Media Release

Release date: Monday March 14 2016

Community planting big success

The new vegetation planted on Titirangi, Kaiti Hill last year is firmly taking root and can be considered a big success in revitalising the reserve.

In July last year, members of the community participated in replanting trees on the harvested Pine forest site as part of the Titirangi reserve restoration project.

As a result, a majority of plants have taken root and the reserve is showing the benefits of everyone’s hard work.

Community and Recreation manager, Andrew White says “There is significant growth over all the areas where the community replanted, the weather came to the party and its looking really green and lush up there”

“The weather was predicted to be extremely dry over summer, so our weather related plant losses are much lower than we were expecting.”

Last year the Rakaiatane Road side of the reserve was harvested late and needed to be cleared before replanting work could be done. Now that this site is cleared, replanting days will be held again in July.

This project is part of the $1.3m project to restore the reserve in co-management with tangata whenua, Ngati Oneone.

Replanting is the second phase in breathing new life in the reserve. A plan for future management is being developed for consultation in May.

The management plan will outline methods for restoring native plants and birds, how we can protect archaeology and celebrate historically and culturally significant sites. It will also look out how we can improve current facilities, activities and tracks.

Community planting days for this year will be advertised in June on council’s website and Facebook page.

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