Change of guard at Tree Trust

The Taranaki Tree Trust is going into its 16th year with a new leadership team but an unwavering environmental mission.



Inglewood farmer Donald McIntyre was elected Chairman at the Trust’s annual meeting this month, while former Wanganui Federated Farmers President and former QEII National Trust regional representative Rachel Stewart has been appointed Trust Co-ordinator.



Mr McIntyre has been a member of the Trust since 2001 and has become Chairman following the retirement of David Walter.



The new Chairman, Mr McIntyre, says the Trust remains committed to its original aims of promoting awareness and appreciation of Taranaki’s natural heritage, preserving the region’s unique character by protection and planting, and promoting the planting of trees on public and private land.



It has been directly involved in a number of projects and makes grants for countless others.



“We’re always looking for new projects of public interest,” he says. “That could be planting around a public hall, for example, or working with schools.”



Big projects so far have included the Herekawe Stream Walkway at New Plymouth, the Rapanui Petrel Colony and Hitawai Stream Whitebait Restoration Project at Tongaporutu and Te Wera Aboretum.



The Trust also works with owners of private land on such projects as streamside planting, using funds obtained as part of the resource consent process.



It will also mark World Wetlands Day with an open day at a Toko wetland on 3 February, and a Treescaping seminar for landowners is planned for later the same month.



Mr McIntyre says the Trust’s major sources of funding are the Taranaki Regional Council and the Honda New Zealand Tree Fund. Other corporates get involved in one-off projects – STOS, Mehanex and Dow Agrosciences, for example, are involved in the Herekawe project.



But he says the Trust would welcome approaches from other potential sponsors.



For more information, contact Ms Stewart on 06 765 7127.