Climbing spindleberry is an invasive climbing vine with suckering roots and sharp spines on its stems.
"There are only 10 known sites in the entire Tararua District, and although it is a tough plant to kill, it is possible for us to eradicate it from the district," Jack Keast, Horizons Regional Council Biosecurity Officer says.
If you think you may have this plant or have seen it in the Tararua, please ring Jack on 021 2277 100 to report it.
"From impenetrable thickets to smothered gardens and bush blocks and even a major weed of forestry trees, climbing spindleberry can be a monster. If left uncontrolled it becomes entrenched in a site and is very difficult to kill," says Jack.
![A thicket of spindleberry which shows how it can spread.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/S2AKWPY5ZNWTON7FAKTAOKOCKE.jpg?auth=92c1e20fa4ebb53fe572a59cbde321fa45a799e5c1048ffe22348cf07e6b319d&width=16&height=22&quality=70&smart=true)