Native forests coming back to South Wairarapa

By Martin Freeth – Trees of Martinborough

Great progress is being made on native tree planting of “forest corridors” across the lower valley of South Wairarapa. The 2023 planting season ended in August, with a further 29 hectares added to the Tonganui Corridors project.

Farmers, landowners and other volunteers put nearly 51,000 native trees and shrubs into the ground during May-August and the Tonganui Corridors plantings now cover a total of 109 hectares.

The goal is to establish new blocks of forest across the rural landscape so these become, in time, ecological corridors linking the Aorangi Forest Park and the Remutuka Forest Park. Birds are already loving it, and so are New Zealand’s indigenous lizard species.

This planting season has been the fourth since work on the Tonganui Corridors was launched by the Aorangi Restoration Trust in 2020. Trust Operations Manager Aaron Donges says thousands of young trees are now thriving and good canopy cover has already been achieved on some blocks as a basis for regeneration over the decades ahead.

“It’s amazing to see how quickly the birds, skinks and other lizards are thriving in the planted areas, and how new seedlings are appearing and expanding the biodiversity,” Aaron told The Martinborough Star. 

Progress with the corridors has huge interest from ecology students at Victoria University who have various wildlife and plant study projects underway.

In total, there are now 40 blocks planted, each reflecting a deep ecological commitment by South Wairarapa farmers and landowners.

“Bush regeneration is becoming a real passion for many rural people and on farms, it can be a perfect fit with plans for increased riparian planting to enhance freshwater quality and for offsetting greenhouse gas emissions,” says Aaron. 

“Our farmers are also putting more time and money into pest control within remnant stands of kahikatea and other trees, and these are becoming another strong feature of the lower valley landscape.”

The Tonganui Corridors have national significance. In 2023, they are one of three flagship projects being supported by the Project Crimson Trust – New Zealand’s biggest organisation for channelling funds from corporates and government agencies into ecosystem restoration for community and landscape-wide projects.

With funding from Project Crimson, backed by OMV New Zealand (subsidiary of the Austrian multinational energy company), the Aorangi Restoration Trust has planted more than 200,000 trees in the Tonganui Corridors since 2020. 

Other funding contributions have come from Greater Wellington Regional Council and Ministry of Primary Industries, and each year landowners themselves provide very significant financial input. The Tonganui Corridors also have support from South Wairarapa District Council, Kohunui Marae, Ngati Hinewaka, Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Rangitane o Wairarapa, Friends of Ōnoke Spit, QEII National Trust, and Wairarapa Pūkaha to Kawakawa Alliance. 

Last year, SWDC contributed by planting 3.5 hectares of land at Pirinoa. Project Crimson applauds the project for uniqueness and for “huge collaboration” around the efforts of Aorangi Restoration Trust and of landowners. 

“These corridors will provide shade and shelter for biota and a permanent sink for greenhouse gasses, and they’re employing and training people, and supporting the aspirations of Māori communities,” the Trust’s Chief executive, Robyn Haugh, told The Star.

At Pirinoa, the Kohunui Marae’s plant nursery is a major supplier to the project, alongside other nurseries in the Wairarapa. All plants going into the blocks are grown from eco-sourced seed – seed that has been collected within the Wairarapa, and largely from existing trees in the lower valley.

Aaron says in 2023, almost a third of the planting was manuka and kanuka, with sizeable numbers also of ngaio, totara, pittosporum varieties and harakeke. 

Aorangi Restoration Trust puts big effort into identifying the most suitable plant species and planting patterns for tree survival and relatively fast canopy growth. Planning for 2024 is now well under way.

The Tonganui Corridors project is, of course, a great complement to the Wairarapa Moana Wetlands programme for restoring the health of Lakes Wairarapa and Ōnoke, along with neighbouring wetlands, scenic reserves and the Ōnoke Spit. 

The annual report on collaboration for this programme indicates almost 49,000 plants went into 10.5 hectares of wetland during the 2023 planting season, alongside extensive trapping for pest animals. (More on the programme the next Martinborough Star.)

Want to get involved? Aorangi Restoration Trust Operations Manager Aaron Donges is keen to talk with farmers, landowners and others who might be interested in joining the Tonganui Corridors project from now on. The 2024 planting programme is now being planned.

Aaron is available on 020 4165 0199 or at aarondonges@hotmail.com.