14 March 2025
Motorists advised Stout Street between Pine and Elm is single lane as contractors tackle monkey comb plant pest.
Monkey comb – or Pithecoctenium crucigerum – is a notifiable weed. It's a fast-growing, climbing vine with heart-shaped leaves and cream and yellow flowers, although it has never been known to flower in New Zealand. It smothers other plants and forms very dense infestations. There are only two wild sites of this plant in the country and both are in Tairāwhiti.
Phil Karaitiana, team leader for Biosecurity, says it's an incredibly tricky pest to eradicate. A site infested with it on the Whanganui River was completely dug out and the soil sterilised before being returned.
It’s a little more challenging at the 345m2 Stout Street site which was discovered by chance by staff.
“With this area being on a bank, supporting the road and surrounded by urban houses we are restricted as to how we deal with this,” says Mr Karaitiana.
All the plant matter will be removed with herbicides then used to treat the area.
“It will be an ongoing project and likely to take a number of years to completely eradicate.”
The stretch of Stout Street between Elm and Pine is expected to be down to a single lane for up to a week from 17 March while the work is carried out.
If you believe you have monkey comb on or near your property, contact us about an eradication programme.
Photo: Monkey comb