Community volunteers dig in at Tainui Reserve planting day

About 40 people took part in a planting day at Hikanui Pā in Tainui Reserve last weekend, continuing ongoing work to repair severe damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

During the cyclone a large number of exotic trees were impacted around the historic pā site within the reserve, which Hastings District Council is charged with preserving.

This included about 30 exotic trees falling down, leaving other surrounding trees vulnerable and at risk of damaging the area that’s a registered archaeological site, containing features such as ditch and bank, terracing and pits.

In November last year following specialist advice, Council resolved to remove the remaining trees, in order to preserve the pā and keep visitors safe.

That work began in March this year, and once complete stabilisation matting was placed on the steeper areas where it was needed.

Last Saturday [July 6], volunteers began re-planting the area with the first of 4000 eco-sourced indigenous trees and shrubs that will be planted this winter.

Eco-sourced plants are propagated from naturally occurring wild populations in the same area, making them more resilient as they are adapted to the local conditions.

The planting day also included the ceremonial planting of a Tainui tree, gifted by indigenous revegetation and rongoā specialist Rob McGowan.

Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst thanked all those who had given up their time to help out.

“Our volunteers included a number of councillors, families and a large contingent from Rotary Havelock North, all of whom did an outstanding job making a start on this big task.

“This reserve is very important to our community, and its historic cultural significance makes it important to the region as a whole. The damage the cyclone caused was very concerning and a lot of work has gone into repairing the area so its restoration can begin.”

Tainui Reserve is now open for the public to visit but the interior of the pā site remains closed over winter.

16 July 2024

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