Aquatic spraying operations
Spraying operations under Resource Consent 124871
Every year Waikato Regional Council carries out targeted spray operations to control invasive pest plants growing in our rivers, lakes and wetlands.
This work is important to protect the environment – and in particular agricultural production – from the impacts of these pest plants, as well as to improve biodiversity.
Resource consent for spraying agrichemicals
Council holds a resource consent for the application of agrichemicals to air where they may enter water and the coastal marine area within the Waikato region.
This consent allows the use of specific herbicides for controlling pest plants that cannot generally be controlled with glyphosate.
Consent number: 124871
Consent description: Aerial application of agrichemicals to air where it may enter water and the coastal marine area within the Waikato region.
What pest plants are we controlling?
The pest plants to be controlled include, but are not limited to the list below. These plants all grow in and around aquatic or marine areas, which means the herbicides we use may enter water.
Herbicides
The resource consent permits the use of the following herbicides.
Spraying will be by knapsack, hand spray equipment (e.g. gun and hose/mist blower) or helicopter using low drift nozzles.
| Active ingredient | Example brand name |
| Haloxyfop-R-methyl | Agpro Haloxyfop 100, Gallant™ Ultra |
| Imazapyr isopropylamnine | Unimaz™ 250 SL |
| metsulfuron-methyl | Agpro Meturon®, Associate® 600WDG, Escort®, |
| Triclopyr trimethylamine salt | Garlon™ 360 |
| Polyether modified polysiloxane | Agpro Organosilicone, Pulse penetrant |
Note: Glyphosate use is a permitted activity in the Waikato Regional Plan.
Where are we spraying?
View our map of operational areas. Operational areas are shown on the map with purple shading.
Use the Search bar in the top left-hand corner to search for your address and see where spraying is happening in relation to your property.
When are we spraying?
Application may occur at any time during daylight hours, providing weather and tide conditions are suitable.
As these pest plants are difficult to control, two to three follow-up applications may occur over the next 12 months. It is unlikely that spraying will occur during duck shooting season. There will be no spraying on public holidays.
For more details, see the list of scheduled spraying operations on this page.
Register for notifications
You can be notified by email or text message of specific times when spraying is happening near your property.
Use the map to identify the operational area you want to be notified for. Click on the area and then click "Sign up for notifications". This will direct you to an online form to register for notification.
Scheduled herbicide control operations
Below is a list of scheduled spraying operations. This list will be updated regularly so please check this page for updates.
| Date | Location | Control type | Herbicide | Target pest plants | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
27 May – 17 June 2024 (weather permitting) |
Tauhua Stream and Turiakina Stream |
Knapsack, Gun and hose |
Metsulfuron, Glyphosate |
Alligator weed |
Frances McKinnon on 0273308016 |
|
27 May – 17 June 2024 (weather permitting) |
Pond at Cambridge golf course |
Knapsack, Gun and hose |
Imazapyr |
Water poppy |
Frances McKinnon on 0273308016 |
|
20 May – 3 June 2024 (weather permitting) |
Pond on private property Tauranga Road Te Poi |
Knapsack, Gun and hose |
Metsulfuron |
Yellow flag iris |
Heidi Pene on 0272486447 |
|
20 May – 3 June 2024 (weather permitting) |
Waihi Township Small creeks and Drains |
Knapsack |
Metsulfuron |
Yellow flag iris |
Heidi Pene on 0272486447 |
|
13 May – 27 May 2024 (weather permitting) |
