From:
Jane Andrews
To:
Maxine Joubert
Cc:
ESandTSpecialistUnit; Madi Thom; Ecological Advice
Subject:
RE: [Urgent] PLUC70024452 - Aerial Drone Spraying in the Te Henga Wetland Query
Date:
Thursday, 18 December 2025 8:07:49 am
Attachments:
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Kia ora Maxine,
Below is some information on indigenous fish at Te Henga provided by one of our colleagues Matt Bloxham.
There are no water conservation orders applicable to Te Henga and specifically to the Te Matuku Link land holding (that includes current
WCO’s and those applied for).
There are sixteen water conservation orders in total, 11 in the SI and 5 in the NI are (see below) and again Te Henga/Cascades watershed is not
on the list. Currently, the only WCO application before the authority is for the Ngaruroro and Clive Rivers in Hawkes Bay.
The AUP schedules mention several freshwater fish species using freshwater habitat in Mātuku Link’s reserve land, including kōura and tuna.
The area of wetted habitat contained within is expansive as the wetland is based around an oxbow (a former Waitakere River bends). This
lentic habitat is likely to include both tuna species including the threatened/indigenous long fin eel.
The wetland is also fed by several perennial and intermittent streams, so other native fish species (including banded kokopu and potentially
red fin bully) are likely to pass through the valley floor oxbow as they access their eventual rearing habitat in the bush streams beyond.
I am a little unsure what the present fish passage arrangement is between the river into the oxbows but on my last visit I recall fish passage
being partially restricted by a flow control structure (I don’t quite recall whether it was culvert or a weir). This may explain references made to
climbing only species and to non-diadromous aquatic fauna including kōura.
While there are inanga records from upstream of the Te Matuku crossing, the species is likely to spawn well downstream of here (just
upstream of saline influence). Tuna spawn at sea so won’t be impacted by the herbicide application. Further, banded kokopu (if present)
typically rear adjacent to adult habitat so again in the forested stream habitat feeding (but away from) the willows.
Jane Andrews|Team Manager Ecological Advice
Environmental Services
Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland Council
Level 19, Te Wharau o Tāmaki - Auckland House, 135 Albert Street.
Visit our website: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
From: Carol Bergquist
On Behalf Of Ecological Advice
Sent: Tuesday, 16 December 2025 4:08 pm
To: Madi Thom ; Jane Andrews
Cc: ESandTSpecialistUnit
Subject: FW: [Urgent] PLUC70024452 - Aerial Drone Spraying in the Te Henga Wetland Query
Importance: High
Hi Madi and Jane
Re: glyphosate aerial spraying over Te Henga wetland.
This is consented/permitted activity but we are asked if this occurring during summer by drone would adversely affect native fauna - nesting
bittern, fernbird, freshwater fish etc.
See Sarah Flynn’s email 1. Any comments?
Ngā mihi | Kind regards
Carol
Please note - I work part time on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday only.
Carol Bergquist PhD
Senior Ecologist
Natural Environment Design: Ecological Advice
24 Wellesley Street
Private Bag 92300
Victoria Street West
Auckland 1142
Auckland Council | Te Kaunihera Tamaki Makaurau
Visit our website: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
From: Maxine Joubert <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 16 December 2025 3:21 pm
To: Ecological Advice <[email address]>
Cc: Laura Scaife <[email address]>; Christian Greff Turza <[email address]>
Subject: [Urgent] PLUC70024452 - Aerial Drone Spraying in the Te Henga Wetland Query
Importance: High
Hi Team,
Please may you review and provide advice on the following
as soon as possible as spraying is likely to commence in early January:
1. an opinion as to whether you agree or disagree that aerial drone spraying between November and March annually (over the next 2 years) in the Te
Henga Wetland will disturb any roosting / nesting of indigenous bird species.
a. Note: one round of spraying has already occurred in February this year over 10 days. The entire extent of the pest plants were sprayed, and
the following spraying events will target the remaining pockets that have persisted after the initial spraying.
2. Whether the wetland area is listed in a regional plan or water conservation order as a habitat for threatened indigenous fish.
