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  3. Wild kiwifruit
On this page:
Management programme
Progressive containment
Objectives
Keep wild kiwifruit from having adverse effects in the Waikato region.
Impacts
Economic, biodiversity, social and cultural wellbeing

Wild kiwifruit, native to South China, is a vigorous hairy climber. Brought to New Zealand to be cultivated for its fruit, kiwifruit is now an important commercial crop. The term ‘wild’, in relation to kiwifruit, means any kiwifruit vine that has established by natural means, or any kiwifruit vine that is not managed: i.e. fruit is not picked by 1 July yearly and vines are not pruned and tied down by 1 October yearly.

Wild kiwifruit vines that have established outside of cultivation can form mounds of tangled stems up to 3 metres high or grow up and over host trees (to over 20 metres in forest canopies in natural areas).

What does it look like?

Flowers

  • White flowers (3cm-6cm across) are produced in clusters.
  • Plants are generally either male or female (dioecious).
  • Flowers produced between October and December.

Fruit/seeds

  • Fruit is typically small, brown and hairy with bright green flesh.
  • Each fruit (berry) produces numerous small black seeds.

Leaves/stem

  • Deciduous, densely hairy shoots and stems; hairs on young shoots reddish.
  • Leaves (to 14cm) have whitish hairs on the underside.

 

 

Why is it a pest?

Wild kiwifruit can grow in a wide range of habitats, including native bush, pine forest, shelter belts and gullies. If left uncontrolled, it can form dense, heavy blankets of vines that strangle trees, causing them to die or fall. As such, it is a significant potential threat to native ecosystems and plantation forest in many parts of our region. Wild kiwifruit also has the potential to impact on taonga species. The true distribution of wild kiwifruit in the Waikato region is unknown, although small infestations have been found throughout.

Wild kiwifruit plants can also act as a vector for a bacterium called Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) that infects all varieties of kiwifruit, causing dieback or, in some instances, the death of kiwifruit vines. This disease has serious economic implications for the kiwifruit industry and the economies of areas that are heavily reliant on it for jobs and income.

Wild kiwifruit is a serious pest in the neighbouring Bay of Plenty region due to large-scale commercial kiwifruit production, the dumping of reject fruit and reject fruit being used as stock feed. The fruit are an easily accessible food for birds, rats, and possums. Each fruit has about 1100 tiny black seeds, which are easily eaten and spread from droppings wherever birds fly.

Responsibility for control

All occupiers in the Waikato region are responsible for the control of wild kiwifruit. 

Anyone who sees an infestation of wild kiwifruit in the Waikato region should inform the Waikato Regional Council, within five working days (rule KIWI-1 of the Waikato Regional Pest Management Plan 2022-2032).

All occupiers in the Waikato region are responsible for controlling all wild, unmanaged or abandoned kiwifruit vines on their property, unless they have a property specific progressive containment pest management agreement signed by both them and the council (rule KIWI-2).

No one is allowed to dispose of kiwifruit in any manner that will promote the establishment of any wild kiwifruit vines in the Waikato region (rule KIWI-3).

If wild kiwifruit is present on a property that is to be subdivided or developed, there are additional rules and requirements that apply under section 6.6 of the RPMP 2022-2032.

Neutral

Control methods

Herbicide control (summer to autumn)

Cut vine treatment (for smaller infestations, or sensitive areas)

Cut larger plants at ground level and stump paint the stem and hanging ends liberally with herbicide (like Vigilant Gel). Herbicide must be applied immediately after the cut is made. Some herbicides are available in bottle or gel form, making application easy and convenient.

Spray application (for larger infestations)

Spray the plant (November to May) to totally cover the leaf surfaces with herbicide. Apply the herbicide carefully to avoid serious damage to plants you want to keep. Apply during the active growing season (spring to autumn) for best results.

Management

Follow up initial control regularly to remove any seedlings.

More information

Advice

  • For advice and additional information on wild kiwifruit control methds, call our pest plant staff on freephone 0800 800 401.
  • Chemical company representatives, farm supply stores, garden centres or the Weedbusters website can also be good sources for advice.
  • Wild kiwifruit - KVH

Publications

The following publications are available for download or from Waikato Regional Council. Contact us to request a copy (freephone 0800 800 401).