24 Feb 2016

Invasive arrowhead weed discovered in Tauranga

1:19 pm on 24 February 2016
Arrowhead weed

Photo: MPI

A variety of invasive aquatic weed which chokes waterways and can threaten native plants has been discovered in a Tauranga suburb.

Five clumps of the arrowhead weed have been pulled out of a stormwater drain in Bethlehem.

The weed was already known to be in Waikato and Auckland.

Arrowhead was introduced as a pond and aquarium plant and its large glossy, arrow-shaped leaves can grow up to 24cm.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council spokesperson Andrew Blaney said its seeds float and can be quickly spread by birds or pond overflows.