Hamilton City Council: New app drives Nature in the City Programme

The new app will help people explore nature in the city, and learn more about Hamilton's unique biodiversity. Photo / Hamilton City Council

A new educational app is on the way for the Hamilton City Council’s Nature in the City Programme, which is now in its third year of working to restore the city’s native vegetation cover from 2 per cent to 10 per cent by 2050.

The council’s Community and Natural Environment Committee heard last week that planting and restoration work is now ramping up with community involvement as a strong focus.

The Nature in the City mobile app, due to launch in spring 2023, will highlight Hamilton’s native biodiversity, restoration efforts and the history of our natural areas.

“There is so much to learn about our gullies and natural areas, and the more we know, the more passionate we are about protecting and restoring them,” said Community and Natural Environment Committee chair and councillor Kesh Naidoo-Rauf.

“This free app will help our community explore nature in the city, and learn more about Hamilton’s unique biodiversity and what we’re doing to restore and protect it,” Naidoo-Rauf said.

Launching with 10 self-guided tours to choose from, Hamiltonians can learn something new about popular sites like Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park, or adventure to lesser-known spots like Munros Walkway. More urban nature walks will be added to the app over time.

The app follows other work the council has done to involve the community in restoration, including a collaboration with the recently refurbished Exscite centre at Waikato Museum.

The new Exscite includes native biodiversity references throughout, and children may trade their entry sticker for a packet of kōwhai seeds to grow at home.

On the restoration front, the programme has planted more than 35,000 plants in the past 12 months and hosted 32 planting events with help from around 3300 volunteers. Restoration work is currently under way in the Kukutaruhe Gully, the Mangaonua Gully, and the Mangaiti Gully.

More than half of the gully land in Hamilton Kirikiriroa is privately owned. The programme is working with 117 landowners to help them restore their private gully sections, providing information and advice.

“We need every Hamiltonian on this journey with us to restore nature in Kirikiriroa,” said Parks Asset manager Luke Archbold.

“Whether it’s attending a planting event, doing your bit in your own backyard, or exploring nature and sharing the love for our gullies, every bit counts. Restoring nature in the city benefits us all,” Archbold said.