Pohutukawa Coast trees free to good homes

This year’s Pohutukawa Coast tree giveaway includes a wide range of plant species.

​For the 22nd year in a row Whangarei District Council and Refining New Zealand are giving away 1,400 young pohutukawa and 400 Kauri trees, free to keen growers.

For the second time, there will also be 400 Northland Hebe, 500 Flax, 400 Kowhai and 100 Coprosma available for residents of the Whangarei District to collect from Pohutukawa Coast Co-ordinators.

Pohutukawa Coast was originally set up in 1991 to help re-establish young Pohutukawa trees along our coastline.  Whangarei District Council Parks and Recreation Manager Paul McDonald said the young trees and shrubs have been grown especially by Tawapou Coastal Native Nurseries at Tutukaka and will be available again this growing season. This will bring the total number of trees distributed since the project began to 47,200.

“Refining New Zealand donated $5,000 towards the cost of growing the pohutukawa, kauri and shrubs to a good size for planting out. Be in quick because there is a limited supply of plants,” Mr McDonald said.

“Plants are limited to two per ratepayer or Whangarei District resident to ensure they are distributed evenly. If you represent a large community group you can leave your contact details and if plants remain at the completion of the programme then more plants can be made available to you.”

Whangarei District Council Parks and Recreation Department and the Northern Branch of the Royal Forest and Bird Society will assist with the distribution of the trees and shrubs, as they have done in the past.

Anyone who would like to collect a tree or two should contact one of the coordinators listed below and arrange the pick up:

• City dwellers and people living in the north of the district should contact Botanica Whangarei in First Ave between 10am and 4pm 7 days on 09 430 4200 extension 8738 or 027 477 0518
• Tutukaka Coast residents may pick up trees from Tawapou Coastal Natives Nursery on 09 434 3971
• Southern residents may pick up trees from Nola McCullough on 09 432 8332
• People living to the northeast and in Whangarei Heads can pick them up from Alan Willis and Rona Mahy-Willis on 09 436 2808.

 

Whangarei District Council would once again like to thank everyone who has made this year’s pohutukawa, kauri and shrub planting possible.

Special recognition goes to the volunteer distributors who provide this valuable service for the community year after year.

For more information please contact Whangarei District Council Parks Technical Officer, Spencer Jellyman on 09 430 4200 extension 8844 or email mailroom@wdc.govt.nz.