Pampas Grass
Common pampas (Cortaderia selloana) and purple pampas (Cortaderia jubata) - Golden Bay sites only.
Previous status: Not a named pest in current RPMP.
New Management category: Sustained Control programme in two areas in Golden Bay – the Aorere Valley (lower area) and Whanganui Inlet to Puponga (upper area) – refer to the map below.
Rationale for inclusion
Both species are well established and widely spread throughout much of the lowlands of Tasman District and Nelson City regions. Since 2019, when pampas was removed from the previous RPMP, biosecurity officers have noted a marked increase in the incidence of the pest. However, parts of the Aorere Valley and the western coast of Golden Bay around Westhaven remain relatively free of pampas. Pampas is likely to continue to spread into these areas if unmanaged, affecting the indigenous biodiversity values of bush margins, indigenous grasslands, escarpments and wetlands in these areas.
It is proposed to include both species of pampas, otherwise staff would be left ‘splitting hairs’ on which species is which. Also, visually, the public see pampas as pampas, not as C. jubata or C. selloana. Both species have a negative impact on environmental and production values.
Description and adverse effects
Pampas are large-clump forming grasses that can grow up to 3m-4m tall. Pampas can be distinguished from the native toetoe (Austroderia species) by its more erect and fuller flower head that is white to pinkish (C. selloana) or has a purple tinge (C. jubata) rather than cream coloured.
Pampas species are hardy and tolerant plants making them highly adaptable to a range of habitats including forest light gaps, slips and other disturbed sites (including sprayed or burned sites), river and forest margins, cliffs, shrublands, tussockland, fernland, herbfields, salt marshes, and wetlands. They colonise quickly and can become very dense, effectively out-competing indigenous species to replace ground cover species and shrubs. Pampas tends not to invade grazed pastures but can quickly invade retired pasture and over-run restoration planting sites. Seeds are spread very long distances by wind (up to 25km) and occasionally by water, soil movement, contaminated machinery, clothing and on animal pelts.
Plan rules
Specific Rule for Common and Purple Pampas in the Tasman-Nelson Region
Over the duration of this Plan:
a. Occupiers in Golden Bay (within the Sustained Control areas - Aorere Valley and Whanganui Inlet to Puponga) as shown on the map must destroy any common and purple pampas on their land, on an annual basis, prior to the completion of flowering.
b. Occupiers in Golden Bay (adjoining the Sustained Control areas - Aorere Valley and Whanganui Inlet to Puponga) as shown on the map must destroy any pampas within 200m of their property boundary (before completion of flowering) where the adjoining occupier (within the Sustained Control area) is taking reasonable steps to destroy pampas on the adjoining land. This is a Good Neighbour Rule.
A breach of this rule is an offence under Section 154N(19) of the Act.
