• Plant the first of 14,000 native seedlings in a community-led 1.5 hectare floodplain restoration project.
• Be one of the first to walk on a future public pathway on privately owned land.
• Learn about threatened and rare stream species.
• Feed eels, including 60+ year old Iggy, and pat two friendly kunekune pigs.
• Join us for kai afterwards. The bar may be open (to be confirmed).
What to bring:
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• Gumboots and a spare pair of shoes (for the club afterwards).
• Gardening gloves if you want to help plant a limited number of seedlings (optional).
• Children and friendly dogs on a leash are welcome (children do not need to be leashed).
• Most of the 1 km walk is flat; however, there is a medium sloped hill (optional).
• If it has been raining in the days before the event, there may be mud-related pram/bicycle/wheelchair/accessibility issues.
Why?
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• Connect communities, nature, and mana whenua.
• Acknowledge Te Kawerau ā Maki, who are mana whenua and were disposed of this land by the crown.
• Reverse declining biodiversity.
- Restore native bush to bring back flocks of keystone species like Kererū,
- Shade streams to benefit vulnerable taonga freshwater species, including kākahi (freshwater mussles) and tuna (long-finned eels).
- Connect a native tree corridor (except roads) from Auckland's west coast to the Waitemata Harbour along Wai Horotiu (Oratia stream) for the first time in over a century.
• Prevent and mitigate climate disruption.
• Restore a significant floodplain, which caused devastation to downstream homes in Sunnyvale during the Auckland Anniversary floods.
• Make space for half of a future council pathway to connect the award-winning Oratia path to the village it is named after.
• Work together to make the world better without waiting for others to do it for us.
More info
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• This is a joint project between Little Kaurimu Farm (the Oosterman-Beckers family) and the Oratia & Waiatarua Wildlife Project.
• Join the Oratia & Waiatarua Wildlife Project at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/nativewildlifeproject
• The Oosterman-Beckers whanau offered the land back to Te Kawerau ā Maki, but the Iwi said not to waste money on a subdivision money and instead restore the land. The family also offered the land for free to the Auckland Council, who originally wanted it, but after the Auckland floods, changed their mind. So the family agreed to restore the land themselves with the help of a private funder.
• Read about the first stage of this project:
https://www.thepost.co.nz/environment/350375607/west-auckland-native-forest-set-return-thanks-mystery-donor
• 30% of Little Kaurimu Farm is being protected forever in a covenant in line with the 30 x 30 global project. (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30_by_30)
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