It’s been a bumper planting season in Māngere this year! Since taking out the undesirable title of suburb with the least number of trees in Auckland earlier this year, the ngahere is starting to grow again. This Winter, over 17 different community planting events have been held in Māngere, with more than 763 volunteers turning out to plant a grand total of 22,182 plants and trees in our area!
Planting events have seen the ngahere grow in pockets all over Māngere, including along the Harania, Te Ara-rata, Oruarangi and Pūkaki Streams, on Te Pane o Mataoho / Te Ara Pueru / Māngere Mountain, in local schools, at Ambury Farm and Watercare, at Papatūānuku Kōkiri Marae, and in Peninsular Park and Ashgrove Reserve. Most of the plantings have been of native trees (karaka, taraire, rewarewa, kahikatea, pūriri, kōwhai, oioi, pōhutukawa and sedges) while some have also included fruit trees, herbs and rongoa (medicinal plants).
The planting days have been a great opportunity for local Māngere residents, schools and organisations to roll up their sleeves, get some fresh air and exercise, and feel like they’re doing something good for their community. The new plants and trees will provide a whole host of benefits, including; cleaning the water in our streams, stabilising stream banks, providing habitat for birds and other wildlife, creating shade and windbreaks, taking in carbon from the air, providing learning opportunities for our tamariki, as well as giving us free food and medicine.
Huge thanks to the organisers and funders of these events; Makaurau Marae, Te Ara-rata Stream Team, Nga Iwi School, Papatūānuku Kōkiri Marae, ME Family Services, Ambury Regional Park, Uru Whakaaro, Māngere/Ōtāhuhu Local Board, Tupuna Maunga Authority, Auckland Council, Kāinga Ora, and all the other groups who’ve planted trees in Māngere this year as well. And especially to all the awesome Māngere residents who’ve come along and done the hard mahi! Now we can all help out, by keeping an eye on the new plantings in our neighbourhoods and helping to care for them.
For more information about the Māngere Ngahere Project, or to find out how to get involved, please contact justine@mefsc.org.nz