3. Whether the area is a fish spawning area. If it is, would the spraying interfere with the spawning season?
Activity: Permitted activity for aerial drone spraying of glyphosate in the Te Henga Wetland for biosecurity control of Crack Willow (PLUC70024452) in
line with the NES-Freshwater which was approved under regulation 38 and 55. A Certificate of compliance has also been issued (CER70024867).
Information: Attached emails, letter and other.
Regulation: 55(9) of the NES-Freshwater
Note: High community and political interest. The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment wants to be kept in the loop re this and there is a
complainant / the community who also have high interest.
Please let me know if you require any additional information.
Ngā mihi | Kind regards,
Maxine Joubert (she/her) | Principal Specialist Environmental Monitoring
Licensing and Compliance Department | Te wāhanga mō te Tuku Raihana me te Ū ki ngā Ture
Community Directorate | Te kāhui o te tari ā-hapori
Phone (09) 301 0101 | Mobile 027 206 2811
Auckland Council, Level 7, 135 Albert Street, Auckland Central
Visit our website: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Important: There are changes coming to the RMA which will take effect on Thursday 04 September. For more information please see Resource
Management (Infringement Offences) Amendment Regulations 2025 (SL 2025/162) – New Zealand Legislation
Useful Council contact numbers:
24hr POLLUTION HOTLINE: 09 377 3107
COUNCIL CALL CENTRE: 09 301 0101
We value flexible working at Auckland Council. If you receive this email outside of your regular hours of work, please don’t feel compelled to respond at this time.
P
Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
From: Annalily van den Broeke <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 16 December 2025 1:19 pm
To: Maxine Joubert <[email address]>
Cc: S 7(2)(a) Privacy
Subject: Re: PLUC70024452 - Spray Report review
Kia ora Maxine,
Attached are the three reports from the similar willow spray work done in 2009 by the previous Waitakere City and Rodney Councils. These
reports have also been available on our website. The positive results as described in those reports informed council officers as well as our
trustees that our approach (drone spray versus helicopter spray) would not be detrimental to the environment.
These three reports were done by Boffa Miskell, for consistency we asked them report on the results of our willow work (spray as well as drill-
and-inject).
Please note that there was no requirement by Auckland Council for a post-spray report. We have contracted Dr Sarah Flynn to do a post-spray
report after every round for three years.
Dr Sarah Flynn has given us the preliminary results, which are as expected with good regrowth of native species, as per her attached letters. A
full report is expected soon after the holidays. Feel free to get in touch with her.
Please note that there wasn't any Council requirement for water testing analyses either, however we chose to do so with AsureQuality. Results
have been shared before with you and are on the website (no measurable levels of glyphosate were found).
Annalily van den Broeke
For Matuku Reserve Trust
Additional info:
3x Boffa Miskell reports
2x email from Dr Sarah Flynn - senior ecologist Boffa Miskell forwarded in the next two emails
From: Maxine Joubert <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2025 4:17 PM
To: Annalily van den Broeke <[email address]>
Cc: Laura Scaife <[email address]>; Christian Greff Turza <[email address]>
Subject: RE: PLUC70024452 - Spray Report review
Good Day Matuku Reserve Trust,
We have had a discussion with our legal team and have further reviewed your letter provided to Christian on 2 December 2025.
The letter makes mention of a survey report prepared by Sarah Flynn at Boffa Miskell.
Please may you provide this report to us for review before we can make a final determination on any enforcement.
Ngā mihi | Kind regards,
Maxine Joubert (she/her) | Principal Specialist Environmental Monitoring
Licensing and Compliance Department | Te wāhanga mō te Tuku Raihana me te Ū ki ngā Ture
Community Directorate | Te kāhui o te tari ā-hapori
Phone (09) 301 0101 | Mobile 027 206 2811
Auckland Council, Level 7, 135 Albert Street, Auckland Central
Visit our website: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Important: There are changes coming to the RMA which will take effect on Thursday 04 September. For more information please see Resource
Management (Infringement Offences) Amendment Regulations 2025 (SL 2025/162) – New Zealand Legislation
Useful Council contact numbers:
24hr POLLUTION HOTLINE: 09 377 3107
COUNCIL CALL CENTRE: 09 301 0101
We value flexible working at Auckland Council. If you receive this email outside of your regular hours of work, please don’t feel compelled to respond at this time.
P
Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
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