The Bay of Plenty is a diverse landscape with a strong agricultural focus which has seen most of the accessible land converted for production. A Regional Council with a strong environmental focus means there is support for landowners and community groups wanting to ‘do their bit’ on their properties or in a public space.
Trees That Count recognises these synergies with other agencies and is able to support many of the diverse restoration projects happening throughout the Bay, from school groups to iwi led projects.
Choosing the right trees
Commonly used coloniser tree species for the region:
Tī kōuka (Cordyline australis)
Kānuka (Kunzea ericoides)
Mānuka (Leptospemum scoparium)
Karamū (Coprosma robusta)
Kōhūhū (Pittosporum tenuifolium)
Tarata (Pittosporum eugenioides)
Koromiko (Hebe stricta)
Putaputawētā (Carpodetus serratus)
Makomako (Aristotelia serrata)
It can take a few seasons to learn what works well. Every site will be unique, and every season will be different, so be prepared for experiential learning too!
Sourcing your trees
Contact local nurseries at least a year ahead of planting, even if just to express your interest, so you can assess their stocks and species selection.
Trees That Count supports eco-sourcing: plants should be grown from seeds collected from naturally occurring vegetation close to where they are to be planted. Not only does this help maintain your area’s natural uniqueness, but the plants will be suited to local conditions and more likely to survive.
Here’s a list of local nurseries who can help with eco-sourced plants:
Whakatāne: Coastlands Plant Nursery
Tauranga: Naturally Native
Rotorua: Treeline Nurseries
These nurseries may also stock plants from outside your region, so you will need to ask specifically about their eco-sourced stock appropriate to your location.
Preparing your site for planting
All sites are different. Some may require several years of weed control prior to planting and others may only need a pre-plant spot spray or spot clearance with hand tools.
There’s plenty of expertise on hand to help you deal with weeds and pests before and after planting.
For those interested in the cultural and medicinal aspect of our native plants, Manaaki Whenua provide some great resources.
Your nursery may be able to help with soil advice, if needed. Also think about mulch and weed mats; fencing and stakes; and labour for planting.
Handy resources
If you’d like to review further information, the following guides might be useful to you: