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Wilding pines pose problems for farms, forests and vineyards

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 22 Sept 2025, 10:55am
Photo / stock.xchng
Photo / stock.xchng

Wilding pines pose problems for farms, forests and vineyards

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 22 Sept 2025, 10:55am

Wilding pines, the invasive species also known as Pinus contorta, are posing a massive threat to the environment.

It was highlighted on Country Calendar last by Steve Satterthwaite, who runs Muller Station in the Awatere Valley in Marlborough.

He said the wilding pines don't just choke up pastoral land, there's also the downstream effect of  loss of water yield into the rivers, and in Marlborough, that effects the vineyards.

Federated Farmers pest animal and weed spokesperson Richard Dawkins told Kerre Woodham that more funding and support is needed to properly tackle the spread of these invasive plants.

'It is possible to get it under control, but it just comes down to resourcing, right? So we need more funding.'

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