On Saturday 25 September 2021 about 40 people turned up to help plant spinifex and pīngao just south of the river. In the space of just one and a half hours we planted 4,000 plants.
Apparently council workers also planted another 1,000 yesterday a little south of this area.
A few folks — Council workers (on their own time) and locals — drilled holes, so all we had to do was get a plant from the root trainer tray, put it in the hole and tamp it in.
Volunteers came from Strathnaver, the village, Manakau and Levin, and even included local MP Terisa Ngobi and her family. Tiny tots did their bit too, along with some older children.
Over the next week Council workers will install fresh posts and tape to protect the new plantings, and will also create an offshoot track from the North track off Reay Mackay Grove to make it easier and quicker for pedestrians to get to the river. The success of the plantings has made it a bit of a long walk in the last year or so. That's been harder for families or folks bringing fishing gear down.
Again, many thanks to all those who have invested their time and energy in literally growing our community. Thanks too to the Council workers who give their own time to contribute.
