Major planting at Kaitoke - 1500 donated trees to be planted by volunteers

1500 native trees and plants have been donated for a major planting project to enhance an area of the Kaitoke Regional Park. The planting project is being undertaken by the Greater Wellington Regional Council and has received funding for the plants from the Honda TreeFund. Honda staff and customers will participate in the planting which will be held on Saturday 19 August 2006.

The planting site is located adjacent to the car park at the Te Marua entrance of Kaitoke Regional Park, approximately six kilometres north of Upper Hutt. Upper Hutt Regional Councillor Rex Kirton, says, "The trees to be planted are all locally grown from seed collected in Kaitoke Regional Park. The planting will improve the environment of the area for locals and visitors while also enhancing the park's biodiversity."

Mr Kirton says the planting site will eventually form the pleasant start of a new track which will allow direct access from the road to the 'amphitheatre', an open space popular with dog walkers. The planting site will also provide another link to the three-hour Ridge Track between the Te Marua and the Pakuatahi Forks areas of the park. Mr Kirton says the support of Honda TreeFund has made a great difference to the Kaitoke Regional Park planting and many other Greater Wellington Regional Council projects.

"This is the second year of the partnership between Honda TreeFund and Greater Wellington, a partnership which has resulted in many thousands more native trees being planted around the region than would otherwise have been possible.

"In addition to this planting at Kaitoke Regional Park Honda TreeFund has also funded plantings in Queen Elizabeth Park, Battle Hill Farm Forest Park and other wetland and streamside sites." During the 2005/06 fiscal year Honda TreeFund donated more than $59,000 to the Greater Wellington Regional Council. The purpose of the national Honda TreeFund programme is to reinvest in the community by funding the planting of native trees to offset some of the motor vehicle emissions and their impact on the environment.

Honda donates funding for 10 native trees each time a new Honda vehicle is sold. Since the project's inception two years ago, the Honda TreeFund has generated enough funds for more than 181,000 native trees to be planted across the country. Honda Cars Wellington agent, Richard Hall says the Kaitoke Regional Park planting is an ideal local example of projects the Honda TreeFund is involved in.

"The Kaitoke Regional Park is an important local area and the planting project will help rejuvenate it and provide an improved environment for locals and visitors to enjoy," says Mr Hall. Honda Cars Hutt Valley agent, Dean Blair is expecting a strong turn out for the planting on Saturday.

"This is a great project and we are very proud to be involved," says Mr Blair. "We will have a large number of staff and customers there on the day to help ensure the planting at Kaitoke is a success."

ENDS

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