Pest Plant Hit Squad Kit

Pest Free Kaipātiki Restoration Network was set up by volunteers to create a unified entity to interact with local government and other bodies to ensure maximum volunteer effort could go to ecological restoration. PFK holds insurance for volunteer activity under its umbrella, manages the Health and Safety processes required by the local ranger, orders plants for the reserves, provides predator control and pest plant control equipment and supplies, via the PFK Tool Shed, promotes and publicises the work of local volunteers, and offers education and ongoing support to volunteer groups in everything from plant ID to signage and recruitment support. 

We’ve provided lots of useful information and guidance in this kit, which you may keep as reference for future need or distribute to members of your group. So what are the key points and actions?

Key Points and Actions

• Working outdoors, with tools, herbicides, and entering private properties, comes with risks to people’s health and safety. Please take time to understand all the risks present each day that you volunteer and how to manage or avoid them. Links to PFK's herbicide information and health and safety information are at the bottom of this page.

• Coordinating a volunteer group can be very rewarding, and if you have the time to invest in it, it will certainly pay off. Our Coordination/Handover Template is a great way to get a sense of the tasks involved. If no one in your group wants to take on the coordinator role, then you can split the tasks up amongst group members.

• 😉 That’s it!

The template below can help any activity leaders to plan the safety briefing they will give at the start of a volunteer session. Please add and delete items as requried.

• The risks we need to be aware of today are . . .

• Weather-related (sun, wind, rain, slips)

• Tools: Please carry tools by your side, not over your shoulder

• When tools are not in use, place them carefully in a central place

• Don't use tools (e.g. pod pluckers) near to power poles

• Lifting and carrying these objects . . .

• Handling herbicides . . .

• Terrain . . .

• Working on slopes . . .

• Plants, e.g. thorns, irritants, allergens . . .

• Insects . . .

• Dogs...

• Ask that anyone with health issues or injuries talks to you about appropriate tasks.

• PPE: Check that everyone is wearing appropriate clothing, e.g. covered shoes, long sleeves, sunhat, gloves, glasses or goggles, and provide these where possible.

• The first aid kit will be located at ...

• Communication and emergency management:

Ensure you have the names and mobile phone numbers of all attendeesCheck that there is at least one mobile phone with each group so that someone can call 111 if a serious incident occurs. Once first aid is administered and an ambulance on its way, please notify PFK of the incident immediately.

Please let the coordinator know if you feel unsafe or notice any additional risks while working.

• Are there any questions?

• Remember to advise if there is any accident, incident or near miss (use the online form on the contact page of the PFK website or let a PFK staff member know ASAP).

You can download a copy of this to take with you to working bees.

Part of the Hit Squad's work involves talking to residents about pest plants on their property. We recommend that door knocking is always done in pairs, to support your safety. 

Here are some tips from past and present group members:

• I ask myself what is the worst that is likely to happen. The most negative response I have had is a shout of "Go away" from the other side of the door. Sometimes people are clear they don't want anyone on their property, so we respect that and leave them alone.

• Take a deep breath, smile and be prepared to be pleasant and civil. Smiling makes a big difference, so make a conscious effort to smile when they open the door.

• When the door is opened, I say "Hi" and introduce myself (first name only), say I am a volunteer with PFK (or equivalent) and provide evidence e.g. turn round and show the logo on the back of the hi-viz vest or present a business card.

• Briefly state what I am trying to do -- engage the respondent by asking them if they know what Moth Plant is and explain why it is important to get rid of it. If the location is near a reserve, there is an opportunity to say that they will be protecting the native plants there. 

• Google translate can be very helpful if you have someone who doesn't understand English.

• Ask politely if it would be OK to look in the garden and surroundings. If the answer is "No" then say "Thank-you" and walk away. If I spoke to a tenant, I will try to follow up by contacting the property owner to see if they will engage in pest plant control.

• Always be respectful and be prepared to answer questions and make suggestions moving forwards. It is helpful to have leaflets on e.g. Moth Plant and have the Mandarin version with you also.

• If the person is still around when finished say "Thank You" and remember to close the gate on leaving.

• Be prepared to help the householder help themselves. 

• To get details and permission, use the PFK Hit Squad Survey form.

Protecting Kauri in Kaipātiki is of utmost importance. While PFK offers regular Kauri Protection training workshops, there are also helpful guides online where you can pick up the basics. Please take time to make sure you are well informed and resourced to maintain the best hygiene principles whenever you are working near Kauri. Sterigene and other equipment is available from PFK.

• Contact list template - for keeping a list of your group members and their contact details. Please share this with PFK so we can include these people in our emails to volunteers.

• Open and copy-paste the Recruitment Plan Template into a new document for you to fill in to start planning how you will recruit new volunteers to your group.

• Open and copy-paste the Coordination and Handover Plan Template into a new document for you to fill in. This was made as a coordination task list for Reserve Groups and could be helpful to share the tasks of coordinating the Hit Squad.

Google Drive is a good place to keep your documents, contact lists, photos and files, as access can easily be shared with other members of your group. If you would like PFK to set up a google folder for your group, please email team@pfk.org.nz

Please read and frequently refresh yourself with PFK's Health and Safety information and procedures and remember to report any accidents, incidents or near misses.