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.
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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53% Human-centred experience and communication
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15.7% Critical thinking
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28.8% Resilience and adaptability
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2.5% Other - I will share below!
Poll: Should complete designs be shared with the public, or should the community help shape the designs from the start?
The Post recently shared an opinion piece on the Harbour Crossing and why a more democratic approach might be needed 🚗🚲👟
While most decisions sit within the political arena, many organisations—like NZTA—manage long-term projects that go beyond party lines. Politics can sometimes disrupt progress, and the next Harbour Crossing is a big decision that will affect all Aucklanders.
We’d love your thoughts: Should near-complete, shovel-ready designs be shared with the public, or should the community have a hand in shaping the designs from the start?
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81.5% Community feedback and transparency is needed.
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18.5% No. This would be impossible in practice.
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
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