P U R I R I H A E R E N G A

The class at Te Rangihakahaka got involved in planting some native trees in the urupa on the Waiteti block as part of a project to develop a native forestry research site in conjunction with SCION, Landowners and Tanes Tree Trust. Native timber species such as Totara and Tawa were to be used to test conditions which would lead to improvement in native forestry timbers i.e. testing pruning height and the best nursery crop species etc. Along the edges they hoped to plant Rongoa and have intermediate crops of Manuka and Kanuka for honey, smoking chips, fencing, firewood etc.

Rangatahi spent the day learning about the landscape and utilised drone technology to capture various aspects of the landscape; observing how the farmer cleaned the awa on his property and gaining a deeper appreciation environmental awareness.