156 days ago

Conservation Fund backs school's tree planting day

The Team from Momentum Waikato

A recent tree planting mission by the kids of Walton School was made possible through a grant from our Waikato Hauraki Conservation Fund.

The folks at Holthuizer Farm applied to the Fund for support to protect its waterways and enhance its biodiversity, with the specific intent of including children in the effort.

Farmer Dale Beker says the school's planting day was a huge success, with 40 kids planting 700 natives along a stretch of the Piako River.

In preparation Dale and her team moved the fence back 10m+ from the river, and engaged Restore Native Plant Nursery to drone map the area to estimate plant numbers and advise on weed control and species selection.

"We purchased over 200 plants from the Walton School nursery, which our PTA runs with the senior kids, and another 500 from Restore Native and the Waikato Ecological Restoration Trust," says Dale.

The Waikato Hauraki Conservation Fund is a ‘funding gap-filler’ that supports predator control and restoration planting projects across the region. It was kickstarted by a significant donation from Dianne and Selwyn June in 2021, who participate in its grantmaking decisions, and then boosted by a donation from the estate of the late John and Bunny Mortimer, who established the Taitua Arboretum.

Donations to the Waikato Hauraki Conservation Fund are most welcome, as they help grow the ongoing investment income it uses to support local conservation work by voluntary groups and landowners.

To find out more and donate, click the button below.

More messages from your neighbours
2 days ago

Poll: Is the increase in disability parking fines fair?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

In October, the fine for parking in a designated mobility car park without a permit has jumped from $150 to $750—a 400% increase!

The goal is to keep these spaces open for those who truly need them. Do you think this big increase in the fine is fair? Share your thoughts below.

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Is the increase in disability parking fines fair?
  • 89.2% Yes, it's fair
    89.2% Complete
  • 9.9% No, it's unreasonable
    9.9% Complete
  • 0.8% Other - I'll share below
    0.8% Complete
2240 votes
2 hours ago

Poll: What do you think about our city producing school lunches for NZ?

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

One hundred new jobs will be created in Hamilton as the city becomes the lunchbox of the nation.

All frozen school lunches from Kaitaia to Bluff will be made in Pukete in a purpose built plant operated by The School Lunch Collective.

What do you think about our city producing school lunches for NZ? Tell us your reasons in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).

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What do you think about our city producing school lunches for NZ?
  • 0% I support it
    0% Complete
  • 0% I don't support it
    0% Complete
  • 0% I'm not really bothered
    0% Complete
0 votes
6 hours ago

Are you following the water charge discussions at Hamilton City Council?

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

Hamilton city councillors have taken tangible steps towards a new water regime that will see a charge based on their property’s capital valuation in their rates bill for the first time next year.

The council voted unanimously on Thursday on a series of direction-setting decisions in relation to the 2024-2034 Long-Term Plan Amendments.

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