Kia ora Paekakariki,
I’d like to open by paying tribute to Paekakariki Expressed. For ten years, it’s been spreading the news of our village - almost as long as Nga Uruora has been out on the hill. It’s been a valuable community resource, keeping us connected and entertained.
But seasons change and people move on, leaving challenges and opportunities for those who follow. In the case of NUKP, we have made the hard decision of not reapplying to the Sustainable Management Fund when our current grant ends in July. SMF’s increasing administration requirements mean that key workers are spending a disproportionate amount of time and effort away from what they should be doing, and that’s getting dirty planting bush. We will be relying on other grants as a source of income along with our contracting arm which is currently very active.
Community involvement has always been central to NUKP and, as we enter our busiest time of year – planting season – we will again be relying on the Paekakariki community to pull on their gumboots. Since we were established in 1997, we’ve planted tens of thousands of trees on the Escarpment, in Ames Street Reserve or the surrounding area. We couldn’t have done this without the contribution of the wider Paekakariki community and we hope you will join us again this year with your friends and family to help make our landscape grow.
If you’re a newbie, we’d encourage you to turn out for a taste of our award-winning conservation project. Our focus is on creating a ribbon of bird-safe forest along the Kapiti Coast and we pride ourselves on not only promoting conservation, but getting out and doing it, be that fencing, weed and pest control, establishing and supporting native plant nurseries in schools or planting trees. We are coordinated by a volunteer committee who are currently looking for new members and could also use a website administrator and an accountant if that’s more your bent.
The best way you can get in touch with us or find out more is through our new website, thanks to Fujitsu and Episerver. The address is still the same –www.kapitibush.org.nz – but with some great interactive features allowing you to post your stories and photos, join discussions, volunteer, make donations, become a member and check our events calendar.
Keep warm,
Stacey G
Next planting: Ho Chi Minh Trail, 29 May, 9am – 12 noon. Meet at Ames St Reserve. See the events calendar for more details.
Reprinted from May 2011 issue of Paekakariki Xpressed.