Private property in Puriri - small gully stream |
Gun and hose |
Haloxyfop |
Manchurian wild rice |
Heidi Pene on 0272486447 |
|
13 May – 27 May 2024 (weather permitting) |
Horahora Wetlands on private property |
Gun and hose |
Haloxyfop |
Manchurian wild rice |
Heidi Pene on 0272486447 |
|
8 May – 30 May 2024 (weather permitting) |
Turiakina Stream Mouth, Marokopa and Tauhua Stream |
Knapsack, Gun and hose, Mist blower |
Metsulfuron, Glyphosate |
Alligator weed |
Frances McKinnon on 0273308016 |
|
6 May – 24 May 2024 (weather permitting) |
Tainui Street & Rerenga Street Drain, Mokau and Pond at Redwood Park, Otorohanga |
Knapsack, Gun and hose, Mist blower |
Imazapyr |
Rough Horsetail, Field Horsetail |
Frances McKinnon on 0273308016 |
|
30 April – 21 May 2024 (weather permitting) |
Hall Road Wetland |
Knapsack, Mist blower |
Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
Hamish Hodgson on 021569206 |
|
30 April – 21 May 2024 (weather permitting) |
Stream near Wairere Drive, Logan Court, Milbrook Place |
Knapsack, Mist blower |
Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
Hamish Hodgson on 021569206 |
|
30 April – 30 April 2024 (weather permitting) |
Lincoln Street Drain to Kahikatea Road Drain |
Knapsack, Mist blower |
Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
Hamish Hodgson on 021569206 |
|
30 April – 30 April 2024 (weather permitting) |
Chartwall Gully |
Knapsack, Mist blower |
Metsulfuron |
Yellow flag iris |
Hamish Hodgson on 021569206 |
|
29 April – 20 May 2024 (weather permitting) |
Sommerton Ponds and Kirikiriroa Stream |
Knapsack, Mist blower |
Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
Hamish Hodgson on 021569206 |
|
29 April – 29 April 2024 (weather permitting) |
Stream - corner Gordonton-Puketaha Road |
Knapsack, Mist blower |
Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
Hamish Hodgson on 021569206 |
|
29 April 2024 - 17 May 2024 (weather permitting) |
Waikato River and Mystery Creek |
Knapsack, Gun and hose |
Metsulfuron, Glyphosate |
Alligator weed |
Frances McKinnon on 0273308016 |
|
29 April 2024 - 17 May 2024 (weather permitting) |
Aotea Harbor - Aotea Road |
Knapsack, Gun and hose, Mist blower |
Metsulfuron, Glyphosate |
Alligator weed |
Frances McKinnon on 0273308016 |
|
29 April 2024 - 17 May 2024 (weather permitting) |
Kawhia Harbor - Hikuparea Road |
Knapsack, Gun and hose, Mist blower |
Metsulfuron, Glyphosate |
Alligator weed |
Frances McKinnon on 0273308016 |
|
29 April 2024 - 18 May 2024 (weather permitting) |
Te Otamanui Lagoon - Te Kowhai South |
Knapsack, Gun and hose |
Metsulfuron |
Senegal tea |
Frances McKinnon on 0273308016 |
|
22 April – 6 May 2024 (weather permitting) |
Waimakariri River between SH5 and Waihou River confluence |
Knapsack |
Haloxyfop |
African Feather Grass |
Heidi Pene on 0272486447 |
|
21 April – 3 May 2024 (weather permitting) |
Waihou River Turua, from Hikutaia Cut to Kopu (True Right) |
Gun and hose |
Haloxyfop |
Manchurian wild rice, Spartina |
Heidi Pene on 0272486447 |
|
22 April 2024 - 30 April 2024 (weather permitting) |
Lower Ohinemuri River |
Mist blower |
Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
Philip Mabin on 021502099 |
|
17 April 2024 - 10 May 2024 (weather permitting) |
Tuhikaramea Stream |
Knapsack, Gun and hose, Mist blower |
Metsulfuron, Glyphosate |
Yellow flag iris |
Frances McKinnon on 0273308016 |
|
16 April 2024 - 7 May 2024 (weather permitting) |
Port Waikato |
Knapsack, Gun and hose |
Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
Reuben Libline on 021972962 |
Past herbicide spraying operations
You can see details below of herbicide spraying operations that have been carried out over the past year. If you would like details of earlier spraying operations, please contact us.
