Students, teachers, Ngai Tāwhiri representatives and our staff rolled up their sleeves recently to plant 1400 native plants along the Waikanae Stream at Gisborne Airport.
Over 300 tamariki and rangatahi from Te Hapara, Cobham School, Gisborne Intermediate School and Gisborne Girls' High School mulched, dug holes, and planted harakeke and wharariki flax, koromiko and carex grass.
The Waikanae Stream is a significant awa as it runs through the city so it’s important that we do our bit to provide a healthier environment for native species to thrive in and help purify water entering the stream.
Our shared goal with Ngai Tāwhiri is to help restore the stream and improve the health of the awa and whenua.
Thelma Karaitiana of Ngai Tāwhiri said, “Restoring the land and awa needs our energy, the energy of the people to invigorate and initiate the action of mauri.
“These planting days with Eastland Port and Gisborne Airport are a great example of how to reduce those distances between corporation and community – the children do it for us and it becomes meaningful for generations.
“The children will remember that they helped reinvigorate the mauri of the land and the awa - I can’t think of anything more meaningful from where I stand.”
Ka mau te wehi to everyone who lent their hand for the day for the ultimate benefit of our community. We aren’t done yet and hope to carry on planting the remaining areas adjacent to the Waikanae stream and entrance to the airport over the coming years.
