Thousands of native trees are flourishing on a regenerated block of land in Northland thanks to the hard work of volunteers battling weeds and replanting native species.
The Manawatawa Native Restoration Project, led by the Ngāi Tūpoto ki Motukaraka Trust, is one of 19 initiatives WWF-New Zealand, in partnership with the Tindall Foundation, is supporting this year through its Community Conservation Fund.
The hapū project is a long-term commitment to reafforest about 25 hectares of hill country that forms the catchment for a community water scheme on the Hokianga Harbour.
Following the harvesting of a small pine plantation in the 1980s, the area was colonised by wilding pines. Wilding pines spread quickly and grow faster than natives. Those pines were removed in 2021 and the area stripped bare except for a few small pockets of native bush.
During the past three years, the group has planted thousands of native trees to complement the stunning natural regeneration in the area.
More than 30 native species are now reestablishing including mānuka, kānuka, pūriri, porokaiwhiri, nikau, houhere, tōtara as well as several native grasses. Even a few kauri trees have been spotted!
Weed infestation is a major issue for this type of conservation project with Hokianga conditions providing an excellent breeding ground for all manner of invasive weeds.
“Funding from the WWF over the past two years has allowed us to employ local people to undertake weed control work primary removing tobacco weed, wilding pine and pampas,” says a spokesperson for the Trust, Paul White.
The restoration block sits next to an area of mature bush and the local bird life is helping with the job of spreading seeds.
The focus for the next few years for the Manawatawa Native Restoration Project will be weed control and assisting Papatuānuku to restore the whenua.
Volunteers have included Te Kura Taumata o Panguru school students, who have done some great mahi.
The WWF-New Zealand Community Conservation Fund supports local communities to run projects that conserve and restore Aotearoa’s natural environment, while also educating New Zealanders about its importance.