Key Takeaways
- The Wesley Community Action group Ngahere Korowai is working to create another Zealandia nature reserve in Porirua.
- The group has been planting native plants and trees in the western side of Belmont Regional Park and has received support from agencies such as Greater Wellington Regional Council and Porirua City Council.
- The goal of the project is to restore Porirua’s environment and bring back native bird and fish life to the area.
- The group has planted over 120 hectares of land with native plants and trees since 2022.
- The project is not only about conservation but also about building a community and creating a legacy for future generations.
Introduction to Ngahere Korowai
The birds are calling in Cannon’s Creek reserve, and strands of Raupō flax wave tall fingertips in the breeze. Members of the Wesley Community Action group Ngahere Korowai are measuring the water clarity at the pond, peering at a blue magnet down a large tube. The group meets fortnightly, testing water, or helping to plant in the reserve, or up in the western side of Belmont Regional Park. They want to see another Zealandia nature reserve created in Porirua. The idea for Ngahere Korowai was born when the Wesley Community Action’s Aotearoa Pasifika Men’s group visited Zealandia in 2019. They were stunned by what they saw and wanted to bring a similar project to their own community.
The Birth of Ngahere Korowai
Founding member John Mu said that when the group visited Zealandia, they were fascinated by the trees, insects, and overall beauty of the area. They wanted to create something similar in Porirua and thus Ngahere Korowai was born. The group has received support from agencies such as Greater Wellington Regional Council and Porirua City Council. Since 2022, Greater Wellington has planted 120 hectares of land with native plants and trees on the western side of Belmont Regional Park. This past winter, 88,000 plants covering about 35 hectares in the Takapu block were planted, along with 1800 in Waitangirua as infill, and volunteers planted about 5000 plants.
A Diverse Movement
Porirua resident Roger Shore said he was initially skeptical about joining Ngahere Korowai. However, he soon discovered that the group was not just about conservation but also about building a community and creating a legacy for future generations. The group’s work involves biodiversity, conservation, and pest eradication. Shore said that joining the group was like walking through a different doorway into a different realm of society. He has gained a newfound appreciation for the importance of conservation and the impact that human actions can have on the environment.
Restoring Porirua Harbour
Riparian operations advisor for Porirua City Council, Dougal Morrison, said that there is a wide network of planting going on through the Porirua catchment too, with a goal to restore Porirua harbour. About 167,000 native plants have gone in the ground this winter, work done by contractors and community groups. The plants provide a filter for pollutants and are bringing back fish and bird life to the city. Morrison highlighted the success of the project, citing the return of tuna (eels) to Titahi Bay as an example of the positive impact that the group’s work is having on the environment.
A Legacy for Future Generations
Shore said that the project is not just about conservation but also about creating a legacy for future generations. He envisions a future where people can bring their grandchildren to the reserve and show them the beautiful lake, the fish, and the bird life. He believes that this legacy is more important than any amount of money and that it is something that will last long after we are gone. The project is a testament to the power of community-led conservation efforts and the impact that they can have on the environment. As the group continues to work towards their goal of creating another Zealandia nature reserve in Porirua, they are not only restoring the environment but also building a community and creating a legacy that will last for generations to come.