He Kōtare ready for busy 2024 planting season

By Martin Freeth, Trees of Martinborough

He Kōtare Native Plant Nursery – a community venture on part of the former Featherston golf course – is gearing up for a busy 2024 planting season in South Wairarapa.

He Kōtare specialises in eco-sourcing seed from plants around Wairarapa Moana, and producing new generations of truly indigenous trees, shrubs and sedge grasses that will help restore wetlands, native habitats and landscape biodiversity.

This year will be the nursery’s second for the supply of healthy, resilient young plants to Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) and to private landowners for planting projects of varying size and location across South Wairarapa, between April-October. 

GWRC’s core focus is on planting for the restoration of Wairarapa Moana. The region’s farmers, lifestyle block owners and home gardeners are very welcome to also buy from the not-for-profit nursery.

He Kōtare has been developed by the Pae Tū Mōkai O Tauira Inc. community group which leases from South Wairarapa council the old golf club buildings and about two acres of land which are used for seed germination, potting and growing on. The operation is carefully laid out and supported with reliable irrigation systems, and with areas of shade covering and storage.

He Kōtare goes into the new planting season well stocked with trays of Manuka, Kanuka, Harakeke, Koromiko, Wiwi, Ti Kouka, Mingimingi and more – all species that are part of South Wairarapa’s rich natural heritage. Recent months have seen extension of the nursery’s growing areas, surrounded with high fencing and over-head mesh to protect plant health and support early growth.

Pae Tū Mōkai O Tauira Treasurer Karen Mikaera says that production is on track to reach 70,000 plants in 2024, with many of these ready for sale now _ while others need more months yet in the nursery before being planted out. At that stage most of He Kōtare’s plants are 30-40 cm in height and ideal for mass planting in riparian strips, shelter belts or bush blocks _ or planted singly or in small groups in urban gardens.

He Kōtare’s development has required thousands of hours of voluntary work by Pae Tū Mōkai O Tauira volunteers led by Karen and group chair Narida Hooper, as well as various community grants and support from GWRC and SWDC. He Kōtare has a sound working relationship with a similar native plant nursery at Kohunui Marae, Pirinoa – both dedicated to restoration of te taiao in South Wairarapa and to the health of Wairarapa Moana.

The 2024 planting season will open with a special public planting event at the Moana on Sunday 21 April. In an extraordinary feat of eco-sourcing and seed raising, He Kōtare has produced a substantial stock of sedge plants which are endemic to the area but officially deemed “at risk – declining.”

Karen Mikaera and nursery manager Michele Sandford gathered the seeds, and with a nursery assistant and volunteers, they have raised more than 6,000 sedges – Māori name Karaihe (botanical, carex buchananii) – to the point where they are ready for planting on the Lake Wairarapa shoreline. The project has also been guided by GWRC’s Biodiversity Team who are professionally engaged on Moana restoration.

Growing along the shoreline, the brown Karaihe will clump out over time and have very beneficial impacts on water quality and wildlife. 

The public planting event is open to all South Wairarapa people interested in restoration: At Lake Domain near Featherston on 21 April. starting time 10 a.m.. People are also invited to contribute to this project financially, by purchasing Karaihe and, if able, planting them on the foreshore.

If you would like to buy native plants, He Kōtare has Manuka, Kanuka, Harakeke (flax), Wiwi and Koromiko for sale at very attractive prices.

Harakeke are on special at $1.25 + gst per plant, and most other species are $4.78 + gst. Buy by the tray for mass planting or buy individual plants. Email pae.tu.mokai.o.tauira@gmail.com to buy or obtain more information.

Support restoration of nature: He Kōtare is raising funds for the Karaihe sedge planting at Wairarapa Moana/Lake Domain on 21 April. Karaihe are $5.50 each incl gst (or 5 plants for $20) Email: pae.tu.mokai.o.tauira@gmail.com to donate and/or put your name down to join the public planting event.

(Please note: visits to He Kōtare are only by prior arrangement).

Captions:  

Pic 2 Nursery manager Michele Sanford at work in He Kōtare’s shade house

Pic 1: Karaihe sedge growing up vigorously at the nursery