28 February 2005
Woody Weed Trains With Crusaders
Woody trains with the Crusaders
Weedbusters mascot Woody Weed today trained alongside the Crusaders at their Monday session in Christchurch.
Woody travelled down from Hamilton over the weekend to meet with the Crusaders for some training tips as part of his
preparation for New Zealand’s first Kiwi mascots race on 12 March at the Kiwiana Festival at Otorohanga.
The race will be a 100 metre dash (or waddle!) by nearly a dozen mascots, including Wiki (the Otorohanga Kiwi), Buzzy
Bee, Mooloo, Iron Brion, Harold the Giraffe, Reuben the Bear and friends.
Entrants will be handicapped to accommodate the various mascot costumes, taking into account the weight of their
costumes and mobility.
Woody Weed has already become a winner over the last year promoting Weedbusters, the national community and inter-agency
programme to raise awareness about the serious threat that invasive plants pose to New Zealand’s natural environments.
He has non-stop commitments in both the North and South Islands, visiting community events, workshops and schools and
teaching people about what they can do to stop the spread of weeds.
Weedbusters is supported by the Department of Conservation, Biosecurity New Zealand, Federated Farmers, Biodiversity New
Zealand, NZ Landcare Trust, Nursery and Garden Industry Association, NZ Biosecurity Institute, NZ Plant Protection
Society, and all unitary and regional councils in New Zealand.
ENDS