Continuing to restore our coastal dune environment
Kanorau koiora taketake
Over the past twelve months, Waikawa Beach Environment Group has continued to make strong progress in our long-term dune restoration work at Reay Mackay Grove, supported through funding from the Horizons Regional Council Kanorau Koiora Taketake Indigenous Biodiversity Community Grant.
This project focuses on restoring indigenous dune habitat within the reserve area between the Northern and Southern Walkways, helping to improve biodiversity, strengthen natural dune systems, and create healthier habitat for native coastal species.
While spring weather forced the postponement of several planned community planting days, work continued steadily throughout the year. In October, volunteers successfully planted approximately 200 Spinifex and Pīngao plants during our first community planting event.
A significant part of this year’s work focused on controlling invasive pest plants across the reserve. Professional contractors, supported by ongoing volunteer efforts, targeted Marram grass, Lupin, Blackberry, Pampas and Boxthorn — all species which threaten the natural balance of our fragile dune ecosystem.
In May this year, a further community planting day saw volunteers planting more than 1,100 native dune plants, including Tauhinu, Spinifex and Pīngao. This work has now restored approximately 250 square metres of priority dune habitat, with early monitoring showing encouraging plant establishment rates across several sites.
Community involvement continues to sit at the heart of this project. More than 20 volunteers have contributed over 200 hours this year through planting, weed management, monitoring and ongoing site maintenance.
This work forms part of WBEG’s longer-term vision to restore indigenous coastal biodiversity throughout the wider reserve area and create a resilient dune environment that can thrive for future generations.
We extend our sincere thanks to Horizons Regional Council, Horowhenua District Council, and all community members who continue to support this important restoration work.
The project now moves into Year Two, where our focus will increasingly shift toward expanded planting, ongoing monitoring, and continuing to strengthen the health of Waikawa Beach’s unique coastal environment.