Media Release

5 June 2012

Pohutukawa Coast trees free to good homes

This year’s Pohutukawa Coast tree giveaway includes a wide range of plant species.

For the 22nd year in a row Whangarei District Council and Refining New Zealand are giving away 1,400 young pohutukawa and 400 Kauri trees, free to keen growers.

For the second time, there will also be 400 Northland Hebe, 500 Flax, 400 Kowhai and 100 Coprosma available for residents of the Whangarei District to collect from Pohutukawa Coast Co-ordinators.

Pohutukawa Coast was originally set up in 1991 to help re-establish young Pohutukawa trees along our coastline. Whangarei District Council Parks and Recreation Manager Paul McDonald said the young trees and shrubs have been grown especially by Tawapou Coastal Native Nurseries at Tutukaka and will be available again this growing season. This will bring the total number of trees distributed since the project began to 47,200.

“Refining New Zealand donated $5,000 towards the cost of growing the pohutukawa, kauri and shrubs to a good size for planting out. Be in quick because there is a limited supply of plants,” Mr McDonald said.

“Plants are limited to two per ratepayer or Whangarei District resident to ensure they are distributed evenly. If you represent a large community group you can leave your contact details and if plants remain at the completion of the programme then more plants can be made available to you.”

Whangarei District Council Parks and Recreation Department and the Northern Branch of the Royal Forest and Bird Society will assist with the distribution of the trees and shrubs, as they have done in the past.

Whangarei District Council would once again like to thank everyone who has made this year’s pohutukawa, kauri and shrub planting possible. Special recognition goes to the volunteer distributors who provide this valuable service for the community year after year.

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