Ōtane school students visit Pekapeka Regional Park to collect seeds
Ngāhuru (Autumn) is the perfect time to eco-source and plant native kākano (seeds sourced from your local area). Te Matau-a-Māui Enviroschools Facilitators Helen Howard and Sarah McCawe were approached by Tukituki Land Care Catchment Coordinator Pixie Seligman to lead a seed collection and planting project in Central Hawke’s Bay with both Pukehou and Ōtane Schools.
Students from both schools visited Pekapeka Regional Park to collect seeds from the native trees and plants. Back at their respective kura, the seeds were identified and sorted, planted out in seed raising mix, carefully labelled and placed into the school’s shade-houses. These shade-houses are all set up with timed irrigation, making them ideal for this kind of planting.
Identifying and sorting seeds
The resulting seedlings will contribute to on-farm planting within the Papanui Sub Catchment, where both schools sit, contributing to habitat creation, and the improvement of water quality in the Tukituki awa.
Pukehou school students planting out seeds in seed raising mix
This is a great example of our Enviroschools giving back to their community through environmental action.