working together to rid their local reserve of weeds and animal pests. Their efforts are being supported by not-for-profit initiative Restore Hibiscus & Bays and the Forest & Bird Pest Free Hibiscus Coast project. Restore Hibiscus & Bays ecological restoration advisor, Kane Kvasnicka, has been running weed control workshops for neighbours living near the Fairhaven Walkway, alongside the Weiti River. This area has one of the last mature coastal broadleaf forest habitats in Auckland’s north, but dense patches of wild ginger are preventing the regeneration of native trees. To date, around 15 residents have controlled approximately 80 percent of the wild ginger along the walkway and coastal edge. They have also learnt skills in controlling jasmine and monkey apple.