Press Release to Waikato Times

FOR RELEASE July 5, 2017

Tui 2000 Inc receives Substantial grants for plantings at Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park

“Two substantial grants have been awarded to the environmental group Tui 2000 Inc. to undertake further planting work for the next four years at the Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park (WNHP).  The grants were from Waikato Regional Council, a total of $361535 over four years and Waikato Catchment Ecological Enhancement Trust of $80,000, also over four years – a total of $441,535,” Lynne Garnham, Chairperson of Tui 2000, said today.

“Tui 2000 is a community group, established in 1989, with the goal of bringing native birds back to Hamilton City and central Waikato with the re-establishment of habitat.  Taking one of the leading roles in the Waiwhakareke Advisory Group (WAG), Tui 2000 Inc has led the way for funding grants for WNHP.  The grants cover the costs for a mix of pioneering, enrichment and infill plants in the Park" she added.

WNHP is being developed as a representative example of the original ecosystem diversity of the Hamilton Basin and will become one of Hamilton’s most important parks, especially significant as it is situated in an urban environment.  Half of the park has now been planted and is already recognized both nationally and internationally, the most recent recognition from the Society for Ecological Restoration Australasia with a “highly commended”. The park is also in the catchment of Lake Rotokauri and the improvements in water quality enabled by these plantings will flow through to that lake and eventually the Waipa and the Waikato Rivers.

The WNHP is led by a community partnership and involves a wide range of community members from council staff, academics, iwi representatives, retired business people, students, school children, minority groups who are passionate about the project and its vision. 

“Volunteers have been planting native trees and shrubs at WNHP since 2004, and these grants are recognition of these hundreds of people, young and old, from all walks of life who have devoted thousands of hours to this park”, Ms Garnham concluded

ENDS

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