Lake Rotoroa is a small (54 ha), shallow (maximum depth 6 m), urban lake which has been subject to repeated chemical weed control since 1957. The distribution and abundance of aquatic macrophytes in the lake were studied in six SCUBA surveys between 1977 and 1986. During this period three applications of diquat herbicide resulted in periodic decreases in submerged vascular plant growths in the lake. Macrophytes were present over c. 80% of the lake bed to a maximum depth of 5–5.5 m during the period of study. Emergent macrophytes, particularlyBaumea articulata, Iris pseudacorus, Eleocharis sphacelata, andTypha orientalis, and floating‐leavedNymphaea, were recorded around c. 50% of the lakeshore. In 1977 the most abundant submerged vascular plants wereLagarosiphon majorandElodea canadensiswhich were both recorded at all sampling sites.Egeria densa, which was first recorded in the lake in 1977, spread at the expense of these species to become the dominant vascular plant in the lake by 1986. In May 1986 it was present on all sampling profiles (35) and occupied an estimated 35% of the lake's vegetation ‐whercasLagarosiphonandElodeaoccupied an estimated 6% and < 1%, of the vegetation respectively. Extensive beds of charophytes(Chara corallina, Nitella hooked, andN. pseudoflabellata)persisted in the lake during the period of study. In May 1986 charophytes occupied an estimated 52% of the vegetation, their abundance apparently enhanced by selective herbicidal control of vascular species.