Whanganui District Council sticking with low-mow areas in 3 reserves

Te Mana Park is due for its annual mow next month. Photo / Mike Tweed

Whanganui District Council is keeping low-mow areas in three reserves, but there are no plans for more.

In 2021, the council announced that Te Mana Park in Aramoho, Bastia Hill Water Tower reserve and Montgomery Rd water retention area at Otamatea had been chosen for a one-year trial.

Council parks and property manager Tania Henare said while the trial had not been formally monitored, there was “evidence of the return of wilderness” to Te Mana Park, with reseeding and sightings of skinks.

Regular skink sightings indicated wildlife rehabilitation of the area, she said.

“Seeds produced by the grasses have provided a good food source for birds.

“The cost savings are not significant.”

Te Mana Park on Mitchell St was due for its annual mow next month, although the council mowed a path through it monthly, Henare said.

“This area was chosen because it is naturally a very wet area, making it hard to take in mowing machinery all year round, particularly during the winter season.”

A recent Facebook post from a member of the public criticising the length of the grass at Te Mana Park produced mixed reactions, with some people supporting the council’s decision.

One said it was an “amazing opportunity for biodiversity” and another said the park was “a wonderful wildlife spot”.

Others said the grass was a fire hazard and it could be cut for hay.

In 2024, Wellington City Council stopped mowing at 12 less frequently used or lower-priority locations across the city, including suburban reserves and roadside berms, as part of a year-long trial.

The Wellington council said last October the unmown areas absorbed rainwater twice as quickly (7.3 minutes compared to 14.4 minutes), and there were almost double the number of plant species.

Of the 12 trial sites, eight have permanently become low-mow areas.

Henare said the purpose of the Whanganui council’s trial was to potentially provide a greater variety of habitat for wildlife, reduce fuel emissions and reduce mowing time.

“Allowing grass to grow longer creates a carbon sink, enhances biodiversity and reduces the cost of upkeep for grassed areas.”

Natural carbon sinks, such as forests, oceans and grasslands, absorb more carbon from the atmosphere than they release.

The upper part of Te Mana Park, now mown monthly, was being considered for a playground and open space development, Henare said.

Last year, the community was invited to have a say on what the playground could look like, with options including a basketball court, accessible play equipment and a pump track.

Since the 1960s, the site, which borders the former Aramoho School property, has been a chicken farm, a sports field and a community garden.

Auckland Council, Hamilton City Council, Kāpiti Coast District Council, Hutt City Council and Carterton District Council have also had low-mow trials in recent years.

Henare said the council was not considering any other areas for low mowing.

Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily Whanganui District Council.