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Henderson-Massey Moth Plant Competition

Friday 15 March to Sunday 12 May 2024

The Henderson-Massey Moth Plant Competition is a fun, family-friendly competition that is all about getting rid of moth plant in your neighbourhood, and it’s now been extended to Sunday 12 May.

There are over $1000 worth of prizes for teams collecting pods and removing vines, and individuals designing posters.

To enter, you or at least one of your team members has to live, work or go to school in the Henderson-Massey Local Board area. Register your team now

About moth plant

Moth plant is a highly invasive pest plant which threatens and smothers our native biodiversity. Each pod contains up to a thousand seeds, which can germinate in established forest and streamside plantings a long way from the seed source. Then it gets right into the canopy and smothers and kills plants, preventing the establishment of natives.

There’s lots of great information on the Auckland Council and Weedbusters websites.

Moth plant pods are just about ready to pop during autumn, and every pod you remove during the competition will help stop the spread.

Help your local community to control this pest plant so our backyards can thrive.

Moth plant pod and flowers by Carolyn Lewis www.weedbusters.org.nz

Categories and prizes

Category 1: Most pods collected (team)

For the team that collects the most moth plant pods during the competition. Take photos of your moth plant pods collected and disposed of, with pods arranged in easily countable rows. To enter, register your team and email your photo entries to [email protected].

Prizes
1st: Family pass to Tiritiri Matangi Island with Guided Walk (up to two adults and three children)
2nd and 3rd: $100 Pak n Save voucher

Category 2: Most Vines pulled up (team)

For the team that pulls up the most small vines by the root, or cuts thick vines that can’t be removed. To enter, register your team and email your photo entries to [email protected].

Prizes
1st, 2nd and 3rd: $50 Refill Nation voucher

Category 3: Poster design (individual)

For the individual who designs the best educational posters about moth plant. Create your design on an A4 sheet or on our poster template, and either submit it at a library in Henderson-Massey; or post it to EcoMatters, PO Box 15215, New Lynn, Auckland 0640; or email it to [email protected]. Multiple entries welcome.

Prizes
1st, 2nd and 3rd: Family pass to Auckland Zoo (up to two adults and two children)

Register a team
Download a poster template
Email an entry

SUBURBS

Henderson-Massey includes the suburbs of West Harbour, Massey, Rānui, Glendene, Lincoln, Henderson South, Sunnyvale, Te Atatū Peninsula and Te Atatū South. See the map or check an address

DROP-OFF Week

Moth plant pods can be disposed of in your own landfill bin. But if you have too many pods and want a quick, easy way to dispose of them, bag them and bring them to our weed bin on drop-off week, 15 to 21 April. Details coming soon.

QUESTIONS?

If you need a black sack for pod collection, or if you have any questions, contact Mel at [email protected].

Terms and conditions

For Teams (Categories One and Two)

  1. Teams must register before they start collecting pods and vines for the purposes of this competition.
  2. Teams must be registered by Tuesday 30 April 2024.
  3. At least one member from your team must have a school, home or workplace address within the Henderson-Massey area.
  4. There must be a minimum of two, and a maximum of 10 people per team.
  5. Teams must include at least one supervising adult over the age of 18.
  6. All teams must provide the name and contact details for one of their members who will be the team leader. All competition communications will be sent to the team leader, who is responsible for ensuring the team is aware of the communications.

Entries

  1. Entries must be received during the competition dates, Friday 15 March to Tuesday 30 April 2024 at [email protected].
  2. Pods collected photo entries: Photos must have pods lined up in easily-countable rows, and include proof of the team’s identity, either:
    • Faces of team members, or,
    • A piece of paper with the team name and date of submission written on it.
  3. Vines removed photo entries: Photos must have small vines lined up in easily-countable rows, or before and after photos of thick vines being cut. Photos must also include proof of the team’s identity, either:
    • Faces of team members, or,
    • A piece of paper with the team name and date of submission written on it.
  4. Poster entries: Poster entries must be A4 sized and include the participant’s name, contact email address, phone number, and address of their home, school or workplace in the Henderson-Massey Local Board area.
    • Multiple poster entries from the same individual are welcome.
  5. By entering the competition, you give EcoMatters permission to share your photo(s) and/or poster(s) publicly, to use them for future publicity, and for funders and prize sponsors to share and use your photo(s) and/or poster(s).
  6. If there are any children without photo permission, please do not include them in your submission photos.
  7. By submitting a photo, the team is certifying that the pods and vines in the photo were gathered by them during the competition dates, and that they have only used those pods in one photo for this specific competition.
  8. EcoMatters reserves the right to exclude any entries that are not deemed eligible.

Health and safety

  1. Tell someone where you’re going, and make sure there are at least two people present when you are approaching landowners, or going out collecting moth plant pods and seedlings or cutting vines.
  2. While children are welcome to participate, those under 14 years old must be accompanied by supervising adults taking full responsibility for their health and safety.
    • We recommend an adult-to-child ratio of 1:1 for children five years old and under.
  3. For participants under 16, permission from a parent or legal guardian must be sought and granted to take part in this competition.
  4. If pods are located on private property, permission from the landowner must be sought and granted before any pods or vines are removed from their property.
  5. If used, herbicide gel must only be handled by an adult in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
  6. Only attempt to remove pods that can easily be reached from standing at ground level.
  7. Gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, a mask and eye protection must be worn while removing and/or handling any pods as the sap can be an irritant. Care must be taken to ensure the sap does not come in contact with skin or eyes, and that seeds are not breathed in. Protect your clothes or wear old clothes as sap can ruin them.
  8. Pods must be bagged and disposed of in landfill bins or at drop-off days to prevent further spread. Please note that they cannot be easily composted without spreading further. Need a black sack? Email [email protected].
  9. Teams must follow the Health and Safety Guidelines and any written instructions sent by EcoMatters to team leaders.
  10. The organiser(s) and supporter(s) of this competition shall not be liable for any loss or damage suffered (including but not limited to indirect or consequential loss), or for personal injury suffered or sustained, as a result of participating in this promotion except for any liability which cannot be excluded by law.

Eligibility for prizes

  1. Winners will be contacted via email and/or phone by EcoMatters Environment Trust.
  2. Judges’ decision is final. No correspondence will be entertained.
  3. EcoMatters staff may enter but are not eligible to win prizes.

Kia ora and thanks

The Moth Plant Competition is inspired by similar challenges run by Pest Free Howick Ward, Ōtara Waterways and Lake Trust, and Sandringham Project in Community Empowerment (SPiCE). Thank you to the Henderson-Massey Local Board for supporting this competition.