Tawapou Farm Planting 2024

On the 29th of June 2024 - Matariki Weekend - a community planting day took place at Tawapou Farm.

Approximately 94% (124 hectares) of Tawapou is protected by an Open Space QEII covenant, which ensures the perpetual preservation of its natural features. Tawapou features more than 3km of pristine coastline and is home to a number of rare and endangered plant and animal species. This year’s planting completed the last wetland protection that is connected to the stream which runs through the entire covenanted land to the sea.

This is a significant area in the restoration work going on as this wetland feeds the main creek which runs the entire length of the property and out into the Pacific Ocean. We know from previous plantings we have undertaken that the recovery of water ways starts immediately.Survival and growth rates on the plantings that have been done are exceeding expectations, according to Dr Robin Simcock’s preliminary report, which is due to be updated with continuing work to be done before Christmas. Somewhere close to 150,000 plants have now been established on the 125ha of covenanted land. Along with consistent pest trapping and weed control we are making significant progress in returning the land back to nature, encouraging biodiversity and building a haven for native fauna and flora.

This year, we hoped to plant 8,000+ trees, shrubs and wetland plants. Between 70 and 80 volunteers turned up with spade in hand to surround the last remaining Raupo wetland with native plants. A record number of 7521 plants went in the ground in the space of a few hours.

One of the most important and rewarding parts of the day is the gathering afterwards. Delicious food was provided by a number of amazing women from the community, some of whom volunteered their time on the day to coordinate the lunch and many have been involved each time for a number of years.

Lunch was followed by this years guest speaker - Dean Baigent-Mercer. Dean is a regular guest on RNZ and a conservation advocate throughout the country. Dean Baigent-Mercer’s entertaining and informative talk was also somewhat depressing, but carried the message that we need to do all we can to continue the fight against the loss of our biodiversity and natural habitats.

It is often hard for people of Aotearoa to relate to our wildlife because too little of it is left to be seen. But for those who do have interactions with our native flora and fauna it can be a life changing experience. We must continue toprotect existing habitats and create more which will improve the chances of saving what we have left.

Community events like this are vital to the ongoing survival of our natural world, they create and foster kaitiakitanga in our local areas.

It wouldn’t be possible without all the incredible people who gave their time to be a part of this, so from the bottom of the 7521 holes that were dug THANK YOU!