Bay of Plenty Regional Council is trialling an innovative new solution to reducing mangrove spread in Tauranga Harbour this week -- a two tonne hovercraft mower.
Auckland-based company Fieldmaster designed the vehicle, a purpose-built hovercraft fitted with a six cutting blades, mangrove seedling mowing unit and a maximum mowing speed of 20km/hr. It's the first of its kind in New Zealand.
"[The Bay of Plenty] Regional Council tendered out the design and build of a mechanical mangrove seedling control option that won't leave deep tracks or significantly disturb other wildlife in the harbour," says the council's regional direction and delivery committee chair Paula Thompson.
The Council budgeted $361,000 for the hovercraft to be designed, built and tested. It is expected to cost $180,000 per year for annual mowing of mangrove seedlings at consented sites.
Newshub
