Media Release

3 July 2008

Guidelines for native plants launched

Acting mayor Gary Troup launched Manukau Parks’ guidelines for restoring native plants in Barry Curtis Park earlier this week.

The booklet, entitled Restoring Our Native Plants, had won gold in its landscape planning and environmental design category and also a supreme award, the Charlie Challenger Award for Landscape Planning at the prestigious New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects’ (NZILA) 2008 awards.

The booklet contains lists of plants suitable for use in each of Manukau City’s eight ecosystem character areas, along with tips for planting. Readers can find out which native plants are best suited to their area by looking up the ‘eco-address’ in the booklet.

Students from the neighbouring Baverstock Oaks Primary School planted trees with assistance from the acting mayor, community leaders and the Manukau Parks team.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr Troup said the native vegetation has been continually removed over the years to make way for development, crop production and forestry in large parts of Manukau City.

“Some of the few pockets of native plants remaining have been set aside as public reserves. Some of these are undergoing restoration by the council, ARC and Department of Conservation.”

“To get the best results for the city – landowners, institutions, government agencies and community groups should work together to restore Manukau’s indigenous vegetation.

“Our city will house considerably more people in the not too distant future. By 2056 we will have roughly doubled our population across the city. That’s Manukau today plus Christchurch today.

“But it doesn’t mean we have to repeat the environmental mistakes of the past. And we haven’t. Riparian restoration planting is already a major feature of this area around Flat Bush.”

“Riparian plantings across Flat Bush are a great example of how these guidelines can be put into practice.”

When complete, the green finger network in Flat Bush will comprise over 32km of open space connections – 640 hectares of plantings.

Group Manager of Manukau Parks Digby Whyte said the guidelines have a wider application than just council park land; they are a reference document for everyone involved in restoration planting throughout Manukau, whether on parkland or in their backyard.

“Landowners can make a valuable contribution by undertaking restorative plantings as well as considering placing a covenant on the restored bush or wetland.

“The document is intentionally pitched between the general public and the scientist, and is user friendly.

“The booklet is called a guideline because it is aimed at assisting private land owners as well as other user groups.”

A copy of ‘Restoring Our Native Plants’ guidelines is available from the council website www.manukau.govt.nz – key words: restoring native plants.

ENDS

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