Marlborough District Council is asking landowners and the wider community to keep an eye out for African feather grass after a recent find at Cloudy Bay Business Park.

Biosecurity Officer Brent Holmes said the pest plant may have arrived via machinery passing through the area.

“African feather grass can easily spread when seeds are carried on vehicles or equipment,” Mr Holmes said. “It’s vital we catch any new infestations early, so we’re asking everyone to be vigilant and report any suspected sightings to Council.”

African feather grass is a robust, perennial grass native to Africa, forming dense tussocks with long, narrow flower heads. The plant is unpalatable to stock and can outcompete native species, as well as threaten Marlborough’s pastoral production if left uncontrolled. It thrives in a range of environments, including pastoral land, wetlands, roadsides, urban areas, and forest margins.

“After years of hard work, African feather grass is now only found in a few manageable sites in Marlborough,” Mr Holmes said. “But if we let our guard down, it could quickly spread and become a much bigger problem.”

Landowners are encouraged to contact Council as early as possible if they suspect they have an infestation on their property. Early reporting allows Council to map, monitor, and carry out control work before the plant can spread further.

For more information on African feather grass, go to: marlborough.govt.nz/environment/biosecurity/a-z-of-pests

To report a sighting, please take a photo and contact Council’s biosecurity team on 03 520 7400 or email biosecurity@marlborough.govt.nz

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