High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Gorse (Ulex europaeus) is a major invasive plant species in New Zealand and millions of dollars are spent on its control. Gorse is one of the most widely recognised agricultural weeds in New Zealand. It covers 700000 hectares (1700000 acres) at varying densities a total of 5% of the land area of New Zealand when excluding existing indigenous forest, vegetated sub-alpine and alpine areas.