Volunteers are invited to join Porirua City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, and community-led restoration group Ngahere Korowai for a planting day in Belmont Regional Park on Saturday, 29 June. Thousands of native grasses and trees will be planted to restore the mauri (life force) of the land and waterways on the western side of the regional park, aligning with the maramataka (Māori lunar calendar) and Matariki.
Porirua City Council Manager Harbour & Resource Recovery, Nigel Clarke, is hopeful the success of last year’s planting day will continue with even more volunteers this Matariki. “Last year the community came together to plant 4000 native plants behind Waihora Park in Waitangirua, with the help of close to 80 volunteers and several school groups,” says Clarke. “This year, the restoration effort is once again centred around part of the upper catchment area of Porirua Stream, an important waterway in the region, and we hope to see many more community members join us to support this kaupapa.”
Greater Wellington western parks team leader Jeremy Paterson highlights the environmental significance of the planting. “Planting along the banks of waterways and gullies helps to filter out the sediment that flows downstream when it rains,” he says. “Over the coming years, these new plants will help to restore our native ecosystem and ensure the water that flows into Porirua Harbour is clean. We are gradually covering the former grazed areas of the Belmont Regional Park with native plants and trees, with a vision of thriving native bush and wildlife.”
The planting day will take place on Saturday, 29 June, from 12-4pm at Waitangirua Farm, 44 Waihora Cres. There is vehicle access and limited parking available up the Waitangirua Farm driveway. Additional parking is available on Waihora Cres or in the Waihora Park car park, where vans will provide rides up to the planting site.
He rau ringa e oti ai – Many hands make light work. If you would like to participate, please email [email protected] with your name and the number of people attending. For more details, visit the Greater Wellington website.