Porirua residents are being encouraged to celebrate Matariki by getting their hands in the soil and helping restore the health of local waterways during a major community planting day at Bothamley Park.
The event, scheduled for Saturday 18 July from 10am to 12.30pm, will see volunteers plant 1,800 native plants as part of the long-term effort to improve the health of Te Awarua o Porirua Harbour.
The planting day forms part of Porirua City Council’s riparian streamside management programme, which aims to establish more than six million plants along the 588 kilometres of streams that flow into the harbour by 2041.
Matariki is a time to remember those who have passed, celebrate the present and look ahead to the future. Environmental restoration and stewardship are key values associated with the Māori New Year, making the planting initiative a fitting way for the community to mark the season.
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says activities such as community planting not only improve freshwater quality and strengthen the mauri of local waterways but also help bring people together.
She says the event provides an opportunity for neighbours, community groups and whānau to connect while contributing to the wellbeing of the environment.
Several environmental organisations will be on site, including Mountains to Sea Wellington, Predator Free Porirua and Ngahere Korowai, showcasing the conservation work taking place across the region.
A free sausage sizzle will also be available for volunteers taking part in the planting effort.
The event will feature Te Awa Taiao Cadets, who have spent the past two years helping care for Bothamley Park. The cadets are responsible for maintaining newly planted areas, replacing plants where necessary and controlling pest species, while developing valuable environmental and career skills.
Community members are encouraged to register before attending and are advised to wear gumboots and suitable outdoor clothing. Participants should meet at the Champion Street entrance to Bothamley Park. A postponement date of Sunday 19 July has been scheduled if weather conditions prevent the event from going ahead.
The planting day is one of several free Matariki events taking place across Porirua. Other activities include a Matariki craft session at the City Centre Library, the Ka Kaa Te Rama light walk along the harbour, a waterfront light display, a remembrance event honouring the Matariki star Pōhutukawa at Pātaka Art + Museum, and a community weaving wall installation at Kai Tahi.
Organisers say the programme reflects the spirit of Matariki by bringing people together, celebrating culture and strengthening connections to the environment and each other.
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