PFHW Annual Moth Plant Pod Competition is back for 2026! We have changed things up a bit this year and now have a points based system; an individual pod will be worth 5 points while a seedling is worth 1 point, and keep your eyes peeled as there will be opportunities throughout the competition to gain bonus points! We have also changed the ‘Open’ category to a ‘Community’ category! This is where people from all over Howick can work together in teams of up to 10 (no more than four adults) even if they go to different schools. Help us make a different for te taiao and stop the spread of this pest plant!
Have you seen this weed?
Moth plant is spreading quickly, killing our native plants. Help your local community get on top of controlling this pest plant and win some prize money for your efforts!
Two categories – preschool and open (includes primary, intermediate, and secondary)
If you are a student in the Howick ward, grab some friends and gather as many moth plant pods as you can – the team or individual with the most pods and small vines pulled out by the roots wins!
OUR STORIES
OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
Record-Breaking Moth Plant Pod Competition Unites Community
This yearβs Moth Plant Pod Competition has officially come to a close β and with it, a record-breaking effort from across the Howick Ward.
WithΒ 42 teams registeredΒ (including 5 early childhood centres, 18 schools, and 19 open category teams), the 2025 competition saw an incredible:
- 72,922 pods and 173,380 seedlings removed
- 246,302 total plants removedΒ β aΒ 92.92% increaseΒ on last year
- An estimatedΒ 6.1 billion moth plant pod seedsΒ stopped from entering the environment
What made 2025 so special was not only the numbers, but the deepening of community involvement. This year, entire schools were encouraged to register, giving tamariki and rangatahi the opportunity to champion environmental education and action throughout their wider communities.
Top Performers by Category:
ECE:
- 3rd: Pakuranga Baptist Kindergarten (844)
- 2nd: Cascades Kindergarten (4,397)
- 1st: KiNZ Mission Heights (5,862)
Schools:
- 4th: BOS Pod Challengers, Baverstock Oaks (4,561)
- 3rd: Go the Waka, Howick College (7,032)
- 2nd: Howick Primary Moth Busters (12,275)
- 1st: Pakuranga Heights School βΒ 16,954 pods & seedlings removed
Open Category:
- 5th: Bye Bye Moth Pod (3,910)
- 4th: Mission Green (11,662)
- 3rd: CFBC (34,406)
- 2nd: Pak Heights Pod Squad (51,963) + thickest vine (9cm!)
- 1st: Moth Out β a staggeringΒ 71,713 pods & seedlings removed
We also acknowledged two remarkable individuals βΒ Beccy LongΒ andΒ Geoff StottΒ β for their long-term contributions and advocacy.
This competition continues to grow stronger each year, thanks to passionate volunteers, educators, and eco-conscious families. Many teams will carry their momentum forward as part of theΒ Pest Free Howick Ward Halos, helping our communities flourish free of invasive weeds.
We canβt wait to see what 2026 brings.
NgΔ mihi nui to everyone who took part β you are the heart of this movement.
ππΏ2024 Moth Plant Competition Results!πΏπ
We are thrilled to share the final results of our Moth Plant Competition for the 2024 season!
π Final Numbers:
- 68,548 pods collected π±
- 59,559 small vines collected πΏ
- Conservative approximate total of 2,132,584,600 moth plant seeds that will not germinate in the future! π«π±
π Preschool Category:
- π₯ 3rd Place: New Shoots Kaitiaki of PapatΕ«Δnuku with 728 pods and vines
- π₯ 2nd Place: KiNZ Mission Heights with 3,233 pods and small vines
- π₯ 1st Place: Cascades Kindergarten with 4,438 pods and small vines π
π Open Category:
- 10th Place: Bree Toatelegese with 2,962 pods and small vines (Saint Kentigern College)
- 9th Place: M&M with 3,154 pods and small vines (BDSC)
- 8th Place: Fred Freddy Freddrick with 3,270 pods and small vines (BDSC)
- 7th Place: Boy3 with 3,539 pods and small vines (Howick College)
- 6th Place: Ocean with 3,936 pods and small vines (Somerville Intermediate)
- 5th Place: Mothzilla 3.0 with 6,688 pods and small vines (BDSC)
- 4th Place: High Altitude Pickers with 9,482 pods and small vines (Howick College)
- 3rd Place: Bye Bye Moth Plants with 10,086 pods and small vines (Somerville Intermediate School)
- 2nd Place: HPS Moth Busters with 21,967 pods and small vines (Howick Primary)
- 1st Place: Pakuranga Heights Pod Squad with 35,811 pods and small vines (Pakuranga Heights School) π₯
π Special Awards:
- Overall School Winner: Pakuranga Heights School
- Thickest Vine (11cm): Pakuranga Heights Pod Squad
- Most Small Vines by the Root (19,961): Pakuranga Heights Pod Squad
- Top Primary School Team: Pakuranga Heights Pod Squad
- Top Intermediate Team: Bye Bye Moth Plants
- Top High School Team: High Altitude Pickers
- Special Prize: for best new team: Ocean
- Special Prize: For their creative anonymous community hotline: Pakuranga Heights Pod Squad
We are always so impressed by the mahi our community puts into protecting our environment. ππ We can’t wait to see you all again next year!
