Locals band together to tackle pests and litter in Manukau bush
A Manukau woman is being awarded for her efforts in trapping pests and cleaning up rubbish in the Totara bush.
Katherine Clayton has organised a regular meet up of locals to tend to the 20 bush reserves in Totara Heights which suffer from litter and pests.
“There are big problems with rubbish that blows in, and rats and possums also live here,” she said.
“There are pest plants that smother the ground so that new seedlings can’t come up.”
Clayton said she was “blown away” by the news she had won in the local hero category in the Keep New Zealand Beautiful awards.
“I was speechless, I didn’t know I had been nominated,” she said.
“It’s just something I’ve got a passion for and it’s been really fulfilling.”
Clayton has always tended to the bush around her own property, which she has lived at for 22 years.
But she believes if the community binds together they can have a larger impact.
“Let’s come together and focus on a couple of areas of bush,” she said.
“We’ll get the rubbish out and the weeds up and talk about predator control.”
The next clean-up day will depend on lockdown restrictions but is booked for September 26.
Locals who are interested in helping out can contact Clayton through the Totara Heights Bush Guardians Facebook page.
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Witnesses sought in relation to mass disorder on K-Road Auckland
Police are appealing to the public for any footage they may have of the mass disorder that occurred on Karangahape Road in Auckland in the early hours of Sunday 28 December.
Emergency services were called to the disorder around 3.41am where it is estimated around over 50 people were present.
A Police investigation is underway after there were three serious assaults on and around Karangahape Road during the mass disorder.
A portal has been set up to allow the public to upload any footage they have of the disorder and the serious assaults.
The portal is https://dahr.nc3.govt.nz/
Police have arrested one person but are asking for help to identify and locate others involved.
• Around 4:15am there was a serious assault outside the Crown Bar on Queen Street.
A 33-year-old man received serious injuries and was hospitalised.
The offender is still unknown, and the Police file number is 251228/4647.
• Around 4:30am there was another serious assault on a Cobden Steet just off Karangahape Road.
A 27-year-old man received serious injuries and was hospitalised.
The offender is still unknown, and the Police file number is 251228/4462.
• Around 5am there was third serious assault at the Mobil Service Station on the corner or Karangahape Road and Ponsonby Road.
A 46-year-old man received serious injuries and was hospitalised.
A 21-year-old man has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He has been bailed to appear in court again on 16 January 2026.
The Police file number is 251228/4774.
Police would like to speak to anyone who has witnessed or filmed the assaults.
Witnesses can call Police directly on 105.
Please quote one of the above file numbers.
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