Monday, 04 December 2023
Please enter a minimum of 2 characters for your search query
InvercargillKaikouraReeftonWestportBlenheimNelsonMotuekaWellingtonMastertonGreymouthHokitikaGoreDunedinQueenstownOamaruWanakaTimaruAshburtonChristchurchParaparaumuLevinPalmerston NorthRotoruaWhakataneHamiltonTaurangaThamesAucklandDargavilleWhangareiTokoroaTe KuitiWhanganuiDannevirkeHastingsNapierNew PlymouthGisborneTaupoTaumarunuiKaitaia
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDRIVEN Car GuideThe CountryPhoto SalesiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub
Voyager 2023 media awards
Subscribe

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Home / The Country

Trees donated to Whanganui's Sisters of St Joseph project

Laurel Stowell
By
Laurel Stowell
31 Jul, 2017 08:00 PM3 mins to read
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
Sister Noelene Landrigan is one of the main instigators of environmental work at Whanganui's Mount St Joseph. Photo/ Stuart Munro

Sister Noelene Landrigan is one of the main instigators of environmental work at Whanganui's Mount St Joseph. Photo/ Stuart Munro

They bought land, made a wetland and now Whanganui's Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart want to plant the steep hillside below their Mount St Joseph.

The hill is "what's holding it all up", Sister Noelene Landrigan said. It suffered slips in the June 2015 heavy rain and sheep can no longer be grazed on it.

The sisters applied to national body Trees That Count for a donation of up to 300 native trees to help hold on to the soil. There were more than 1000 applications and theirs was one of seven lucky ones.

The trees arrive next month, and Sr Noelene is organising a planting day for August 30, starting at 9am. Anyone who wants to help can ring Mount St Joseph on weekdays and register with Karen Erueti, ph 345 5047.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

The Sisters used to own a little farm on the edge of St John's Hill. They kept the land at the top, and their Mount St Joseph base and Nazareth Rest Home and Hospital are built on it.

They bought a 1ha swampy area back from a neighbour, and turned it into the Te Punanga Ripo wetland in 2004. It's now a nursery for eels, Sr Noelene said, and the eels have to leave it to get to sea and breed.

"Some of the staff have seen old female eels heading across our drive down to the river."

Some of the Sisters' hillside is already taken up with one of the City Mission's gardens, and about 80 fruit trees. Much of the rest is very steep.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Sr Noelene has had Whanganui plant ecologist Colin Ogle there, to make a list of suitable trees. She wants some for bird and bee forage, and all will store carbon, slow the pace of rainwater and hold on to the hillside soil.

Species are likely to include ngaio, pittosporums and matai. She's hoping they will shade out the kikuyu grass growing there, and stop it spreading.

Much of the work will be done by part-time employee Shane Dean, who helps with the planning. The Corrections Department's community workers will do any heavy jobs.

The project is in line with Pope Francis' views on "integral ecology", and Sr Noelene is part of a group of sisters investigating the true meaning of kaitiakitanga with tangata whenua.

"It's the local understanding of love of the Earth and relationship with the Earth," she said.

Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from The Country

The Country

Federated Farmers: We need to learn from the past

02 Dec 08:00 PM
The Country

Tararua Rural Support Trust cyclone recovery expo a hit

02 Dec 08:00 PM
The Country

Saving Ashburton Lakes: Action plan near

02 Dec 04:01 PM
Premium
The Country

The hunt: Fugitive dad Tom Phillips urged to give up, police told to offer reward

02 Dec 04:00 PM

Top toys of 2023 for kids & ‘kidults’

sponsored

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from The Country

Federated Farmers: We need to learn from the past

Federated Farmers: We need to learn from the past

02 Dec 08:00 PM

It's been a busy time for the local Federated Farmers executive.

Tararua Rural Support Trust cyclone recovery expo a hit

Tararua Rural Support Trust cyclone recovery expo a hit

02 Dec 08:00 PM
Saving Ashburton Lakes:  Action plan near

Saving Ashburton Lakes: Action plan near

02 Dec 04:01 PM
Premium
The hunt: Fugitive dad Tom Phillips urged to give up, police told to offer reward

The hunt: Fugitive dad Tom Phillips urged to give up, police told to offer reward

02 Dec 04:00 PM
Toy trends for Christmas
sponsored

Toy trends for Christmas

About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsHouse RulesSubscribe to NZ Herald
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2023 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP