6 April – 18 May – Applications open for Diana Isaac Cup award

6 April – 1 June – Applications open – Greendot planting assistance for 2021

July – Friends of Te Ara Kākāriki meeting (date to be confirmed)

Sunday 23 August – Planting day at Stackwoods Bend, Tai Tapu

Saturday 5 September – Plantout day in Tai Tapu and Lincoln

Sunday 20 September – Plantout day in Springfield

Saturday 3 October – Planting day in West Melton

Landowners who are looking to restore a part of their property back to native forest in 2021 are encouraged to apply to Te Ara Kākāriki for native planting assistance from 6 April. We are carrying out the application process earlier than other years in an effort to ensure nurseries have time to fulfil our orders with high quality plants and all requested species. 

If you or your community group have a piece of land of at least 1100m2 that can contain 500 or more native plants and are wanting to restore the site for native biodiversity, then please apply.

Successful applicants will receive one or a combination of the following:

• A restoration plan written with an ecologist, including a plant list and planting plan.
• A volunteer planting day at your property as part of our annual Canterbury Plantouts or staff planting days to plant 500 to 1000 plants
• A small financial grant to go towards plants and plant guards (max $1,000) or advice on other funding sources

Landowners and community groups are eligible to apply if:

• Their property is located in the Selwyn District
• They have at least 1100m2 available to plant in 2021
• They are able to commit to the ongoing maintenance and protection of the Greendot site

Every second year Te Ara Kākāriki and Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust awards a deserving individual or group the Diana Isaac Cup. This award is a way to celebrate and reward exceptional efforts re-establishing indigenous habitat. 

For many years Lady Diana Isaac supported the work of Te Ara Kākāriki and in 2012 she created this award to acknowledge outstanding efforts weaving native plants into the working lands of Selwyn District.  

Lady Isaac had a long history of conservation setting up the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust with her husband Neil Isaac. Through the trust much of their 11 hectare McLean’s Island property has been rehabilitated to become an internationally recognised example of quarry restoration and is the site of specialised captive breeding programmes set up to protect and restore populations of endangered and threatened endemic bird, reptile and fish species. 

The winners of the Diana Isaac Cup will receive $1000 to contribute to further restoration or pest control at their site. Thank you to the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust for their ongoing support of our planting days and sponsoring this opportunity.

We encourage landowners, community groups or companies who have begun restoring their site at least three years ago and who used eco-sourced native seedlings to apply for this award.  

A healthy native forest is made of several layers, ranging from the leaf litter on the forest floor to mature forest giants such as Totara and Kahikatea. 

When planting Greendots, we plant the hardy nursery species of the forest that can establish with minimal shelter from extreme winds and frost.  For the first two to three years, weed control is required between the native plants to remove competition for moisture, light and nutrients, after that time the taller species of a Greendot will form a canopy which reduces light to suppress weed growth and creates a sheltered environment below. 

Restoration is a long term process and the aim is that a Greendot will eventually become self-sustaining with no human intervention required. Ideally once a Greendot has canopy closure, natural regeneration and introduction of other forest layers will begin to occur, with seed dispersal by birds being an important component. For a variety of reasons, including a lack of nearby seed sources or bird presence, this may not always happen, and this is especially likely in parts of Canterbury. 

Enrichment planting may be required to recreate the natural composition of the forest. By actively planting those sensitive species that will make up secondary forest layers we can create a better representation of a natural forest and more diverse biodiversity.

Enrichment plant species will differ depending on each site but may include tender species such as kawa kawa, ferns, mahoe and native mistletoe. Te Ara Kākāriki invite Greendot owners who have sites that have formed a canopy (5-10 years old) to contact us if they are interested in enrichment planting at their Greendot.
Email office@kakariki.org.nz

In 2009 Te Ara Kākāriki carried out our first Greendot plantings and since then have directly supported the planting of 84 individual Greendots in the Selwyn District. These Greendots make up a pathway (ara) of indigenous plantings linking the foothills to the sea and Te Waihora, providing habitat and steppingstones for native wildlife and increasing biodiversity across the Canterbury Plains. 

We realise there are other organisations and individuals creating their own Greendots and would like to provide an opportunity for landowners to register their site to acknowledge it as part of the Te Ara Kākāriki Greenway.

By recognising other Greendots we can:

• Add to the community of likeminded individuals and groups working together on the Te Ara Kākāriki Greenway project
• Add to the record of where native plantings exist
• Identify gaps in the network that we can target (we follow a model of minimum patch size and spacing)
• Acknowledge the good work of groups and individuals who have carried out native plantings

A Greendot site must meet the following requirements:

• Contain a minimum of 500 New Zealand native plants or cover a minimum of 1100m2
• The majority of plants on the site must be eco sourced
• Plant species must be suitable for the site and be representative of a healthy local ecosystem
• The plantings must include a suitable core area rather than just a narrow strip such as a shelter belt
• The site must be located in the Selwyn District

To register your Greendot, you will need to fill in a questionnaire about your restoration project. Sites that meet our requirements will be visited by someone from Te Ara Kākāriki and if all criteria are met will be added to the Greendot database. Eligible landowners  can receive a Greendot sign, for a donation, to acknowledge their site is a steppingstone in the Te Ara Kākāriki Greenway. Contact us to find out how to register.
Email office@kakariki.org.nz

Does your workplace offer an annual volunteer day for staff? Are you a manager who wants to unite staff? Are you part of a business which wants to give back to the environment?

We have opportunities for staff groups to take part in weekday planting events between August and October 2020. This is a great way to boost staff morale, network with those within your organisation and an opportunity to invite clients or other companies you liaise with for a fun planting day. 

For a small fee we will organise the site, the seedlings and all equipment needed for planting as well as morning and afternoon tea. Our ecologist will greet everyone at the site, give a planting demonstration and speak to your group about the Te Ara Kākāriki vision and the local biodiversity. 

How you can make this happen?

• Speak to management. We have limited funds and ask for a donation of $10-15 per person. Other sponsorship options are available for companies interested in purchasing plants or paying for the whole planting day. 
• Consider how many staff could take part in a weekday event. We need a minimum of 30 volunteers per event. If you are a smaller group, we are happy to find another group to combine with or we can put a challenge out to an organisation you liaise with.
• Organize your own transport, (sites are 30 - 60 minutes from Christchurch).
• Bring your own lunch and refreshments.

Contact offce@kakariki.org.nz to find out more.