USA students help welcomed

STUDENT ambassadors from the United States converged on the walkway near Kitchener Park, Feilding, last week to assist in an ongoing conservation project aimed at establishing and beautifying the area.

Thirteen students on an annual six-week goodwill mission to New Zealand spent time planting more than 100 flaxes, and some cabbage trees, on the walkway from Kowhai Park to Kitchener Park alongside the Makino Stream.

The students also bagged up wandering dew in Kitchener Park for composting and carried out cleanup operations at the Highden Manor Estate’s reserve, Awahuri.

Group leader Eugene Krishnan, of New York, said the students, aged from 16 to 18, were enjoying their visit to New Zealand and the opportunity to inter-act with local communities.

The visitors are part of the “Experiment in International Living” programme that was established in America shortly after World War II. Other groups have visited Manawatu regularly over the years, mainly carrying out work at Totara Reserve Regional Park.

“The programme allows students the experience of living in another country, to work as a team in accomplishing a community service and to meet other kids from throughout America,” said Eugene. “It gives them the experience of travelling and maturing, as being away from family is sometimes difficult.”

He said the group was energetic and enthusiastic about helping each other and getting involved in other local community projects – such as painting the New Life Church in Feilding. Many were from New York, but others came from Texas, Florida, California, Illinois and Oregon, as well as one student from China.

Kitchener Park Curator, Gavin Scott, said the group had authority and structure about its approach and was excellent to work with.

“It’s all good if they are learning about the environment,” he said. “Some of them have a bit of knowledge, but others are city people from New York who have not done this sort of work before.”

Mr Scott said the students enjoyed an insight into bush protection work at Kitchener Park, with the regeneration and flood damage restoration.

Manawatu District Council’s Parks and Reserves Manager, Albert James, welcomed the students’ willingness to contribute towards the maintenance and establishment of important conservation areas in the district.