An expedition to Motutapu Island in the Hauraki Gulf, where each year the St Heliers Kiwanis Club helps with annual tree plantings, took place this year on 15th May.
For the first time in over thirty years our party was not led by stalwart tree planter John Reid. NZ-SP district’s longest serving Kiwanian, John is now in his 92nd year and decided he would take a break – well at least for this year!
Altogether there were 23 in our party. Not just our club members because this time we sponsored a small group of children from Glen Taylor School in Glen Innes and Graham Mathieson had persuaded some Chinese immigrant friends from the St Heliers Community Centre to do their bit for the environment.
Two of our members (Barbara and Mike) spent the day working in the tree nursery while the rest set to work with about 80 other volunteers planting a variety of native trees on a steep slope that the Motutapu Restoration Trust had marked out. Altogether nearly 1000 trees were planted before it was time to catch the ferry back to Auckland.
The school kids enjoyed their day out so much they are asking their teacher when they can go and plant some more trees!
Mike Stachurski
St Heliers Kiwanis Club