Matariki Community Planting Day

Puanga and Matariki is a time to whanaungatanga, share stories and kai. It also marks the beginning of the Māori New Year which traditionally was a time to plant trees, prepare the lands for planting crops and more importantly renew links with whanau and friends.

Council have planned three planting weekends during Matariki on the eastern side of Pairihaka at last year’s fire site.

The site has been prepared and 10,000 native trees are to be planted funded through the Matariki Tu Rākau Programme - part of the government’s One Billion Trees programme and led by Te Uru Rākau Forestry New Zealand. The Matariki Tu Rākau programme will see communities across the country plant over 350,000 trees.

We would like to encourage the community to come along and be part of the Matariki Community Tree Planting day which starts at 10am and finishes at 11.30am followed by a free sausage sizzle.
Water, juice and fruit will also be provided for the kai mahi and sunscreen will be available in case it is a sunny day. Access to the site is on Abbey Caves Road, Whareora Road end and there is plenty of parking on site which will be sign posted.

Please dress for the weather, bring a rain coat, gloves and a spade, although some will provided.

The Matariki Community Planting Day is a smoke free and vape free event.

As this is a zero waste event, please don’t leave rubbish on site but there will be recycling and organic bins.