The Northland Regional Council is applying for approval to use a biological control for moth plant.
The moth plant Photo: Supplied
The tough, fast-growing vine smothers trees and releases hundreds of wind-borne seeds from large kapok-style pods.
It has become increasingly common in the north along roads and forest edges and in coastal sites and gardens, and has proved hard to control.
The council has asked the Environmental Protection Authority for consent to release a rust fungus, to knock the pest back.
Landcare Research said the fungus was not a threat to any other plants, except for the garden ornamental, tweedia.
Submissions on the application close with the authority on 7 October.
