Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

EPA seeks submissions on moth plant rust fungus

26 August 2015

EPA seeks submissions on moth plant rust fungus

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) welcomes submissions on an application for release of the moth plant rust fungus Puccinia araujiae. If approved for release, this fungus would be used to help control the weed, moth plant (Araujia hortorum).

The application, from Northland Regional Council, on behalf of the National Biocontrol Collective (12 regional/unitary authorities and the Department of Conservation) is made under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996.

Moth plant is a tough perennial, broad-leaved herbaceous climber with twining stems, clusters of small cream tubular flowers and choko-like fruit. It can reach over 5 metres when it grows up trees or creeps over the ground, shading out low-growing vegetation. The sap of the fruit and stem is a skin irritant. The weed is considered a threat and cannot be sold, propagated or distributed in New Zealand. Regulation varies from region to region, but most regional councils require landowners or occupiers to remove moth plant from their property.

The plant is native to south-east Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. It has become naturalised in a number of countries and has been regarded as a weed in most countries it has colonised. In New Zealand, moth plant is widespread from Nelson and Marlborough northwards and abundant north of Tauranga.

The rust fungus Puccinia araujiae is a highly specific parasite that is expected to severely impact on moth plant, its primary host, if approved for release. Moth plant belongs to the sub-tribe Oxypetalinae. Other members of this sub-tribe, including the exotic ornamental tweedia (Oxypetalum caeruleum), will possibly be affected by the fungus. If necessary, home gardeners could mitigate damage to tweedia by applying an over-the-counter fungicide. There are no native species that belong to the same sub-tribe or tribe as moth plant therefore no native New Zealand plants are expected to be parasitised by the fungus.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

If approved, the rust fungus would be the second biological control agent approved for release under the HSNO Act to control moth plant. The first agent, the beetle Colaspis argentinensis, was approved in 2011. The beetle has not yet been released. If the moth plant rust is approved for release, the two agents would be expected to work together to suppress the moth plant.

View application details and information

The public are invited to make submissions on the application to the EPA. The submissions period for this application opens on Wednesday 26 August 2015 and closes at 5pm on 7 October 2015.

Submissions are an opportunity to provide further information and raise issues about an application. They will inform a decision-making committee that will decide whether to approve or decline the application.

A public hearing may be held before a decision is made. The EPA will provide at least 10 working days’ notice of the hearing date, time and place. We'll provide this information to all submitters and the applicant.

Find more information on submissions and the hearing process

The EPA’s role is to decide on applications for the release of new organisms under the HSNO Act. We assess the benefits, risks and costs of releasing new organisms to safeguard people and the environment.

ENDS


© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.