KEY POINTS:
The Department of Conservation has declared war on a giant pest invading the South Taranaki coastline.
It has hired three machete-wielding abseilers to eradicate an infestation of giant Chilean rhubarb from 40km of rugged cliff-tops, the Taranaki Daily News reported.
DOC ranger Barry Ovenden said that because the rhubarb's huge leaves block the sun to native plants and it needed to be destroyed.
"I'd rate it alongside old man's beard - it's one of the most aggressive plants I've ever worked with."
The Chilean rhubarb has smothered rare native plants , and one variety, called crassula manaia, was exclusive to the Taranaki coast.
The plant, a popular landscaping plant for some years, was registered as a pest with the Taranaki Regional Council.
It was originally brought to New Zealand for its a aesthetic appeal.
Chilean rhubarb looks like an oversized version of garden-variety rhubarb, with large leaves and spiky seed pods containing more than 50,000 seeds each. The seeds are spread by birds, water, and the wind.
The rhubarb can also be eaten and is considered a delicacy in southern Chile.
The abseilers will use razor-sharp blades, chemical spray and safety harnesses to get rid of the plant.
- NZPA
