The
Rotary Club of Hawera, NZ had a working bee on the July 16 in conjunction with
the Te Rangatapu Trust at the local Ohawe Beach to plant native plants to
enhance the Waingongoro River.
The
river has a swimming hole which is very popular in the summer while its
populations of brown and rainbow trout draw fishermen from around Taranaki.
This
area is also considered a key native ecosystem by the Regional Council for its
significant indigenous biodiversity.
Teamwork
meant that 60 young and not so young helpers from all sectors of the community
planted 380 plants. Native plants included Toetoe, Purei, Taupata, Cabbage
Tree, Karaka, Corokis, Akeake, Broadleaf and Totara. These plants will help
restore the native vegetation cover to a degraded part of this river system and
bring back native birds to the area.
The
Ohawe Progressive Association and the Te Rangatapu Trust supplied tea, coffee
and a sausage sizzle which were greatly appreciated by the volunteers.
