Two water tanks which arrived late last month are the first step to creating a nursery in Patearoa for the Maniototo.

Tiaki Maniototo (TM) project manager Caitlin Daley said the main nursery fencing was finished last week, and the bays and irrigation will be completed soon.

“With 30,000 plants ordered and arriving from next week, having this space is going to be great.”

TM project manager Caitlin Daley. PHOTO: Supplied 

Caitlin said the establishment of the nursery has been an end goal as it will not only increase plant numbers for TM plantings but it should result in hardier plants, used to the dry climate of the district.

“I sowed some seeds in autumn in the hope the nursery would be up and going by this Christmas.

“We’re starting small at a manageable level, and with easy species to begin with.”

The TM plants are “foundation species” including carexs (grasses), tussocks, harakeke (New Zealand flaxes), toi toi, and olearia. 

Caitlin said 28 sites have been planted and 23 are due to have plantings put in this spring and summer. 

The longer term plan is to have the nursery as a hub where farmers and the community can learn about seed collection, propagation and planting for the specific Maniototo conditions, as well as pick up subsidised plants.

Two years ago, TM was funded from the Ministry of the Environment’s Jobs for Nature programme to develop a catchment management plan and to implement planting and fencing of waterways, pest control and freshwater monitoring in the upper Taieri catchment.

The focus of TM is on enhancing water quality and the recreational, cultural, biodiversity and economic values in Maniototo. The group is about halfway through the five years of government funding. 

By 2026 TM aims to have planted 90,000 plants and completed 200 kilometres of fencing.

Find out more on TM’s facebook page or by contacting: [email protected]

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