Media Release

Pohutukawa Coast - free trees!

Whangarei District Council and Refining NZ are once again giv­ing away 1,400 young Pohutukawa and 400 Kauri trees, free to keen growers.

This is the third year in the pro­gramme's 23-year history that 500 Northland hebe, 400 flax, 400 kowhai, 100 coprosma sp. and 100 pseudopanax lessonii have also been made available for resi­dents of 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 50,500.

Refining NZ 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.

“There is a limit of two plants 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.

If you would like to take part in this exciting project, please con­tact one of the coordinators listed here and arrange to pick up your free tree.
• ·                     City dwellers and people living in the north of the District should contact Bo­tanica Whangarei in First Ave between 10am and 4pm 7 days a week on 09 430 4200 extension 8738 or 027 477 0518.
• ·                     Tutukaka Coast residents may pick up trees from Tawapou Coastal Natives Nursery on 09 434 3971.
• ·                     Southern residents may pick up trees from Nola McCullough on 09 432 8332.
• ·                     People living to the north-east and in Whangarei Heads can pick them up from Alan Wil­lis and Rona Mahy-Willis on 09 436 2808.

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.

Invitation to Pohutukawa Coast Programme planting day

Date:               25 June

Time:              10:30am

Location:          Mount Manaia – the start of the walking track.  Carpark just below the Mt Manaia Club.

Invited:             Whangarei Heads School, Parua Bay School and Onerahi School.  His Worship the Mayor,  WDC Councillors, Refining NZ representatives, WDC representatives, Pohutukawa Coast Programme Volunteers,  Recreational Services.

Reason for Event:

Pohutukawa Coast Programme has been run by WDC since 1991, when it was set up with the aim of increasing the numbers of Pohutukawa along Whangarei Districts coastline.  Over the years the programme has evolved and now donates a range of native trees and shrubs for planting throughout the District.  The programme’s goal is not only to increase pohutukawa on the coast, but increase the number of trees in the District and to improve the green corridors that enable animal and bird life to move between larger natural habitats within our District.

Refining NZ has been a sponsor of this programme since the start, assisting with the growing on of the plant.  They are committed to the programme in the foreseeable future.

This year we will be donating our 50,000th plant, which is a fantastic milestone.  We want to celebrate this achievement by holding this planting day.  Holding it out at Whangarei Heads, Mt Manaia, links back to the programmes original purpose, planting Pohutukawa along our coast.  It also ties in nicely with our sponsor, Refining NZ who are directly across the harbour from this site.  With the future in mind, we have invited the local schools to this event, to foster the relationship between the children, the environment and our programme.  We will also donate a number of native plants to these schools.

Draft programme for the day:

10:30am               Welcome and housekeeping

10:35am               Speech from senior representative from WDC

10:45am               Speech from Refining NZ representative

10:55am               First plant planted by WDC, Refining NZ and student representative

11:00am               Planting begins

12:00md               Food and drinks at carpark

12:30pm               Event finished

ENDS

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