| Date | Location | Control type | Herbicide | Target pest plants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 April - 6 May 2024 (weather permitting) | Huntly to Whangape Stream | Mist blower | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
| 11 April - 3 May 2024 (weather permitting) | Whangaipeteki Stream at Hill Road | Knapsack, Gun & hose | Metsulfuron |
Climbing Spindleberry |
| 11 April - 3 May 2024 (weather permitting) | Pond at Clark Lane | Knapsack, Gun & hose | Metsulfuron, Imaxapyr, Glyphosate |
Sagittaria |
| 11 April - 3 May 2024 (weather permitting) | Cambridge golf course pond | Knapsack, Gun & hose | Metsulfuron, Imaxapyr, Glyphosate |
Water poppy, Sagittaria |
| 11 April - 3 May 2024 (weather permitting) | Ruapuke Stream, Toreparu Stream, Taharoa Beach, TM Station Drains, Tauhua Stream, Turiakina Stream | Knapsack, Mist blower, Gun and hose | Metsulfuron, Glyphosate |
Alligator weed, Yellow flag iris |
| 11 April - 24 April 2024 (weather permitting) | Horahora of farm wetlands, Maungatautari Road | Gun & hose | Haloxyfop |
Manchurian wild rice |
| 8 April - 30 April 2024 (weather permitting) | Waikato River - Port Waikato to Tuaranginui | Knapsack, Gun & hose, Mist blower | Metsulfuron |
Water poppy |
| 7 April - 22 April 2024 (weather permitting) | Waihou River from Hikutaia cut to Kopu Bridge - True right | Gun and hose | Haloxyfop |
Manchurian wild rice, Spartina |
| 1 April - 15 April 2024 (weather permitting) | Lake Rotokaeo | Knapsack, Gun & hose, Mist blower | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
| 1 April - 16 April 2024 (weather permitting) | Otaua Road Drains & Crouch Road Drains | Gun and hose | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
| 25 March - 15 April 2024 (weather permitting) | Komakorau stream | Knapsack, Gun and hose | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed, Yellow flag iris |
| 25 March - 16 April 2024 (weather permitting) | Mangaonua Stream | Knapsack, Mist blower, Gun and hose | Metsulfuron, Glyphosate |
Alligator weed, Yellow flag iris |
| 25 March - 15 April 2024 (weather permitting) | Waikato River, Huntly to Ohinewai | Gun and hose, Mist-blower | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
| 21 March - 31 March 2024 (weather permitting) | Tauranga hi to Tuakau Bridge | Knapsack, Gun & hose | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
| 21 March - 31 March 2024 (weather permitting) | Port Waikato to Tuaranginui | Knapsack, Gun & hose | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
| 18 March – 15 April 2024 (weather permitting) | Waikato River - Mercer to Hampton Downs | Knapsack, Mist blower | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed, Yellow flag iris |
| 18 March – 8 April 2024 (weather permitting) | Aotea Harbour & Kawhia Harbour | Knapsack, Mist blower, Gun and hose | Metsulfuron, Glyphosate |
Alligator weed |
| 18 March – 8 April 2024 (weather permitting) | Waikato River - Hampton Downs to Whangape Stream | Knapsack, Mist blower | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed, Yellow flag iris |
| 18 March – 8 April 2024 (weather permitting) | 1589 SH25 Tairua-Whitianga Highway | Knapsack, Gun and hose | Metsulfuron, Glyphosate |
Water poppy |
| 7 March - 28 March 2024 (weather permitting) | Whangamarino Wetland and River | Helicopter | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
| 7 March - 21 March 2024 (weather permitting) | Waihou River from Hikutaia Cut to Kopu - True left | Gun and hose | Haloxyfop |
Manchurian wild rice, Spartina |
| 4 March - 31 March 2024 (weather permitting) | Hall Road Wetland | Knapsack, Gun and hose, Mist blower | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
| 4 March - 31 March 2024 (weather permitting) | Sandford Gully, Glenview | Knapsack | Imazapyr |
Japanese knotweed |
| 4 March - 31 March 2024 (weather permitting) | Lake Rotokaeo | Knapsack, Gun and hose, Mist blower | Metsulfuron |
Mexican water lily |
| 4 March - 31 March 2024 (weather permitting) | Pond and Stream - Pukekawa | Knapsack, Gun and hose, Mist blower | Metsulfuron |
Mexican water lily |
| 1 March - 22 March 2024 (weather permitting) | Huntly Ponds | Knapsack, Gun and hose, Mist blower | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed, Yellow flag iris |
| 29 February – 15 March 2024 (weather permitting) | Pond and Stream - Pukekawa | Knapsack, Gun and hose, Mist blower | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
| 23 February – 15 March 2024 (weather permitting) | Mangakaware Stream and Wetland | Knapsack, Gun and hose, Mist blower | Metsulfuron, Glyphosate |
Alligator weed |
