2000 native plants to revitalise Taihape's Hautapu River Park

Rangitikei District Councillor Gill Duncan over looking Papakai Park where significant work has been done over the years. Photo / Logan Tutty

Hundreds of native trees will be planted throughout a Taihape reserve as part of the One Billion Trees Programme.

The nationwide project is called Matariki Tu Rākau and 2000 trees are going to be planted in and around the Hautapu River Park, where significant work has been done by local community groups and the Rangitīkei District Council to clean up the area.

The goal of the project is to help people plant living memorials that honour members of the communities, with the Taihape community planting to commemorate early leadership in the Inland Mokai Patea history.

Friends of Taihape, a local community group who do a lot of work and maintenance on the reserves around the town, are one of the main drivers of today's planting event.

Joe Byford from Friends of Taihape said they had done a lot of work in the area clearing away weeds over the last few months.

"There was a lot of weed and sycamore trees, and we are just replanting with straight natives.

"We started with Mt Stewart and tidied that all up. We've moved on to Papakai Park and it's starting to look quite nice.

"We are just trying to get it back to how it used to be."

More than 90 minutes' worth of walking tracks have been developed as the group looks to link Hautapu River Park with Memorial Park in town.

Byford said the floods in 2004 damaged the area.

"It's just so nice down there. I've been in Taihape all my life, and when we were kids we were down there every summer eeling, catching trout and doing what kids do."

Rangitikei District councillor Gill Duncan applauded the community's collaborative approach, with iwi Ngāti Tamakōpiri, community groups and locals all rallying together.

"Countless hours. You just have these wonderful people who just beaver away and have a love and passion for this."

Byford said they've secured funding to plant another 4000 trees in the area over the next two years.

Installation of Information panels about the area, seating and tables will continue to be erected in and around the Papakai Park area over the coming months.

"That's what we are really trying to do. If the money comes together, we may put a bridge up in the northern corner of the reserve and there will be another good walk," Byford said.

A welcoming and karakia will launch the planting day on the Hautapu St entrance at 9.30am.