Pohutukawa giveaway to boost coastline

A healthy crop of 2200 pohutukawa trees is being given away in an attempt to paint the district red.

They are this year's contribution to a Pohutukawa Coast campaign, which aims to re-establish a crimson-coloured band of the iconic native trees around the Whangarei district.

The Pohutukawa Coast idea blossomed 15 years ago when Whangarei District Council and the New Zealand Refining Company joined forces to encourage replanting on private and public land. Since then 24,000 seedlings have been given away and planted.

This year's trees will be available to groups or individuals for the next two weeks.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)