EIT Wairoa Horticulture students and community working on the Whakamahi Lagoon revegetation project

EIT Tairāwhiti’s Wairoa horticulture students have been digging deep to help the community.

The eight-strong level three crew dug and prepared 1200 holes for a community-driven plant up, organised by the Department of Conservation at Whakamahi Lagoon.

Horticulture lecturer Raewyn Foot says her crew – who range in age from their late 20s through to their 60s – were keen to get in and help in rather testing conditions.

“It was cold and a bit wet the day we dug all the plant holes and wheelbarrowed and shovelled about four cubic metres of mushroom compost in readiness for the planting,” she said. “It was a huge effort from them.”

On the Sunday, they all turned out with families, Girl Guides, Lions and other members of the community to plant the flax, muehlenbeckia, cabbage trees, salt marsh ribbonwood and taupata.

“This fits in well with the course,” says Raewyn. “Part of it requires them to have a project and be involved in the re-vegetating of an indigenous area. It’s nice for us to be working with DOC on something like this.”

It’s not the first time EIT Tairāwhiti horticulture students have been involved with the five year project – last year they also helped, and many of the plants had been grown by previous students from seeds and cuttings.

The Whakamahi Lagoon project is in its third of a five year programme that aims to improve the habitat for bird life while raising awareness of the area.

– Wairoa Star