Antipodean Invader

Does anyone out there know what these things are? I call them "triffids" and fully expect to see them walking any day now. These were shot down along the coast today but we have them in the back garden too, grown from seed pods gathered from the coastal plants. Apparently they were introduced from either New Zealand or Australia years ago and are thriving right along the coast between here and Wexford. This year has been an especially good one for them. Our own ones have risen to 3.5 metres tall and have "flowered" like these ones here for the first time ever.
10.10pm. Almost time for bed and unfortunately no time left for commenting tonight.