Ports of Auckland is proud to announce the start of its tree planting project on Mahanihani (South Head), commonly known as Āwhitu Peninsula.

Over 24 thousand native trees will be planted during the first stage of the ports' 38-hectare restoration project in collaboration with Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua, Āwhitu Landcare and Kauri Park.  

The ports' ambition is to restore the headland to native bush helping provide an ecological corridor up and down the West Coast from the Waitakere Ranges, develop an ecological area which celebrates the land and its historical sites, and ultimately provide walking trails for the public to enjoy.

Ports of Auckland CEO Roger Gray dug in and planted some of the first trees of the project.

"Restoring this land to native bush is a wonderful, but challenging undertaking. The planting done today is an important step in a long-term project which will see the area flourish. I'll be following the progress and hope to be back out here for another planting day soon" says Gray.  

The first phase of planting, which will take a few weeks, is to establish a wind break, providing shelter and improving the success of future plantings. It will also help manage coastal erosion in the area.

A variety of native plants such as harakeke (flax), ti kouka (cabbage tree), karamu and taupata (two types of coprosmas), wharariki (mountain flax) and whau will be planted over the next few weeks.

This initiative follows the ports harbour restoration projects also launched this year. In January Ports of Auckland formed Te Moananui o Toi Trust with Protect Aotea and earlier this month started work to increase the biodiversity by turning areas underneath some the wharf structures into marine nurseries.

ENDS

Further information:

• Ports of Auckland has owned land at South Head since providing navigational safety for ships whilst there were port operations at Onehunga on the Manukau Harbour.
• The intention of the project is not for carbon in-setting, however this may in the long-term support Ports of Auckland's carbon goals.

Supporting photos:

• Roger Gray, Ports of Auckland CEO at tree planting

For more information contact: