Pests in Auckland

Pest plants (or weeds) and pest animals are species that harm the natural environment.

Help with identification

If you're having difficulty identifying a pest plant or animal:

1. Use our popular tool pest search to narrow the options by using the 'Select a type of pest' function, for example select 'birds' or 'climbers and vines'. Note that there are hundreds of pest plants listed. 
2. Users have recommended Google lens with location turned on. Look for the icon when taking a photo of the plant or animal on your mobile phone.
3. If you're still struggling, consider joining iNaturalist - an online tool that matches your 'observation' (photo/s) with a large database. There are many experts engaged with the tool who will help you identify your plant or animal. The getting started information is helpful if you're new to iNaturalist. Once you've identified your pest then use pest search to find out how best to manage it, or if it should be reported to the council or other authorities.

For pest plants, Forest & Bird's Weed Control Guide has photos of common Auckland and Northland pest plants (weeds that have an environmental impact).

Pest search also lists plant diseases like kauri dieback, myrtle rust and Dutch elm disease.

For pest animals there are two other options:

• You could put out tracking tunnels in your area. Warren Agnew's online resource What made these tracks? (PDF, 1.8MB) provides a variety of pest animal footprints and guidance on identifying them.
• Another option is the use of chew cards which you can put up around the property/area. Read more about this cheap and effective tool at Predator Free New Zealand and become an expert in analysing bite marks!