A Great Day of Planting on the Trail – 142 Plants in the Ground

On 16 March, a small but determined team gathered along Lovers Lane in Hapuku Village to begin planting along a new section of the Kaikōura Whale Trail, which is currently under construction.

The Whale Trail’s Rob Dunn and Colette Doughty were ably helped by Nicky Dunn and the amazing Hapuku Kura students and staff, along with a few friendly locals.

Collectively this amazing group of volunteers managed to get 142 plants in the ground - the mix including: Totara, Kōwhai, Kānuka, Ake Ake, Kōhūhū, Akiraho, Puka, Five Finger, Tī kōuka, Mingimingi,

Prostrate Kōwhai and Broadleaf. It was a warm day, and the work required plenty of grit and determination, but the enthusiasm and energy from the kura made it a fantastic day on the trail.

The native plants, locally sourced from Doug Hockey, are an important step in shaping the future experience of this section of the trail. Over time they will help provide shade for walkers and riders, produce seeds for local wildlife, and contribute to creating a beautiful and more natural environment for everyone using the trail.

Landowners, Jo and Dave said: "We are thrilled with variety and quality of the plants used and we look forward to watching them grow".

A huge thank you to Hapuku Kura for rolling up their sleeves and helping bring this section of the trail to life. We hope the students will come back once the trail is open to see how their plants have grown and to enjoy the path they helped create.