Otago Regional Council (ORC) advises the public of its intention to undertake aerial spraying on targeted sections of the rivers listed below.

Spraying will be carried out by helicopter in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Regional Plan: Air for Otago, Regional Plan: Water, and the applicable EPA permissions. 

The programme will target gorse, broom, lupin, and juvenile willow located on beaches and islands within the main river corridors.

Holders of known water takes in these areas will be notified separately. Spraying is planned to begin from December 2025 and be completed by the end of March 2026. Actual spray dates will be weather-dependent and subject to contractor availability.

The rivers included in this programme are:

• Shag/Waihemo River from McKlew Road bridge to 1.5km downstream of Switchback Road bridge.
• Waianakarua River from 3km upstream of the State Highway (SH) 1 bridge for North and South Branch to 1km from the river mouth.
• Kakanui and Kauru River —

• • Kakanui River from 1km downstream
    of Dunrobin Road to Waiareka River
    confluence.
  • Kauru River from Kauru Hill Bridge to
    confluence of Kakanui River.
• Pomahaka River from Camperdown to Conical Hill.
• Taieri River from Moonlight Road
  Bridge to Pukerangi.
• Tuapeka River from 7km upstream to 500m downstream of Tuapeka River Dam. 

Maps of the spray areas are available below.

Please note: these maps show the indicative extent of the programme only. They do not identify the specific target sites within these boundaries.

Only confirmed target areas located on beaches and islands will be sprayed.

For any enquiries, please contact customerservices@orc.govt.nz or call 0800 474 082.