π¦πΏ Moth Plant Competition 2023 Results! πΏπ¦
We are thrilled to announce the incredible results of this year’s Moth Plant Competition! ππ
- π Overall School Winner: Farm Cove Intermediate School – 25,074 pods and small vines
- π± Most Small Vines by Roots: Pak Heights Pods Squad – 12,373 small vines [Pakuranga Heights School]
- πΏ Thickest Vine: PVS Environment Hero – 10 cm wide [Point View School]
Congratulations to all the participating teams for their outstanding efforts in eradicating the invasive moth plant and protecting our environment! ππ Together, we have made a significant impact by preventing a conservative estimate of 93,454,900Β seeds from germinating. Well done!
π₯ Pre-school Category:
- 1st Place: Team Mission Heights – 6,750 pods & small vines [KiNZ Mission Heights]
- 2nd Place: J Squad – 2,618 pods & small vines [Pakuranga Kindergarten]
- 3rd Place: Team Cascades – 2,083 pods & small vines [Cascades Kindertarten]
π₯ Primary School Category:
- 1st Place: Pak Heights Pod Squad – 20,774 pods & small vines [Pakuranga Heights School]
- 2nd Place: Evergreen Enviro Team – 15,138 pods & small vines [Macleans Primary School]
- 3rd Place: PVS Environment Hero – 12,363 pods & small vines [Point View School]
π₯ Intermediate School Category:
- 1st Place: SJ Moth Plant Killers – 13,360 pods & small vines [Farm Cove Intermediate School]
- 2nd Place: P.O.D. (Podders Of Doom) – 6,962 pods & small vines [Farm Cove Intermediate School]
- 3rd Place: The Daleks – 1,404 pods & small vines [Farm Cove Intermediate School]
π₯ Secondary School Category:
- 1st Place: 3 Blind Mice – 5,249 pods & small vines [Botany Downs Secondary College]
- 2nd Place: Mothzilla 2.0 – 1,064 pods & small vines [Botany Downs Secondary College]
- 3rd Place: Howick College – 890 pods & small vines [Howick College]
π Spot Prize:
- New Shoots Pakuranga – New Shoots Pakuranga
- SPS Pod Hunters – Shelly Park School
- HIS Green Team – Howick Intermediate School
We would like to extend our appreciation to every school and team that took part in this important initiative. Your dedication to environmental conservation is inspiring. Let’s keep up the fantastic work and make a difference together! ππΏ
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Results are in for the Howick ward schools Moth Plant Competition 2022!
Incredible mahi from the teams – a massive collective total of 89,738 pods and small vines – new records set for most vines collected by a team 7,637 and overall winning team total of 15,268 pods & small vines!
Huge congratulations to all the teams who participated, together you have prevented a conservative 62,816,600 seeds that will not have the chance to germinate. (based on 700 seeds per pod & per small vine – vines if left to grow produce many pods so that is why we say conservative!)
Hope to see you back next year!!
OVERALL WINNER – Pakuranga Heights POD Squad – Pakuranga Heights Primary, 15,268 (8,793 pods & 6,475 vines)! MOST SMALL VINES BY ROOTS – Maclean’s Evergreen Enviro Team – Macleans Primary, 7,637 THICKEST VINE – Pakuranga Heights POD Squad – Pakuranga Heights Primary, 7.5cm PRESCHOOLS – 1ST PLACE – KiNZ Kaitiaki – KiNZ Mission Heights, 5,122 pods & small vines! PRESCHOOLS – 2ND PLACE – Cascades Kindergarten, 2,442 pods & small vines! PRESCHOOLS – 3RD PLACE – Team JSquad – Pakuranga Kindergarten, 2245 pods & small vines! INTERMEDIATE – 1ST PLACE – Team SJSJ Moth Plant Killers – Farm Cove Intermediate, 7,552 pods & small vines! INTERMEDIATE – 2ND PLACE – Team Howick Intermediate, 1,409 pods & small vines! INTERMEDIATE – 3RD PLACE – Team Pod Pest Pickers – Farm Cove Intermediate, 986 pods & small vines! SECONDARY – 1ST PLACE – Team Mothzilla – Botany Downs Secondary College, 4,105 pods! SECONDARY – 2ND PLACE – Team Prella – Botany Downs Secondary College, 3,024 pods & small vines! SECONDARY – 3RD PLACE – Team EC Enviro Club – Edgewater College, 1,280 pods! PRIMARY – 1ST PLACE – Team Pakuranga Heights POD Squad – Pakuranga Heights Primary, 15,268 pods & small vines! PRIMARY – 2ND PLACE – Maclean’s Evergreen Enviro Team – Macleans Primary, 9,654 pods & small vines! PRIMARY – 3RD PLACE – The Planet Protectors – Riverina Primary, 7,818 pods & small vines! PRIMARY – 4TH PLACE – Team