August 5, 2014

Dig in alongside Army, Massey at upcoming planting day

The first Kahuterawa Stream planting day is scheduled for Saturday August 16 and everyone’s invited to dig in for the cause.

The stream-side planting is part of the Lower Kahuterawa Biodiversity Project; a partnership between Horizons Regional Council, Massey University, the New Zealand Defence Force and the C.T. Keeble Memorial Forest Trust to maintain and enhance the biodiversity values of the Kahuterawa Stream.

Around 3,000 native plants have been earmarked for the site and Horizons environmental management officer Neil Mickleson is encouraging everyone to get involved.

“This planting is an exciting continuation of work to restore the natural environment and habitat once unique to the Kahuterawa Stream,” Mr Mickleson says.

“It’s part of a 10 year programme that includes scientific studies around stream management and specific studies around restoration planting that will provide some seriously important information for future work.

“It’s really fantastic having that expertise from Massey University, particularly the input from plant ecologist Jill Rapson and senior lecturer in physical geography Ian Fuller,” he says.

The Lower Kahuterawa Stream has been identified as a site of significance for rare and threatened native fish including the banded kokopu, giant kokopu, short jaw kokopu, koaro and red-finned bully.

The surrounding area is also home to a nationally endangered carnivorous land snail and numerous native bird species.

“It’s so important that we work together to maintain and enhance places like the Kahuterawa Stream and the more people that we can get involved in that restoration the better it will be,” Mr Mickleson says.

Planting starts at 10am at the Kahuterawa Bush Reserve on Tennent Drive and will conclude at midday with a barbeque lunch. Those interested are encouraged to bring their own spade, gumboots and gloves.

ENDS

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