Porirua residents are being called on to lend a hand at a major community planting day set for Saturday 16 August along Papakōwhai Road.
Running from 10.30am to 1pm, the event will focus on the Papakōwhai Lagoon area, just across from Papakōwhai Reserve, and is part of the city’s wider streamside planting programme.
“We have 2500 native plants to get in the ground on this day, and we would love the support of the community to help with this important piece of work,” said Porirua City Manager Parks Julian Emeny.
Native shrubs, trees, and intertidal rushes will be planted to improve local biodiversity and enhance water quality in streams that feed into Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour.
The planting is part of a long-term restoration partnership with Ngāti Toa Rangatira that aims to restore the mauri, or life force, of local waterways and support healthy ecosystems for future generations.
“This is being done by Council staff, contractors, volunteers and school groups, showing that it takes many hands to get this important mahi done,” Emeny said.
The event builds on two years of planting along the shared pathway, previously undertaken by contractors and local kura.
Residents interested in joining the planting day can register by emailing their name and number of attendees to: [email protected].