Tamata Hills
A ridgeline property in the Kaipara Hills, where steep hillside is retired and returned to native bush.
Client: Tamata Hills Atuanui
Expertise: Environmental Restoration
Plants: 185,000 plants
Project Timeline: 2023
Partners: Biobonds, Private Landowner, Auckland Council, Skyworks
Tamata Hills is a private property in the Kaipara Hills. The landowners are retiring steep hillsides from pastoral use and returning them to native bush. The planting forms part of the Kaipara Moana Remediation programme, with runoff from the site flowing into the Araparera River and out to the Kaipara Harbour.
The site is steep ridgeline country with slopes too extreme for on-site plant transport using side-by-sides. Getting plant stock to location safely required a different approach. Health and safety risk was high throughout, given the terrain, crew numbers, and helicopter operations on site.
Kauri Park Projects delivered an aerial solution, working with a local team to deliver plant stock by helicopter. One-tonne bags were lifted and dropped to pre-marked locations across the property. The planting was delivered in partnership with Green Team Kaipara, one of the largest iwi planting teams in New Zealand, with deep local knowledge. Access, weather, and steep terrain created daily challenges that demanded careful planning throughout the project.
The project established 185,000 plants across retired hill country, to address long-term sediment and erosion issues.
