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Free native plants for conservation projects and riparian planting are being offered to landowners throughout North Auckland and Northland in a scheme being backed and administered by the Integrated Kaipara Harbour Management Group (IKHMG).
The 350,000 plants available are being grown at Te Arai Native Nursery in Ocean View Road, Te Arai, a not for profit venture set up by the Te Uri O Hau Charitable Trust in November last year.
The nursery aims to grow 850,000 natives eventually, of which 500,000 will be sold commercially, enabling them to subsidise and supply 350,000 plants to the community for riparian planting.
Peter Wilson of Te Uri O Hau says there are currently five plant species available in the scheme – manuka, kanuka, cabbage tree, karamu and flax – but adds that the nursery is expanding, and more species could be made available in future if the demand is there.
IKHMG field programme leader Kathryne Easton, who handles applications for the plants, stresses that the offer is for riparian and conservation purposes only, “not for beautification or backyards”.
“Ideally, we would like to see plants used for the purposes of maintaining sediment on the land to prevent run-off to waterways, which results in sedimentation of our rivers, estuaries and harbours,” she says. “And also to improve water quality through shade and providing habitat for native species.”
There is a minimum order of 308 plants and they must be picked up from the Te Arai nursery.
Alternatively, the plants can be delivered, or delivered and planted by nursery staff, for a fee. The nursery can also recommend consultants to provide optimal planting plans.
The Te Arai Native Nursery was established with the help of funding from Lotto and ecological restoration scheme Reconnecting Northland, and it currently employs four people. Peter Wilson says staff are employed on condition that they do training courses so they can develop their full potential.
Some of the subsidised plants are being supplied to Reconnecting Northland, others to Living Water, a joint venture between DOC and Fonterra, and the nursery is in talks with Auckland Council about the possibility of providing plants for its Million Trees project at Atiu Creek regional park.
Info: kathryne@total-ag.com