Howick Primary Mothbusters – Howick Primary, 5,280 pods & small vines! PRIMARY – 5TH PLACE – Team Free Range Kids – Home School, 4,809 pods & small vines! PRIMARY – 6TH PLACE – Team CFBC – Home School, 3,020 pods & small vines! PRIMARY – 7TH PLACE – Team Star of the Sea Enviro – Our Lady Star of the Sea School, 2,026 pods! PRIMARY – 8TH PLACE – Team President Sussy Baka – Cockle Bay School, 1,855 pods! PRIMARY – 9TH PLACE – Team TnT – Wakaaranga Primary, 1,778 pods & small vines! PRIMARY – 10TH PLACE – Team Byebyemothplants – Cockle Bay School, 1,694 pods! SPOT PRIZES: Team PB Kids – Pakuranga Baptist Kindergarten, 575 pods & small vines! Team New Shoots Children’s Centre Pakuranga, 565 pods! Team Moth Plant Exterminators – Riverina Primary, 1045 pods! Team Cool Culver Kids – Cockle Bay School, 900 pods! Team The Dotterel Conservation Society – Saint Kentigern College, 931 pods! Team Phoenix the weed killer – Sancta Maria College, 716 pods! Team Moth-ers – Saint Kentigern College, 541 pods! Team Sancta’s Moth Pod Busters – Sancta Maria College, 500 pods! RECOGNITION AWARDS: Team Moth on – Sunnyhills School, 470 pods & small vines! Team Moth Plant Eliminator – Cockle Bay School, 413 pods! Team Heartily – Riverina Primary, 375 pods! Team The Moth Busters – Wakaaranga School, 282 pods & small vines! Team Nature Protectors – Riverina Primary, 232 pods & small vines! Team Ormi-Rangers – Ormiston Primary, 110 pods & small vines! Team Mount Rockstars – Riverina Primary, 80 pods! Team The Moth Busters – Farm Cove Intermediate & Elm Park Primary, 225 pods & small vines! Team JetLAG – Botany Downs Secondary School, 221 pods! Team Moth Plant Death Duo – Howick College, 190 pods!π Howick ward schools Moth Plant Competition 2021 – results are in!Β π
Through our hard work and dedication, we collected a whopping 54,890 pods and small vines! At a conservative 700 seeds estimated per pod that is 3.8 million seeds that will not germinate!
To give you an idea of previous years:
- Competition 2018 – 1,083 pods
- Competition 2019 – 9,989 pods and small vines by roots
- Competition 2020 – cancelled due to Covid-19
- Competition 2021 – 54,890 pods and small vines by roots!
ππ We are so proud of you all!!!
ππ Remember Every Pod & Small Vine Counts! #Mothplantcomp2021
And the winners are …
π Secondary Schools:
- 1st – Team Mel and TraceyοΌ Botany Downs Secondary College – 8,876 pods!
- 2nd – Team EC EC, Edgewater College – 4,838 pods!
- 3rd – Team Mitonchondria, Botany Downs Secondary College – 1,855 pods!
π Intermediate Schools:
- 1st – Team The Saplings, Howick Intermediate School – 2,515 pods and small vines by roots
- 2nd – Team Catch’m All, Farm Cove Intermediate School – 1,100 pods
- 3rd – Team Miss Dubey & Mr Read, Somerville Intermediate School – 723 pods
π Primary Schools:
- 1st – Team Super Garden Protectors, Riverina Primary School – 3,833 pods and small vines!
- 2nd – Team West Kids, Cockle Bay School – 2,420 pods!
- 3rd – Team HPS Mothbusters – Howick Primary School – 2,388 pods!
π Preschools:
- 1st – Toddler Moth Plant Hunters, New Shoots Pakuranga & Just Kidz Flat Bush – 1,777 pods and small vines!
- 2nd – Pakuranga Baptist Kindergarten Kindy Kids – 395 pods and small vines!
- 3rd – Cascades Kindergarten – 338 pods and small vines!
π Thickest VineΒ – Pakuranga Heights POD Squad – 13cm wide & 5cm wide!
π Most Small Vines by Roots – The Saplings, Howick Intermediate – 2,000!
Special thanks to Howick Local Board for their support, this competition would not be possible without it, and to our wonderful prizegiving hosts Howick Primary. π
PAST EVENTS
Teacher and Team Key Documents
- Auckland Council Moth Plant Flyer (Simplified Chinese, PDF 649k)
- Auckland Council Moth Plant Flyer (English, PDF 579k)
- DOC Moth Plant Wanted Poster (PDF 226k)
- Forest & Bird Weed Guide (PDF 10M)
- Inquiry Planning – Moth Plant Pod Competition (MS DOCX 2M)
- Instructions on Using Herbicide Gel (MS DOCX 4M)
- Investigating Pest Plants in Your Greenspace (DOC, PDF 9M)
- Letter to Residents (About Pest Plants, MS DOCX 564k)
- Letter to Residents (MS DOCX 561k)
- Suggestions for Safe and Effective Moth Plant Eradication (MS DOCX 1M)
Β© Copyright 2024 - PEST FREE HOWICK WARD
A Howick Local Board funded project