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A small native herb with delicate daisy-like flowers and an unusual name has found sanctuary on Kawau Island – it’s called Sneezeweed.
The plant is a nationally threatened species and thrives in disturbed wet or damp environments where competition from other plants is minimal, which makes Kawau ideal.
It may be small, but Sneezeweed is a vital piece of the puzzle when it comes to understanding the delicate balance of New Zealand’s ecosystems.
Auckland Council has established permanent monitoring plots within the Department of Conservation (DOC) reserve on the island to track the plant’s progress ahead of a plan to remove browsing animals from the island.
Council’s principal specialist – natural environment operations Lisa Tolich says the removal of wallabies (in particular) is a huge win for native biodiversity.
“We need to ensure species like sneezeweed continue to have the conditions they need to survive on the island,” Tolich says.
“By closely monitoring these populations, we can respond with management strategies to support them if necessary.”
Council botanists recently revisited the monitoring plots, first established in November 2024 and will continue to collect data from the plots every January to assess the health and spread of sneezeweed in the absence of browsing animals.
By tracking its progress year after year, botanists will be able to determine if any specialised interventions are needed to support the plant’s survival as the Kawau ecosystem evolves.
