North Taranaki Wetland to get a Helping Hand

Tomorrow (Tuesday) a coastal wetland will get a helping hand from students at Ahititi School.

Two-hundred trees will be dug-in at Rapanui Wetland, just north of Tongaporutu, as part of a revegetation project run jointly by Taranaki Regional Council and New Plymouth District Council.

The planting by the 34 students will help improve the wetland’s biodiversity, says TRC Biodiversity Operations Manager George Gallop.

“These native trees will help choke out the gorse, and as they mature they’ll be able to attract and feed native birds,” he says.

“We’re also using this as an education programme for Ahititi School students, to give them a way to be directly involved in protecting and enhancing their local natural landscapes.”

Rapanui is a small palustrine wetland – an inland site which lacks flowing water – adjacent to State Highway 3. There is a petrel colony at the Rapanui Stream mouth, nesting blue penguins and Australasian bitterns.

“Thousands of people drive past this every day yet may not realise that it’s designated as an area of significance,” says NPDC Manager Parks Mark Bruhn.

“It’s also a recreation reserve and people are welcome to stop and explore the wetland for themselves.”

The planting, funded by TRC’s biodiversity fund, will start at 1.30pm tomorrow.