Gorse in New Zealand

Introduced from Western Europe in the very early stages of European settlement, it was recorded by Charles Darwin during his voyage through New Zealand waters in 1835 as growing in hedges in the Bay of Islands.

[1] Its spread and development as a weed in New Zealand's temperate climate was rapid, but settlers failed to recognise the threat; gorse seed continued to be imported and plantings deliberately established into the 1900s.

This technique is working successfully and within a short time frame at Hinewai Reserve on Banks Peninsula.

It was recognised as a threat as early as 1861 with the Provincial Council in Nelson passing an act to prevent the planting of gorse hedges.

Results have been mixed, but in general neither the seed-feeding nor foliage-feeding insects are doing enough damage to be viable as a stand-alone control agent.

Gorse covering hillside previously cleared of native forest for farming, Wellington, NZ
A patch of gorse surrounded by regenerating native bush at Hinewai Reserve on Banks Peninsula.
Example of gorse being one of the fastest plants to colonise disturbed areas of forest, Wellington, NZ