Sea spurge (Euphorbia paralias)
Sea spurge is a highly invasive coastal weed that has been found on Northland beaches.
Early detection and reporting will help stop sea spurge from establishing in Te Taitokerau.
Think you’ve seen it?
DO NOT TOUCH IT. The sap can cause skin irritation or temporary blindness, and you could accidently spread the seeds via clothes or equipment.
Please report your sighting immediately:
- Take clear photos of the plant
- Take a photo of the location. In the photo, include an identifiable marker or landmark if possible.
- Record your location as accurately as possible. Take note of the GPS coordinates if you can or use Google Maps to mark your location and screen shot those details.
- Contact the 24/7 MPI Hotline on 0800 80 99 66 or complete the online reporting form at: report.mpi.govt.nz
Sea spurge is highly invasive - if not controlled, it has the potential to spread very quickly and dominate large areas of the beach and dunes.
It can take over the areas where native plants grow, destroying the habitat for bird species that nest and feed on the beach. It can alter sand movement and natural dune processes.
It has sap that is toxic to humans and animals that can cause skin irritation or temporary blindness.
An adult plant can produce between 5000 and 20,000 buoyant and salt-tolerant seeds that spread along the coast by ocean currents.
Sea spurge looks like a small shrub and typically grows up to 50 centimetres in height, but it can reach up to one metre.
It has tightly packed leaves that are bluish green in colour. The stem is often red at the base.
It has yellowish green petal less flowers that grow in clusters. Its stalkless and hairless leaves are tightly-packed and approximately 5-20mm long and 2-15mm wide.
Flowering adult sea spurge plant and seedlings.
As of November 2025, sea spurge has been found at seven locations in Northland: Poutō peninsula, the Waipoua River mouth, Mitimiti, Ahipara, Waipapakauri, Hukatere, and Kapowairua (Spirits Bay).
The plants in all of these locations have been controlled as part of a joint management programme between iwi, hapū, the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Department of Conservation and Council.
The sites are searched every four months to detect and remove any new seedlings. Surveillance of Northland’s coastline is also being undertaken, focused primarily on the west coast, to detect any new locations outside of the known sites.
DO NOT TOUCH IT. The sap can cause skin irritation or temporary blindness, and you could accidently spread the seeds via clothes or equipment.
Please report your sighting immediately:
- Take clear photos
- Record your location as accurately as possible. Take note of the GPS coordinates if you can or use Google Maps to mark your location.
- Contact the 24/7 MPI Hotline on 0800 80 99 66 or complete the online reporting form at: report.mpi.govt.nz
- Do not pull the plant out.
