Track and coastal rangers Eli Van der Laan and Steven Irving planting out native plants on Te Ara Utiwai.
Porirua’s Te Ara Utiwai path on Rangituhi is getting some TLC by the Council’s Tracks team.
Earlier this week dead trees were cut and branches pruned in readiness for the planting of 600 new native plants that are going in from today.
Parks Manager Olivia Dovey says the popular track needs regular maintenance.
“With the wetter winter weather, patches of track also become a bit boggy so we’re laying more shingle in those areas in the next few weeks. We’ve had some issues with runners and cyclists taking short cuts so we’re using the offcuts from the pruning – known as slash – to block access to these areas.
“Te Ara Utiwai was carefully designed to protect significant trees and areas of bush. It’s fantastic that so many cyclists, runners and walkers are using the track
“But we do ask that you please respect the area and stick to the track to avoid damaging new growth or special bush,” Ms Dovey says.
People are also asked not to remove the slash that’s put across the shortcuts, as has happened in some instances, as it’s there for an important reason.
“The slash has been put there to protect the plantings and limit any impairment to the restoration of the under canopy in those areas. So please leave it to do its job,” she says.
If you haven’t had a chance to experience Te Ara Utiwai, we encourage you to do so – it’s beautiful and the view is breathtaking.
25 Jul 2019