| 22 February – 13 March 2024 (weather permitting) | Whangape Stream to Tuakau | Knapsack, Gun and hose, Mist blower | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
| 19 February – 11 March 2024 (weather permitting) | Awaroa River | Knapsack | Metsulfuron |
Senegal tea |
| 19 February – 15 March 2024 (weather permitting) | Te Mata Stream and Opotoru River | Knapsack, Gun and hose, Mist blower | Metsulfuron |
Yellow flag iris |
| 16 February - 8 March 2024 (weather permitting) | Rutherford Road Drains, Mangawara | Knapsack, Gun and hose | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
| 16 February - 8 March 2024 (weather permitting) | Matahuru Stream | Knapsack, Gun and hose, Mist blower | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
| 13 February - 23 February 2024 (weather permitting) | Taharoa Beach and TM Station Drains | Knapsack, Gun and hose, Mist blower | Metsulfuron, Glyphosate |
Alligator weed |
| 7 February – 28 February 2024 (weather permitting) | Waihou River True left, Hikutaia Cut to Abbatoir Road Turua | Gun and hose | Haloxyfop |
Manchurian wild rice, Spartina |
| 7 February – 28 February 2024 (weather permitting) | Waihou River True right Hikutaia Cut to Kopu | Gun and hose | Haloxyfop |
Manchurian wild rice, Spartina |
| 31 January – 23 February 2024 (weather permitting) | Te Otamanui Lagoon | Helicopter, Knapsack, Gun and hose, Mist blower | Metsulfuron, Triclopyr, Gylphosate |
Alligator weed |
| 30 January – 20 February 2024 (weather permitting) | Lincoln Street Drain to Kahikatea Road Drain | Knapsack, Mist blower | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
| 30 January – 20 February 2024 (weather permitting) | Stream near Wairere Drive, Logan Court, Milbrook Place | Knapsack, Mist blower | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
| 30 January – 20 February 2024 (weather permitting) | Stream corner Gordonton-Puketaha | Knapsack, Mist blower | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
| 30 January – 20 February 2024 (weather permitting) | Somerton Ponds and Kirikiriroa Stream - Thomas Road | Knapsack, Mist blower | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
| 30 January - 19 February 2024 (weather permitting) |
Lower Waikato River – Huntly to Tuakau, including Te Onetea Stream and Whangape Stream |
Gun and hose, Mist blower, knapsack | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
| 30 January - 16 February 2024 (weather permitting) | Waimakariri and Waihou River from SH 5 to Okoroire Hotel | Knapsack | Haloxyfop |
African feather grass |
| 30 January - 13 February 2024 (weather permitting) | Ruahorehore Stream | Knapsack | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
| 30 January - 6 February 2024 (weather permitting) | Waihou River True left from Hikutaia Cut to Kopu | Gun and hose | Haloxyfop |
Manchurian wild rice, Spartina |
| 22 January – 12 February 2024 (weather permitting) | Ngaawapurua Rapids to Broadlands | Knapsack, Mist blower | Metsulfuron |
Yellow flag iris |
| 17 January – 14 February 2024 (weather permitting) | Lake Whangape and Whangape Stream | Helicopter | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
| 15 January - 5 February 2024 (weather permitting) | Huriwai River | Knapsack, Gun and hose | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
| 22 January – 12 February 2024 (weather permitting) | Aotea Harbour and Kawhia Harbour | Knapsack, Gun and hose, Mist blower | Metsulfuron, Gylphosate |
Alligator weed |
| 22 January – 12 February 2024 (weather permitting) | Taharoa Beach, TM Station Drains, Tauhua Stream, Turiakina Stream and Tareparu Stream | Knapsack, Gun and hose | Metsulfuron, Gylphosate |
Alligator weed, Yellow flag iris |
| 9 January - 23 January 2024 (weather permitting) | Waihou River True left from Hikutaia Cut to Kopu | Gun and hose | Haloxyfop |
Manchurian wild rice, Spartina |
| 8 January - 29 January 2024 (weather permitting) | Whangamarino Wetland and Maramarua River, Kimihia Wetland | Helicopter | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed, Yellow flag iris |
| 8 January - 31 January 2024 (weather permitting) | Te Otamanui Lagoon | Helicopter, Knapsack, Gun and hose, Mist blower | Metsulfuron, Gylphosate |
Alligator weed |
| 8 January - 29 January 2024 (weather permitting) | Port Waikato to Tauranganui and Tauranganui to Tuakau Bridge | Helicopter, Gun and hose, Mist blower | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed |
| 8 January - 28 January 2024 (weather permitting) | Lower Waikato River, Ngaruawahia to Tuakau, including Lake Whangape and Whangape Stream | Knapsack, Gun and hose, Mist blower | Metsulfuron |
Alligator weed, Yellow flag iris |
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